15 Stunning Fall Color Hikes near Portland
Blink and you’ll miss it. Beginning in October and winding down by early November, fall color in Portland lasts a few short weeks. The window for peak season is even narrower. Another challenge is where to look. With so many conifer forests, the fall displays in the Pacific Northwest are subtle compared to the riot of reds and oranges in other parts of the country. Instead of being the star of the show, the fall foliage around Portland adds to the beauty of its incredible natural features, from roaring waterfalls to rugged mountain peaks. Here are the best fall color hikes near Portland.
Banks-Vernonia Trail (10/12)
When to go
With the usual disclaimer that fall color timing will be slightly different every year, here are estimates for peak season.
Early October: high elevations on Mt Hood and Mt Adams.
Mid-October: the northern Oregon Coast and the Cascades.
Late October: the Gorge, Hood River, Portland suburbs, and the central Oregon Coast.
Early November: Portland
When in doubt, check out this real-time fall foliage tracker. I’ve found it to be pretty accurate.
Fall color hikes in Portland
Hoyt Arboretum
Hoyt Arboretum (Oct 24)
Distance: 0.5 - 12 miles
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trails.
Pass required: None. Parking is metered at about $2/hour.
ADA access: Check out the Overlook Trail, Bristlecone Pine Trail, and Visitor Center Loop Trail. Accessible parking and restrooms.
Restrooms: Yes, in the visitor center.
Peak color: Early November
Hoyt Arboretum (Oct 24)
The native deciduous trees outside Portland are a little lackluster in the fall. Big-leaf maple leaves seem to turn brown and crispy faster than yellow. Don’t get me started on alders. Their leaves shrivel colorlessly on the branch. A museum of living trees, Portland’s Hoyt Arboretum has some showier species you won’t see in the national forests. The Maple Trail is one of the park’s best hikes to tackle in the fall when different types of maple trees turn colors from deep red to bright yellow. Another fall highlight is the Dawn Redwood, a rare deciduous conifer once considered extinct. The arboretum’s Dawn Redwood is the first to produce cones in the Western Hemisphere in millions of years.
Forest Park
Ridge Trail (Nov 2)
Distance: 1+ miles with up to 80 miles of trail
Difficulty: Easy to strenuous
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
Pass required: None
ADA access: Mostly no. Lower Macleay Trail has 0.2 miles of paved trail with minimal grade.
Restrooms: Mostly no, depending on the trailhead.
Peak color: Late October to early November
Ridge Trail (Nov 2)
One of the great things about living in Portland is that the city bus will take you to the woods. With 80 miles of trails, Forest Park has tons of fall hike options. Timing is easy here. Starting around October, you’ll see patches of yellow appear in Portland’s west hills. Although known for its Doug firs and cedars, the park has tons of maple trees, which, along with the changing undergrowth, add color to the trails until around mid-November. The Ridge Trail is a great fall destination for the stunning views of Cathedral Park across the river. Another classic hike starts at Lower McCleay Park and ends with a spectacular and colorful finale at Pittock Mansion.
Wapato State Greenway
Wapato Greenway Access Trail (Oct 10)
Distance: 2.2-mile loop
Elevation gain: Minimal
Difficulty: Easy
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
Pass required: None
ADA access: No
Restrooms: No
Peak color: Late October
Wapato Greenway Access Trail (Oct 10, well before peak season)
Sauvie Island is an excellent choice for fall hiking near Portland because of its many deciduous trees. The downside is that some of the island’s hiking trails close just as the leaves start turning. An exception is the Wapato Greenway Access Trail, which stays open all year. As a bonus, you can skip the $10 permit required for the island’s other trailheads. The hike makes a short loop around a seasonal lake that will probably still be dry when the fall colors are peaking. Look for birds and grazing deer in the grassy lakebed. A spur trail leads to the Hadley Dock on the Multnomah Channel, a popular fishing spot. Since the trail is short, you’ll have plenty of time to stop by one of Sauvie Island’s pumpkin patches after your hike.
Falls color hikes near Portland
Oxbow Regional Park
Oxbow Regional Park (Oct 17)
Distance: 0.5 - 12 miles
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Dog-friendly: No, dogs are not allowed in the park.
Pass required: $5 park-specific day pass. You can pay with a credit card at the entrance.
ADA access: Not on the hiking trails. Some picnic areas and campsites are accessible.
