Hikes in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Wind Mountain Trail is a 38.6 km moderate hike that gives you a great vantage point over the Columbia River Gorge. This summit is about as easy to bag as it gets, and it’s a fun hike for all ages and skill levels. Be prepared for a bit of a steep climb, but it doesn’t last very long. You’ll enjoy a view of Table Mountain, Mount Defiance, and more.

Bring poles if you’re worried about your footing, as this trail can get slick if it’s rained recently. Otherwise, this trail is generally in good condition and easy to follow. Take a moment to read the interpretive sign near the top that tells you about the mountain’s history.

The Cape Horn Loop Trail is a stellar hike, and it’s bound to become busier and busier as locals and visitors alike discover how awesome it is. With 120.7 km of distance and 484 m of elevation gain, it’s at a difficulty level that appeals to most: still accessible for older active kids and families but enough of a trip for stronger hikers too. The views of the Columbia River Gorge are excellent, and you’ll be able to appreciate the beautiful Cape Horn Falls.

There is a bit of steep climbing required near the falls, so we don’t recommend this trail for anyone who wouldn’t be comfortable completing the equivalent of several long, steep flights of stairs.

Note that there is an annual closure on this trail between February and July each year to protect peregrine falcon nesting sites. You’ll need to do this hike as an out and back when the closure is in effect.

The Falls Creek Falls are a beautiful set of waterfalls in a bright green corner of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, falling over a dramatic cascade and then trickling down through the moss-laden rocks that line the creek. Despite its beauty, this spot isn’t as busy as other waterfalls in the forest, so this is a fabulous pick for a warm weekend when other falls trails could be crowded.

The hike to the falls on Lower Falls Creek Trail is moderately difficult, requiring 5.1 km of hiking roundtrip. The elevation gain is fairly mild overall, making this a good pick for active families. Bring a packed lunch and settle in at the falls to enjoy the scenery for a while.

This trail is great after heavy rains or when the fall colors are at their best.

The view from the top of Silver Star Mountain is definitely one of the better ones in the area, if not maybe the best. It’s also one of the best places to appreciate the widespread blooms of wildflowers in Southwest Washington, making a late spring or early summer visit ideal. Bring a camera and be prepared for a wonderful summit.

This hike is 10.1 km long and is rated as hard. While there aren’t any technical challenges, you’ll gain a respectable amount of elevation on a rocky trail. Some sections can get a bit wet and washed out, so come prepared for a bit of an adventure.

Note that this approach does not follow Silver Star Mountain Trail. This route is better for those who don’t have high-clearance vehicles as the road to the Silver Star Mountain Trail is one of the worst in the state.

Siouxon Trail is a very popular backpacking route through a truly splendid forest. This area is close to the hearts of many local adventurers, and as it recovers from a forest fire, the landscape changes each year. While the Siouxon Trail is often used for longer trips, the 18.0 km hike to Chinook Falls is a splendid way to enjoy a section of the trail. While Chinook Falls are the feature of this hike, you’ll also be able to see Horseshoe falls and Siouxon Falls on the way.

This hike is moderately difficult. We don’t recommend it for young children as the bridges on the trail are subject to damage and washout, and this can make reaching the falls difficult without a bit of adventurous creek crossing. Keep your eyes peeled for hidden waterfalls in the trees as you enjoy this memorable trail.

Siouxon Trail is a popular backpacking trail through an awesome forest. This area is close to the hearts of many local adventurers, and as it recovers from a forest fire, the landscape changes each year. While the Siouxon Trail is often used for longer trips, the shorter section to Wildcat Falls is a nice way to enjoy a shorter part of the trail.

This hike is moderately difficult. Keep your eyes peeled for hidden waterfalls in the trees as you enjoy this memorable trail.

The Lower Falls Campground Loop is a great way to stretch your legs and explore if you’re staying at the campground. This trail is quick at 1.1 km long with almost no elevation gain. You’ll walk through the campground, down by the Lewis River, and by Lower Lewis River Falls. It’s a good pick for families and dogs.

Cathedral Falls is a fun destination for a weekend family hike. The trail to reach the falls is easy-moderate at 6.6 km long with mild elevation gain. The falls are best viewed in the spring or early summer, and you might not get much more than a trickle late into the summer or early in the fall.

The hike is kid-friendly, though small children may need a hand on a few narrow sections and creek crossings. Expect moderate traffic on this route.

The Falls Creek Falls are a gorgeous set of waterfalls in a lush green corner of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, falling over a dramatic three-level cascade. Despite its beauty, this spot isn’t as busy as other waterfalls in the forest, so this is a fabulous pick for a warm weekend when other falls trails could be crowded.

