15 Hidden Gem Hikes near Portland, OR
This topic is close to my heart. Much of the motivation for starting my blog came from how much trouble I had getting hiking recommendations when I moved to Portland ten years ago. I asked many locals about off-the-radar hikes but kept getting the same answers: Angel’s Rest, Dog Mountain, and Multnomah Falls. In other words, the most famous and crowded hikes around. It’s possible they wanted to keep their favorite spots secret, but I don’t think that was the case. I think I just like trying new hikes more than most people. So. Years later, here are my suggestions for hidden gem hikes near Portland. You can go on the weekend without being at the trailhead by 8 AM. You might not have total solitude, but you will escape the teeming hordes at Angel’s Rest.
1. Elowah Falls and Upper McCord Creek Falls
Elowah Falls
A great alternative to: popular waterfall trails near Multnomah Falls, like Triple Falls and Wakeena Falls.
Distance: 3 miles out and back
Elevation gain: 800 feet
Difficulty: Easy/moderate
Pass required: None
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
ADA access: No
Restrooms: No
Drive time from Portland: 45 minutes
Upper McCord Creek Falls
Only ten minutes down the road from the famous Multnomah Falls, Latourell Falls, and Horsetail Falls, few venture to lesser-known Elowah Falls. I think of it as the forgotten hike of the Waterfall Corridor. The trail begins in a forest recovering from the 2017 Eagle Creek wildfire. It soon splits into two, one trail leading down to Elowah Falls and the other to Upper McCord Creek Falls. The trails are short enough to tackle both. It’s hard to choose between them. Elowah Falls makes a 213-foot single plunge in a dramatic amphitheater of curved basalt. Lime green lichen decorates the rough, dark stone of the cliffs. Back at the trail junction, the trek to Upper McCord Creek Falls is at least as interesting as the finale. A railing protects you as you walk on a narrow ledge carved from a weeping basalt cliff. You’ll see incredible views of the Columbia Gorge and a cool overhead look at Elowah Falls before arriving at lovely 64-foot Upper McCord Creek Falls.
Although uncrowded and often overlooked, the parking lot for this hike is small and can still fill up on summer weekends. I’ve never had trouble parking, but I’ve only gone in the winter. Don’t leave anything in the car. Sadly, it’s a hotspot for break-ins.
Learn more about the hike to Elowah Falls and Upper McCord Creek Falls.
2. Herman Creek Trail
Herman Creek Trail
A great alternative to: Dry Creek Falls, Wahclella Falls, and the Eagle Creek Trail.
Distance: Up to 22 miles (my version is about 5 miles out and back)
Elevation gain: Up to 5,000 feet (my version about 1,200 feet)
Difficulty: Moderate
Pass required: NW Forest Pass ($5/day) or America the Beautiful Pass
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
ADA access: No
Restrooms: Yes
Drive time from Portland: 45 minutes
Nick Eaton Falls
Despite the easy drive time from Portland, the Herman Creek Trail is one of the least crowded hikes in the Columbia Gorge. I saw about three other people when I went on a Sunday. Its popularity suffers, I think, from two things. First, the lack of signage. Getting there means exiting I-84 at the truck weigh station. After driving, totally confused, around the weigh station, it’ll look like you’re getting right back on the highway before a last-minute right turn points toward the trailhead. Once you’re there, the other drawback is that the trail is long and doesn’t have a clear destination. A good solution is to turn around when you reach Nick Eaton Falls, a tall and wispy waterfall tumbling over a mossy cliff, for a 4-mile roundtrip hike.
The Herman Creek Trail explores a forest impacted by the 2017 wildlife. You’ll see a lot of scorched trunks and patches of dead trees. If I can search for a silver lining, the burn opened up views from the trail. You’ll see regular glimpses of the hills and cliffs across Herman Creek. Small patches of baby trees are starting to appear along the trail. On the way back from the waterfall, I like making a short detour on the Herman Creek-E Trail (#406E). It leads down to the creek that teases you from a distance on the main trail. You’ll reach a bridge across Herman Creek in less than a half mile. Altogether, the hike to the waterfall and the bridge are about five miles roundtrip.
3. Wind Mountain
Wind Mountain summit
A great alternative to: viewpoint Columbia Gorge hikes like Angel’s Rest, Hamilton Mountain, and Dog Mountain.