Restrooms: Yes
Drive time from Portland: 40 minutes
Peak color: Late October
Sandy River (Oct 17)
Best known as an escape from the summer heat, Oxbow Regional Park is quiet and moody in the fall. The banks of the Sandy River become colorful as big-leaf maples, cottonwoods, and alders begin to turn in October. Oxbow Park is one of the closest old-growth forests to Portland. You won’t see the gigantic trees of the Cascades, but the thick moss covering the logs and branches speaks to the age of the woods. The park surrounds the oxbow of the Sandy River, where it makes a twisting U-shape. If you’re lucky, you might see salmon in the river in the fall. Oxbow has several hiking trails. The 7-mile Oxbow Park Loop will take you to most of the highlights, including views of the river from above with access to spur trails down to the water.
Latourell Falls
Latourell Falls Trail (Oct 18)
Distance: 2.4-mile loop
Elevation gain: 600 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
Pass required: None
ADA access: Not past the viewpoint at the parking lot.
Restrooms: Yes, but beware. The stall on the right has a broken lock and a door that jams easily.
Peak color: Late October
Upper Latourell Falls (Oct 18)
Fall color starts appearing in the Columbia Gorge around mid-October and lasts through early November. Since the trees thin east of Hood River, the western side of the Gorge has the best displays. Big-leaf maples are the workhorses here. The Latourell Falls loop is one of the closest waterfall hikes to Portland, as well as one of the most spectacular. The hike starts at the 224-foot single plunge of Latourell Falls. From here, the loop trail follows Latourell Creek upstream to the two-tiered 120-foot Upper Latourell Falls. Unlike many areas nearby, the woods around Latourell Falls didn’t burn in the 2017 Eagle Creek wildfire. A mature canopy remains with enough big-leaf maples and cottonwoods to fill the forest with yellow in the fall.
Dry Creek Falls
Dry Creek Falls (Oct 24)
Distance: 4.4 miles out and back
Elevation gain: 700 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
Pass required: NW Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass in Toll Bridge Park lot ($5/day). Parking is free in the overflow lot on Harvey Rd in Cascade Locks.
ADA access: No
Restrooms: Yes, at Toll Bridge Park.
Drive time from Portland: 45 minutes
Peak color: Late October
Dry Creek (Oct 24)
Note: the trail to Dry Creek Trail is temporarily closed due to fire risk. Check here for details.
A little farther east in the Columbia Gorge, the trek to Dry Creek Falls is an easy waterfall hike near Portland with a satisfying finale. The hike follows the Pacific Crest Trail to an unusual single-plunge waterfall, which tumbles over a cliff of symmetrical basalt columns. Although the forest burned in the Eagle Creek fire, the canopy mostly survived, and the undergrowth has regrown. In late October and early November, a thick layer of big-leaf maple leaves carpets the ground around Dry Creek Falls. Bushes at the base of the falls turn a soft yellow. Although it’s an uphill journey to the falls, the trail never gets very steep and is a great beginner hike.
Starvation Creek
Elderberries in Front of Hole-in-the-Wall Falls (Oct 3)
Distance: 4.3 miles out and back
Elevation gain: 150 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
Pass required: NW Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass, $5/day.
ADA access: The trail is flat, even, and paved until the start of the Mt Defiance Trail. Accessible parking and restrooms.
Restrooms: Yes
Drive time from Portland: 45 minutes
Peak color: Late October
Mt Defiance Trail (Oct 3)
The waterfall hike starting at Starvation Creek Falls would be one of the most popular near Portland if it weren’t for one major drawback: the road noise. For most of the way, the trail runs parallel to I-84. If you can overlook the highway on one side, the other side is one waterfall after another, starting with Starvation Creek Falls at the parking lot. Fall is a great time to go, both because of the colorful leaves and because the rains reanimate a couple of seasonal waterfalls. Unlike most hikes in the Columbia Gorge, the trail is flat and paved most of the way. Once you reach Hole-in-the-Wall Falls, the Mt Defiance Trail continues to the last waterfall. Although you won’t need to do the full hike to the summit, the terrain becomes irregular and starts to climb. If you’re pushing a stroller, turn around at Hole-in-the-Wall Falls.
Beacon Rock State Park
Doetsch Walking Path (Nov 2)
Distance: 1.2+ miles
Difficulty: Easy to strenuous
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
Pass required: Washington Discover Pass, $10/day. You can buy a pass with a credit card at any parking area.