The hike to the falls on this loop is 8.4 km long. It’s longer than the direct Lower Falls Creek Trail, which you can take if you want a shorter out and back approach to the falls.

The Lava Canyon is just across from the Ape Canyon Trailhead, offering similar unique scenery to its more popular neighbor. This canyon is thrilling, with a tall suspension bridge, waterfalls, ladders, and exposed cliffsides. While the beginning of this trail is a bit more kid-friendly, it gets more daunting as you go, so feel free to turn back if it becomes too much for your group.

This hike is 8.7 km miles long and rated as moderate, but be prepared for steep sections, narrow sections, and a ladder climb of about 9 m.

Really looking for an adventure? The Walupt Creek Falls is just that. There is no visible trailhead for this hike, no signage, no cell service, and no discernable designated parking. This trail is unofficial and unmaintained, making it subject to extreme overgrowth. We said it was an adventure, right?

The trail is only 3.2 km long, but please prepare accordingly.

Staying at Merrill Lake Campground? Set out on the casual Merrill Lake Campground Loop, a 1.6 km stroll that leads you through the campground, along the lakeshore, and back. This walk is essentially flat and is suitable for all ages and skill levels. Bring some paddleboards or a picnic if you want to spend more time enjoying the lake.

Thomas Lake is a fantastic spot for a weekend getaway, offering nice backcountry camping spots all around the lakeshore and an easy trail in. This hike is 6.1 km long and rated as easy, making it a good choice for all skill levels. This guide covers the entire distance of the trail, but if you just want to get to Thomas Lake and back, it’s less than half as long.

Note that the mosquitoes on this hike can be truly incessant in the early-mid summertime. Try visiting in August when they tend to be less bothersome and bring a very potent spray. A hike in the fall eliminates this issue and offers great foliage color.

Sunrise Peak Trail is a spectacular hike with panoramic views that start before you’ve even reached the top. We do recommend trying to do this hike for sunrise if you’re willing to wake up early, as the view is spectacular when awash in color. This 5.6 km hike is rated as moderate.

This trail is shared by dirtbikers, most of whom are courteous and careful. You’ll want to be cautious on the narrow route, which can be quite dusty.

The Coyote Wall Loop Trail is a fun, customizable hike in the Columbia River Gorge. The trail followed by this route guide is 10.9 km long and rated as moderately difficult, but you can use the labyrinth of interconnecting trails on the wall to make your loop shorter, longer, easier, or more challenging. You can swing by Little Maui Falls and enjoy great views of the river just below you. While parts of this loop are family-friendly, know that if you plan to hike the western side of the wall you’ll deal with steeper, rockier terrain.

Some sections of this trail are a bit steep, so we recommend bringing poles. Additionally, if you’re unfamiliar with the Coyote Wall trails, we definitely recommend downloading your GPS track ahead of time. It can be somewhat easy to get off the trail.

Indian Heaven is a gorgeous region for a hike, with carpets of wildflowers, plenty of lakes, and mountains. The Indian Heaven Trail #33 takes you from Cultus Creek Campground to four lakes near the base of Bird Mountain. It’s a nice hike if you’re staying at the campground, but we also recommend it for a day trip. There are lots of trails that can be used to extend your adventure if you want.

Indian Heaven is a beautiful region for a hike, with expansive fields of wildflowers, too many lakes to count, and mountains all around. The Indian Heaven Lakes Loop takes you up to East Crater and around to Blue Lake, Bear Lake, Deer Lake, Clear Lake, Lemel Lake, and more.

Part of this loop is on a decommissioned trail that may be overgrown and difficult to navigate. Download your GPS ahead of time or avoid this section if you’d rather stay on the beaten path.

The hike to Moulton Falls on Lewis River Trail is an easy hike suitable for all skill levels and ages. This guide makes it a loop with a return via Mount Bell. is a good choice year-round, and it’s shared by walkers, runners, and bikers. The footing is varied, with some gravel road, old logging road, and classic trail.

If you want the out and back trail, check out our Moulton Falls route guide.

Placid Lake Trail is a short, easy trail that leads you to the shores of a calm lake. This is a nice spot for a hot day, especially since it’s never that busy. Bring an inflatable kayak or a paddleboard, pitch your tent, and enjoy the solitude of Indian Heaven Wilderness. This hike is 27.4 km long and rated as easy. You’ll want a potent bug spray if you’re here before mid-August.

Walupt Lake Trail is a 125.5 km out and back trail in Gifford Pinchot National Forest that is rated as moderate. This hike takes you along Walupt Lake from the Walupt Lake Campground, so it can be used for day trips or as part of a backpacking trip. The lake is calm and perfect on a hot summer day. The mosquitoes can be very bad on this trail, so bring a potent spray.