Hikes in Oregon

Oregon has it all – the beaches along the Pacific Ocean, the mountains and national forests that go up central Oregon and the beautiful Columbia River Gorge. The state is a great place to visit, especially in summer where you can spend your entire vacation outdoors, with near perfect weather. Escape the heat with a dip in the Pacific Ocean or any number of the clear rivers that cover the landscape.

Oregon is a great destination for a holiday, and what we think makes it unique is that the whole darn state is so beautiful. No matter where you go, you find spectacular views. There are also charming towns, full of outdoors adventures. One of our favourites is the town of Bend, one of the great outdoors towns in the US. Surrounded by superb hiking, biking, climbing and lots of snow sports, it’s a cool town with an even better vibe.

In winter, you can find great skiing on Mt. Hood, with plenty of options for XC skiing or snowshoeing. In summer you can do almost anything, from sea kayaking to hiking and climbing. If you need some snow, head up to Mt. Hood (with a guide of course), try to get to the summit and see the remnants of winter's snow or one of Mt. Hood’s glaciers.

What’s New in 2026

• Crater Lake’s only route to the water is closed until 2029. The Cleetwood Cove Trail and marina are shut for major rehabilitation across the 2026, 2027 and 2028 seasons, and because it is the sole legal access to the lakeshore, there is no swimming, no fishing, no boat tour and no way out to Wizard Island during that time. The rest of hiking in Crater Lake National Park is unaffected: Rim Drive, the viewpoints and the rim trails are all open, and the best views of Wizard Island are from up top anyway.
• Several of the best trails near Bend now need a permit. The Mount Jefferson, Mount Washington and Three Sisters Wilderness areas run a Central Cascades Wilderness Permit system from 15 June to 15 October, with day-use permits required at 19 popular trailheads, among them Green Lakes and Soda Creek, Devils Lake for South Sister, and Broken Top. Permits are per person with a daily cap on each trailhead and are only available by reservation through Recreation.gov, not from Forest Service offices, so book before you travel if you are heading into hiking around Bend.
• The mountain season is short and snow-dependent. High trails in the Cascades commonly hold snow into late June or July, Crater Lake’s Rim Drive usually only opens fully in late June or early July, and access roads such as the Cascade Lakes Highway and McKenzie Highway stay gated until the snow clears. The reliable hiking window in the high country is July to September, while the coast, the Columbia River Gorge and the low Umpqua waterfall trails are good for far more of the year.
• Check fees, passes and fire closures before you set out. Crater Lake charges a park entrance fee per vehicle, many Forest Service trailheads in Oregon ask for a Northwest Forest Pass or an interagency pass to park, and wildfire is a genuine factor from late summer onward, with smoke and closures possible into September. A quick look at current conditions saves a long drive.

Where to Hike in Oregon

• hiking around Bend: Central Oregon’s adventure capital, with the volcanic Cascades on one side and the high desert on the other. Expect alpine lakes beneath South Sister and Broken Top, the golden cliffs of Smith Rock, and easy family walks along the Deschutes River.
• hiking in Crater Lake National Park: Oregon’s only national park, built around the deepest lake in the United States at 1,949 ft, formed when Mount Mazama collapsed some 7,700 years ago. Rim trails such as Garfield Peak and Watchman Peak deliver the classic views.
• hiking in Mount Hood National Forest: The forest wrapped around Oregon’s highest peak, an hour from Portland, with old-growth forest, waterfalls and alpine meadows beneath the glaciers.
• hiking in Umpqua National Forest: Waterfall country in the southern Cascades, where short forest trails lead to Toketee, Lemolo and a string of other falls, plus riverside hot springs on the North Umpqua.