Distance: 2.5 miles out and back
Elevation gain: 1,100 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Pass required: None
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
ADA access: No
Restrooms: No
Drive time from Portland: 1 hour
Look for legacies of long-ago humans on the top of Wind Mountain
If, like all rational people, you shudder at the thought of starting the Angel’s Rest or Dog Mountain hikes by 8 AM, Wind Mountain is a perfect alternative. The summit has some of the best views in the Columbia Gorge without the crowds or the Hunger Games-style battle over parking spaces. Right next to Dog Mountain, you’ll see similar panoramic vistas at the top. Wake up when you want, eat brunch, then hit the road. Although short, this steep trail feels like a workout by the end.
Wind Mountain’s summit is rocky rather than grassy. In the spring, the one downside is missing the spectacular wildflower displays on Dog Mountain. Instead, look for manmade structures on the talus slopes. Wind Mountain has long held spiritual significance for local Native American tribes. Hundreds of years ago, it was a place where youth would go for vision quests. Visit respectfully and take a look at the map of the viewing areas at the summit before exploring. You’ll be able to see the views without disturbing things.
Learn more about the Wind Mountain Trail.
4. Emerald Falls and Gorton Creek Falls
Emerald Falls
A great alternative to: Dry Creek Falls
Distance: 1.5 miles out and back
Elevation gain: 100 feet
Difficulty: Easy (to Emerald Falls) or moderate (to Gorton Creek Falls)
Pass required: NW Forest Pass ($5/day) or America the Beautiful Pass from May through September.
Dog friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail. Past Emerald Falls, the scrambles would make the hike difficult with a dog.
ADA access: No
Restrooms: Yes
Drive time from Portland: 50 minutes
Gorton Creek Falls
Gorton Creek Falls is the only hike on the list I would call secret rather than just obscure. The trick here is that the trail ends about 0.1 miles from the final waterfall. Reaching it requires crossing a creek and a lot of clambering. The hike begins at the Wyeth/Gorton Creek Trailhead. The trail starts flat and easy through the woods, following Gorton Creek. It ends in a little under a mile at the small but picturesque Emerald Falls, a waterfall I’ve seen on more art gallery walls than in travel guides. If you’re hiking with small children or dogs, or if the creek is high, turn around at Emerald Falls. If you love a scramble, cross the creek where the trail ends and start the slow journey upstream. It’s easiest in the summer when the creek is lower. You’ll reach Gorton Creek Falls in about 0.1 miles, although the terrain makes it seem longer. The 115-foot waterfall makes an impressive two-tiered plunge over a mossy basalt cliff. Even on the weekend, it’ll just be you and the birds enjoying it.
5. Doetsch Walking Path
Doetsch Walking Path
A great alternative to: the hike up Beacon Rock.
Distance: 1.2-mile loop
Elevation gain: Minimal
Difficulty: Easy
Pass required: Washington Discover Pass ($10/day or $30/year)
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
ADA access: The trail is paved, wide, flat, and even without steps or steep grades. Accessible parking and restrooms.
Restrooms: Yes
Drive time from Portland: 45 minutes
Look for Beacon Rock on the far side of the loop
To most people, the only trails in Beacon Rock State Park are the hike up Beacon Rock and the trail to Hardy Falls, Rodney Falls, and Pool of the Winds. Few venture to the base of the famous monolith, even on summer weekends. If you’re overwhelmed by the parking lot next to Highway 14, I’d draw your attention to the Doetsch Day Use Area. Coming from Portland, you’ll pass the entrance just before you reach Beacon Rock. Two trails begin from the less crowded parking area here. The Doetsch Walking Path is a flat and easy paved trail that makes a pretty, 1-mile loop out to the Columbia River and back. You won’t have easy access to the river, but you do get a cool view of Beacon Rock along the way.
The River to Rock Trail is a mostly deserted hike connecting the Doetsch Day Use Area to the hike up Beacon Rock. You’ll walk past a wetland. Garter snakes slither out of the way as you go, unused to visitors. Then, you’ll pass a little abandoned stone building before reaching the start of the Beacon Rock Trail. If you head to the summit and back, it’s about a 3-mile roundtrip. Make sure to visit the boat launch dock by the Doestch Day Use Area parking lot before you leave. It has, I’d argue, the best view of Beacon Rock in the Columbia Gorge.