ADA access: The Doetsch Walking Path is paved, flat, and even.
Restrooms: Yes
Drive time from Portland: 45 minutes
Peak color: Mid to late October
Beacon Rock (Nov 2)
Beacon Rock State Park is best known for its namesake monolith, a cone of basaltic andesite that was once the core of a volcano. The steep trek to the top of Beacon Rock is the park’s most popular hike. The next is the trail to spectacular Hardy Falls, Rodney Falls, and Pool of the Winds just across Highway 14. The less-traveled trails below Beacon Rock come alive in the fall thanks to the density of cottonwoods near the Columbia River. In late October and early November, the Doetsch Walking Path near the river is a treat. Make sure to stop at the boat launch to see the wall of yellow at the base of Beacon Rock.
For details, check out the best trails in Beacon Rock State Park.
Banks-Vernonia
Buxton Trestle (Oct 12)
Distance: 0.5 - 21 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
Pass required: None
ADA access: The trail is paved, even, and wide. The grade is mostly under 5%. The Tophill Trailhead has the steepest grades, up to 8%. Accessible parking at the Banks, Buxton, and Manning trailheads.
Restrooms: Yes, at multiple trailheads.
Drive time from Portland: 45 minutes
Peak color: Mid-October
Banks-Vernonia Trail (Oct 12)
With an unusual density of deciduous trees, the Banks-Vernonia Trail is the ultimate fall hike near Portland. This paved, shared-use hiking and biking trail explores over 20 miles of forests and farmlands just east of the Coastal Mountains. It’s too long to tackle the whole thing at once, but multiple trailheads break it up into several manageable and rewarding day hikes. My favorite of them starts at the Buxton Trestle, a decommissioned railroad trestle that stands 80 feet above the ground. In the fall, the forest around it changes from lush green to a medley of soft yellows, oranges, and reds. Starting at the trestle, you can hike north to reach LL Stub Stewart State Park or south toward Manning. Whichever direction you choose, expect rich color along the way.
Salmon River Trail
Old Salmon River Trail (Sept 22)
Distance: 0.5 - 8 miles
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
Pass required: NW Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass, $5/day. Buy a pass beforehand.
ADA access: No
Restrooms: Yes
Drive time from Portland: 1 hour
Peak color: Mid-October
Salmon River (Oct 28, mostly too late, but I found this beauty)
Wonderful at any time of year, the Salmon River Trail winds through one of the closest old-growth forests to Portland. Colorful leaves, mushrooms, and migrating salmon are the highlights in fall. Big-leaf maples grow alongside the towering Doug firs and cedars, adding splashes of yellow to the dense green forest. The fallen leaves create a yellow-brown carpet under enormous sword ferns. White, brown, orange, and purple mushrooms spring up on the mossy stumps next to the trail. Multiple trailheads offer several options for starting points. The first few access the Old Salmon River Trail. The last is the start of the Salmon River Trail, which leads away from the road into the woods. Either makes a great fall hike.
Silver Falls State Park
Upper North Falls (Sept 27, great color despite being early in the season)
Distance: 0.5+ miles
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Dog-friendly: Dogs are allowed in the park but not on most hiking trails, especially the waterfall trails.
Pass required: Oregon State Park Pass, $5/day. You can pay at the park with a credit card.
ADA access: Check out the South Falls Viewpoint and the North Rim Trail. Accessible parking and restrooms.
Restrooms: Yes
Drive time from Portland: 1 hour
Peak color: Mid-October
North Falls (Sept 27)
Just as the crowds begin to dwindle at Silver Falls State Park, the colors become spectacular. Big leaf maples add bright yellow to the Doug fir canopy while the undergrowth turns soft yellow and orange. Around the same time, mushrooms begin appearing in colors from white to dark purple. As fall progresses and the rains return, the waterfalls look more impressive. If you miss the fall leaves, the power of waterfalls in winter is ample consolation. The most famous hike in Silver Falls State Park is the Trail of Ten Falls, a 7.5-mile loop connecting up to ten waterfalls. The trail network in the park makes it easy to choose your distance.
Check out my guide to the best waterfall hikes in Silver Falls State Park.