The Best Hikes in Oregon

1. Green Lakes Trail - arguably the most popular hike near Bend, climbing beside Fall Creek to a set of alpine lakes with South Sister and Broken Top rising on either side. It sits in the Three Sisters Wilderness, so a Central Cascades day-use permit is required from mid-June to mid-October.
2. Smith Rock’s Misery Ridge Loop - the signature hike of Smith Rock State Park, climbing steeply to one of the highest points in the park for views over the Crooked River and the tuff spires that made this a world-famous climbing area.
3. Garfield Peak Trail - the best short climb on the Crater Lake rim, starting straight from Rim Village and rising to a viewpoint over that impossibly blue caldera and the peaks beyond.
4. The Watchman Peak Trail - a quick climb to the highest point on the west rim, looking directly down onto Wizard Island. If you only have time for one walk at Crater Lake, make it this one.
5. Tumalo Falls Hike - a family favourite outside Bend that passes a thundering 97-ft waterfall and then follows Tumalo Creek upstream past several more cascades.
6. Toketee Falls Hike - a short walk to one of Oregon’s most photographed waterfalls, where the North Umpqua drops 113 ft over a wall of columnar basalt. Note the steep staircase down to the viewpoint.
7. Mount Scott Trail - the highest point in Crater Lake National Park, reached on a steady, non-technical climb that opens up sweeping views back across the lake. Best done early in the morning.
8. Black Butte - a classic central Oregon cinder cone with a historic lookout on top and, on a clear day, a line of Cascade volcanoes stretching all the way to Mount Hood.
9. Umpqua Hot Springs Trail - a short climb to a set of terraced pools perched above the North Umpqua River. Parking is very limited and fills early in summer, and the pools are clothing optional.
10. Mount Bailey Trail - the big one in the Umpqua, a long climb through forest and rocky slopes to a summit overlooking Diamond Lake and across to Mount Thielsen. Bring a map, as the route can be easy to lose.

When is the Best Time to Hike in Oregon?

July to September is the dependable window for the mountains. Cascade trails hold snow well into June and sometimes July, the Crater Lake rim road only opens fully once it is plowed in late June or early July, and the high lakes near Bend thaw late. Those same summer months are hot and dry east of the Cascades and can bring wildfire smoke from August onward.

The rest of the state stretches the season considerably. The coast, the Columbia River Gorge and the low waterfall trails of the Umpqua are walkable most of the year, at their greenest and fullest from late winter through spring when the rain is doing its work. Autumn is a quiet, golden time to hike almost anywhere in Oregon, with thinner crowds and cool, clear air, though early snow can close the high roads from October.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hiking in Oregon

Can you still visit Crater Lake in 2026?

Yes, the park is open and so are its rim trails, viewpoints and Rim Drive. What is closed is the Cleetwood Cove Trail and marina, shut for rehabilitation across the 2026, 2027 and 2028 seasons. Because that trail is the only legal way down to the water, there is no swimming, fishing or boat tour during the works, and Wizard Island cannot be reached. The trail is expected to reopen in 2029.

Do you need a permit to hike in Oregon?

For most trails, no. The exception that catches people out is the Central Cascades Wilderness Permit, required from 15 June to 15 October for day use at 19 popular trailheads in the Mount Jefferson, Mount Washington and Three Sisters Wilderness areas near Bend and Sisters, including Green Lakes, Devils Lake for South Sister and Broken Top. Those are reserved in advance through Recreation.gov. Separately, many Forest Service trailheads require a Northwest Forest Pass or interagency pass for parking, and Crater Lake charges a park entrance fee.

What is the best hike in Oregon for a first visit?

For a short walk with an unforgettable payoff, the Watchman Peak Trail on the Crater Lake rim is hard to beat. If you want a full day in the mountains, the Green Lakes Trail near Bend is the classic Cascade outing, permit allowing. For waterfalls with minimal effort, Toketee Falls in the Umpqua National Forest takes barely half an hour.

Plan Your Trip to Oregon

Oregon is one corner of hiking in the United States, and the state is just as good on two wheels, with our mountain biking routes in Oregon covering the same ground. If you would rather have the planning handled, browse our guided tours in the United States.