Find all the hiking trails in Beacon Rock State Park.
6. Starvation Creek to Lancaster Falls
Starvation Creek Falls
A great alternative to: the Waterfall Corridor
Distance: 2 miles out and back
Elevation gain: 200 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Pass required: None
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
ADA access: The trail is paved, flat, and even until Hole-in-the-Wall Falls. Accessible parking and restrooms.
Restrooms: Yes
Drive time from Portland: 50 minutes
Cabin Creek Falls
The hike beginning at Starvation Creek Falls is a rare opportunity to see four waterfalls on a laidback and easy trail. It can get a little crowded on beautiful weekend days but gets way less traffic than the most popular hikes near Portland. The only drawback is the road noise. You’ll spend most of the journey next to I-84, never fully escaping the din of the cars. If you can overlook it, this trail packs in maximum waterfalls for minimal effort. The first is Starvation Creek Falls, only a few steps away from the parking lot. From here, a flat paved trail brings you to seasonal Cabin Creek Falls and tucked-away Hole-in-the-Wall Falls. If you’re pushing a stroller or wheelchair, Hole-in-the-Wall Falls is a good turnaround point.
If you’re okay with irregular terrain, continue uphill a short distance on the Mount Defiance Trail to Lancaster Falls. The views from the trail start getting more dramatic as you follow an elevated ridge line. Look for Dog Mountain across the Columbia River. The trail continues past Lancaster Falls to the summit of Mount Defiance. A little past the waterfall, it gets steeper and more difficult.
Learn more about the Starvation Creek Waterfall Hike.
7. Punchbowl Falls
Punchbowl Falls
A great alternative to: Oxbow Regional Park
Distance: 1-mile loop
Elevation gain: 100 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Pass required: None
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
ADA access: No
Restrooms: No
Drive time from Portland: 75 minutes
River confluence
The hike to Punchbowl Falls near Hood River is easy to confuse with Punch Bowl Falls on the Eagle Creek Trail, but they have little in common besides the name. Crowds are one of the big differences. The Eagle Creek Trailhead is one of the most crowded near Portland. The Punchbowl Falls Trail is a hidden gem that stays quiet and lightly trafficked, even on summer weekends. This 1-mile loop brings you to two waterfalls, Punchbowl Falls and Dead Point Falls. It ends at the confluence of the West and East Forks of Hood River. On hot days, the beach where the rivers merge is a great swimming spot. Look for wildflowers along the trail in spring and early summer. In fall, the changing leaves along the riverbanks are some of the best near Portland. Beyond the token yellow on most trails, vine maples add oranges and reds to the foliage.
8. Banks-Vernonia Trail
Buxton Trestle
A great alternative to: Portland’s Springwater Corridor
Distance: Up to 21 miles
Elevation gain: Mostly mild
Difficulty: Easy
Pass required: None outside of LL Stub Stewart State Park (Oregon State Park Pass, $10/day)
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
ADA access: The trail is wide, paved, and even. The grade gets steep in sections. The Buxton Trestle to Manning section is flat and without barriers like steps.
Restrooms: Yes, at multiple trailheads.
Drive time from Portland: 40 minutes
Banks-Vernonia Trail
For being such an easy drive from Portland, the Banks-Vernonia Trail gets surprisingly few visitors. This gentle paved trail is shared between bikers and hikers. It’s too long to tackle in a day on foot, but multiple trailheads break it up into manageable sections. A good starting point is the trail’s highlight, the Buxton Trestle. This 700-foot-long decommissioned railroad trestle is now a walking and biking path. After seeing the trestle, you can head in the Banks direction for a 6-mile out-and-back hike to the Manning Trailhead. Or, in the Vernonia direction, a 7-mile out-and-back hike leads to LL Stub Stewart State Park. My favorite time to hike this trail is in the fall when the many deciduous trees are changing colors.
Learn more about the Banks-Vernonia Trail.