Wilson River Trail
Wilson River Trail (Oct 6)
Distance: 4+ miles
Difficulty: Easy to strenuous
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
Pass required: None
ADA access: Mostly no, but check out the Tillamook Forest Center and suspension bridge.
Restrooms: Yes. The best ones are at the Tillamook Forest Center.
Drive time from Portland: 1 hour
Peak color: Mid-October
Lester Creek Pinnacles (Oct 6)
The full Wilson River Trail is over 20 miles long one-way, but multiple trailheads break it up into manageable day hikes. The trail explores the Tillamook State Forest in the Coastal Mountains, where the higher elevation means the leaves start changing earlier than they do around Portland. If you’re new to the trail, head to the Tillamook Forest Center. It has a large, free parking lot and luxurious (in hiking terms) indoor bathrooms. There’s a fire tower you can climb and a cool suspension bridge over the Wilson River that will bring you to the trail. Head left to make a 6-mile out-and-back hike along the river until you reach the footbridge, a logical turnaround point. For a more challenging hike, try the Kings Mountain to Diamond Mill segment, an 11-mile out-and-back trek that includes the most distinctive feature on the Wilson River Trail, the Pinnacles. For details, Oregon Hikers has an excellent trail guide.
Hood River Pipeline
Hood River Pipeline (Oct 14)
Distance: 3 miles out and back
Elevation gain: 100 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Dog-friendly: Dogs are allowed, but the trail is rough on their paws. I’d skip this one with a dog.
Pass required: None
ADA access: No
Restrooms: No
Drive time from Portland: 1 hour
Peak color: Late October
Hood River (Oct 14)
The Hood River Pipeline Trail is one of the most unusual hikes near Portland. It begins on active railroad tracks, moves briefly to a normal dirt trail, and ends on a metal catwalk on top of a decommissioned pipeline. In summer, it’s a great place to find secluded wading spots on the banks of the Hood River. In the fall, the colorful leaves surrounding the pipeline are the highlight of the journey. The trail is in the transitional part of the Columbia Gorge, where conifer forests give way to a wider variety of trees before becoming arid grasslands farther east. The pipeline section is especially striking in fall since you’ll be walking on an elevated platform around the same level as the leaves.
Punchbowl Falls
Punchbowl Falls Trail (Oct 14)
Distance: 1 mile loop
Elevation gain: 100 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
Pass required: None
ADA access: No
Restrooms: No
Drive time from Portland: 75 minutes
Peak color: Mid-October
River confluence (Oct 14)
Although close to the end of my list based on driving distance, Punchbowl Falls is one of the best fall color hikes near Portland. We’re talking top three. An easy loop trail will take you past two waterfalls on the way to the confluence of the east and west forks of the Hood River. The vine maples and dogwoods along the trail become a rich tapestry of yellow, soft coral, orange, and red by mid-October. Since the hike is short, it’s easy to combine with another trail in the area, like the Hood River Pipeline. It’s also close to the orchards of the Hood River Fruit Loop. In the fall, you’ll be in time for apple and pear season.
Falls Creek Falls
Falls Creek (Oct 19)
Distance: 3.4 miles out and back
Elevation gain: 850 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
Pass required: NW Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass, $5/day.
ADA access: No
Restrooms: Yes
Drive time from Portland: 90 minutes
Peak color: Mid-October. The trail is open from April until December.
Larches on the Falls Creek Falls Trail (Oct 19)
As if I needed another excuse to visit Falls Creek Falls, the autumn colors are a great one. The hike follows Falls Creek through the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and ends with an incredible finale, Falls Creek Falls, plunging 335 feet over three distinct tiers. Yellow leaves fill the undergrowth in the forest beginning in October. On the way to the waterfall, you’ll pass a stand of larches, deciduous conifers that turn bright yellow in the fall. This trail closes for the winter starting in December. Go by mid-October to see the changing leaves before they’re gone.
Falls Creek (Oct 19)
Packing list
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Best hikes near Portland for fall color, the short version:
Hoyt Arboretum
Forest Park
Sauvie Island
Oxbow Regional Park
Latourell Falls
Dry Creek Falls
Starvation Creek
Beacon Rock State Park
Banks-Vernonia Trail
Salmon River Trail
Silver Falls State Park
Wilson River Trail
Hood River Pipeline
Punchbowl Falls
Falls Creek Falls
Enjoy the fall color hikes near Portland!
With love,
Emma
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