9. Shellburg Falls
Shellburg Falls
A great alternative to: Silver Falls State Park
Distance: 4.8 miles out and back
Elevation gain: 400 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Pass required: None
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
ADA access: No
Restrooms: Yes
Drive time from Portland: 90 minutes
The forest around Shellburg Falls is recovering from wildfire damage
When I call Shellburg Falls an alternative to Silver Falls State Park, I want to be clear. Silver Falls has ten waterfalls on its hiking trails. Most are breathtaking. A few are mind-blowing. Shellburg Falls has two. They’re cool but lack the wow factor of showstoppers like South Falls or Middle North Falls. If you’ve already been to Silver Falls and want to avoid the masses on a summer weekend, Shellburg Falls is a relaxing and uncrowded destination. The geology here is similar to that of Silver Falls. You’ll see water plunging over a recessed cliff of basalt. The forest is recovering from wildfire damage in 2020. Most of the trees burned. The undergrowth has grown back, including a generous number of wildflowers. Its trails reopened recently and are in great shape after a significant restoration effort. Spring or early summer are good times to visit. The water slows to a trickle by late summer.
Learn more about the hike to Shellburg Falls.
10. McDowell Creek Falls County Park
Royal Terrace Falls
A great alternative to: Silver Falls State Park
Distance: 1.6-mile lollipop loop
Elevation gain: 300 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Pass required: None
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
ADA access: No
Restrooms: Yes
Drive time from Portland: 1 hour 45 minutes
Majestic Falls
McDowell Creek Falls County Park is one of my favorite hidden gem hikes within a day-tripping distance from Portland. If it were closer to the city, I’d go all the time. Based on the uncrowded trail when I visited, most people feel the same way. To be fair, it’s a long drive to a short hike. Bring a picnic to enjoy at one of the tables by the creek. The waterfalls are most interesting from late fall through spring, but you might want to visit in summer to take advantage of the swimming hole. Like Silver Falls State Park and Shellburg Falls, McDowell Creek is in the Cascade foothills. There’s no wildfire damage here. You’ll be walking on lush forested hillsides. The geology is unlike the other parks, which impacts the look of the waterfalls. Royal Terrace Falls makes an unusual three-tiered drop over smooth arching rock, a combination of sandstone and volcanic breccia.
Learn more about McDowell Creek Falls County Park.
11. Wildwood Recreation Area
Wetlands Trail
A great alternative to: Salmon River Trail
Distance: 0.75+ miles
Elevation gain: Mostly flat unless you start up Huckleberry Mountain
Difficulty: Easy
Pass required: America the Beautiful Pass, $5/day.
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trails.
ADA access: Cascade Streamwatch and Wetlands Trails are barrier-free hikes. Accessible parking and restrooms.
Restrooms: Yes
Drive time from Portland: 1 hour
Salmon River
Despite the easy driving distance from Portland, few visitors to the Mount Hood National Forest stop at Wildwood Recreation Site. On beautiful summer weekends, you’ll find a parking spot, picnic table, and lightly trafficked hiking trails. Two of them are barrier-free, a rarity in the national forests. The Cascade Streamwatch Trail has the park’s most unique highlight, the underwater fish viewing window, where you can see baby (and sometimes adult) salmon and steelhead. Wildwood has three short hiking trails, each about 0.75 miles long, but connects to longer hikes, like the Salmon River Trail and the strenuous hike up Huckleberry Mountain.
Learn more about the things to do at Wildwood Recreation Site.
12. Sitka Sedge State Natural Area
Haystack Rock
A great alternative to: Pacific City
Distance: 3.5 miles
Elevation gain: 100 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Pass required: None
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trails.
ADA access: The trail along the wetlands is flat and even. The beach trail is narrow and irregular. The trails have multiple benches. Accessible parking and restrooms.
Restrooms: Yes
Drive time from Portland: 2 hours
Sitka Sedge is a great place for birdwatching
Sitka Sedge State Natural Area is a rare hidden gem on the north Oregon Coast. It stays relatively uncrowded despite being an easy day trip from Portland. I think of it as somewhere between a hiking and beach destination. From the parking lot, a gentle trail leads past a tidal marsh where you’re all but guaranteed to see birds. It’s a favorite of many species, like herons, egrets, buffleheads, mergansers, and ravens. Past the marsh, the trail branches. The most direct route to the beach is a quarter mile from the junction. The other lightly trafficked trails form a loop that explores a dense coastal forest. Whichever way you go, you’ll end up at a beautiful and deserted beach. Look south to see Pacific City’s Haystack Rock. Cape Lookout frames the beach to the north.
Learn more about Sitka Sedge State Natural Area.
13. Goat Marsh Lake
Mount St Helens and Goat Marsh Lake
A great alternative to: Trillium Lake, Mirror Lake, and Lost Lake
Distance: 2.4 miles out and back
Elevation gain: 200 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Pass required: None
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
ADA access: No
Restrooms: No
Drive time from Portland: 1.5 hours
Mount St Helens from the trail
Given how often I see Trillium Lake and Lost Lake on social media, I’m surprised Goat Marsh Lake still flies under the radar. This short hike ends at an incredible and photogenic finale, Mount St Helens reflecting off the deep blue of Goat Marsh Lake. Development is minimal here. The parking is a widened shoulder on a forest service road. The trail passes through an area of old-growth forest on the way to the lake. You’ll walk past a field with excellent views of Mount St Helens. I hear that elk visit this field often, although I’ve never seen them myself. Humans are almost as scarce. Even on sunny weekend days, I’ve only passed one or two other groups of hikers on the trail. Bring snacks to enjoy on a log by the lake. Look for the beaver dam in the distance and the many rough-skinned newts swimming in the water. Since the hike doesn’t take long, you might want to combine it with one of the other attractions nearby, like the Ape Cave or the Trail of Two Forests. The cave gets crowded, but the trail doesn’t.
Learn more about the hike to Goat Marsh Lake.
14. Mary S Young Park
Trillium blooms early in Mary S Young Park
A great alternative to: Tryon Creek State Park
Distance: Multiple trails, up to about 5 miles.
Elevation gain: Flat to moderate
Difficulty: Easy
Pass required: None
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail. There’s also an off-leash dog area.
ADA access: The Riverside Loop is paved and even. It gets steep at times, with grades up to 14%. Other trails are mostly unpaved and irregular. Some have barriers like steps. Accessible parking and restrooms.
Restrooms: Yes
Drive time from Portland: 20 minutes
Red flowering current and Oregon grape are other early blooms
West Linn’s Mary S Young Park is my favorite place for an early spring hike near Portland because the flowers bloom here before anywhere else. Tryon Creek State Park is known for having a lot of early-blooming trillium. It will be peaking in Mary S Young Park when Tryon Creek’s first flowers start to emerge, usually around late March or early April. Besides trillium, look for Oregon grape, skunk cabbage, and red-flowering current among the first flowers. The park is by no means deserted, but I’d call it a hidden gem for being so close to Portland. You’ll have no trouble with parking and getting a picnic table. The park has multiple hiking trails, none of them very long or strenuous. Feel encouraged to wander. Check out the Riverside Loop for access to the Willamette River. Later in the summer, when the water is lower in the river, you can reach a couple of tiny islands from the park on foot.
Find all the best places to see trillium near Portland.
15. Forest Park (lesser-known trails)
Few hikers visit the north end of the Wildwood Trail
Pass required: None
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trails.
ADA access: Mostly no. Lower Macleay Park has about a quarter mile of flat paved trail. It gets crowded.
Trillium blooms in Forest Park in spring
Forest Park is the most popular hiking destination in Portland. That being said, the visitors are not evenly distributed. If you avoid hotspots like the Stone House, the trail to Pittock Mansion, and the Leif Erikson Trail, it’s not hard to escape the crowds. To find less trafficked routes, check out the Maple Loop or start at one of the fire lanes at the north end of Forest Park, like Fire Lane 12 or 15. The Ridge Trail also flies relatively under the radar, given how cool a view it has of the St Johns Bridge. You may not have complete solitude, but it’s an easy way to have quiet time in nature without doing a lot of planning.
Best hidden gem hikes near Portland: the summary:
Elowah Falls and Upper McCord Creek Falls
Herman Creek Trail
Wind Mountain
Emerald Falls and Gorton Creek Falls
Doetsch Walking Path
Lancaster Falls
Punchbowl Falls
Banks-Vernonia Trail
Shellburg Falls
McDowell Creek Falls
Wildwood Recreation Area
Sitka Sedge State Natural Area
Goat Marsh Lake
Mary S Young Park
Forest Park, the obscure trails
Enjoy your uncrowded hike near Portland!
With love,
Emma
Explore nearby
Find less crowded alternatives to the Dog Mountain wildflower hike.
Find the best waterfall hikes near Portland.
Check out the somewhat obscure hike to Abiqua Falls.
