10 Best Short Hikes Near Mt Hood
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The Mt Hood National Forest has some of Oregon’s coolest hikes, full of old-growth forests, glacial rivers, waterfalls, and alpine lakes. If you hike in July or August, you’ll see wildflowers just about anywhere you go. It can be hard to know where to start because of the sheer number of trails near Mt Hood and because many aren’t idle undertakings. It's important to know what you’re in for, whether it’s poorly maintained forest service roads, remote trailheads, or rugged terrain. I’m keeping things laidback and (relatively) easy on this list of my favorite short hikes around Mt Hood, ranked in a totally subjective order of how awesome I find them. Enjoy!
Mt Hood from Lookout Mountain
Tips for hiking around Mt Hood
Most trailheads in the Mt Hood National Forest aren’t developed and offer few amenities, if any. Plan on being as independent as possible.
Check which recreation pass you need before heading out. It’s usually the NW Forest Pass and, in most cases, you’ll need to buy it before you arrive at the trailhead. Trust me, nothing is more frustrating than driving for miles on a crumbling mountain road and then not being able to buy a parking pass when you arrive. I’m looking at you, hike #3.
Expect snow at higher elevations on Mt Hood from around November through May or June. Lower elevation trails in the Mt Hood National Forest (like #6 and #10 on the list) are usually snow-free all year.
Packing list:
Water bottle and trail snacks
Recreation pass
Layers. I recommend a weirdly large amount. I usually wear a T-shirt and bring a sweater, jacket (or two), and a hat. This mountain has tricked me before.
1. Zigzag Canyon
Lupines bloom on the trail to Zigzag Canyon in the summer
Distance: 4.7 miles out and back
Elevation gain: 850 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Kid-friendly: Yes
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
Pass required: None May - October. Use a Sno-Park Pass from November through April (although the trail will probably be inaccessible during these months).
ADA access: No
Restrooms: Yes, in Timberline Lodge.
Drive time from Portland: 90 minutes
Season: July - October
Zigzag Canyon
Zigzag Canyon is the best short hike on Mt Hood for appreciating the mountain’s unbelievable scale and grandeur. The trail begins at Timberline Lodge, which offers breathtaking Cascade views starting from the parking lot, not to mention cold beer when you return. On the trail to Zigzag Canyon, you’ll wander in and out of the tree line with regular views of the Mt Hood National Forest, Mt Jefferson, and Mt Hood’s summit. Since the hike begins at 6,000 feet, it has high-elevation scenery throughout despite a moderate elevation gain. Wildflowers line the trail starting in early July and peak around August. The hike ends at the rim of Zigzag Canyon, which overlooks the massive glacially carved valley with the Zigzag River at its base. Prepare to feel as small and vulnerable as an ant when standing next to this chasm.
2. Lookout Mountain
Lookout Mountain has stunning views of Mt Hood
Distance: 2.9-mile loop
Elevation gain: 550 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Kid-friendly: Yes, but watch for drop-offs near the trail.
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 before arriving.
ADA access: No
Restrooms: Yes, vault toilet with a broken lock.
Drive time from Portland: 2 hours
Season: July - October
Lookout Mountain has views out to Oregon’s high desert on a clear day
At a little over 6,000 feet, Lookout Mountain is the second-highest peak in the Mt Hood National Forest. The short hike around its summit is uncrowded despite having some of the best views of Mt Hood you can find anywhere. I suspect the 2-hour drive from Portland is responsible for its obscurity, but trust me, this one is worth the extra distance. Besides the incredible Mt Hood views, you’ll see the Cascades to the south, including Mt Jefferson and the Three Sisters. On the east side of Lookout Mountain, look for conifer-covered foothills transitioning to the far-off flat and arid plains of Oregon’s high desert. To the north, you can see Mt Adams and Mt Rainier on a clear day. In summer, wildflowers spring up everywhere on top of Lookout Mountain. When you reach the summit, take a minute to watch the butterflies flit between buckwheat, penstemon, and yarrow blooms, all surrounded by Cascade panoramas.
3. Top Spur to Muddy Fork
Mt Hood from the Timberline Trail
Distance: 6 miles out and back (or 3-mile option)
Elevation gain: 1,000 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Kid-friendly: Yes, but watch for steep slopes near the trail.
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
Pass required: NW Forest Pass ($5/day) or America the Beautiful Pass. Buy a pass before arriving. You can make it in a low-clearance vehicle, but it’s a bumpy ride.
ADA access: No
Restrooms: Yes, port-a-potty in summer.
Drive time from Portland: 90 minutes
Season: July - November
Muddy Fork
The first time I did the short hike from the Top Spur Trailhead to Muddy Fork was, I believe, the moment I officially fell in love with Oregon. My sister and I reached the trailhead by accident after taking a wrong turn on the way to Ramona Falls. We realized our mistake but decided to start the trail to stretch our legs after a long and stressful drive there. The hike begins in a shady, old-growth forest that is pleasant if not particularly unusual for the Mt Hood National Forest. Within a mile, everything changes. The trail follows a ridge around Bald Mountain, where Mt Hood looms across a lush green valley. Wildflowers emerge on the grassy slopes in summer. The Sandy River flows at the base of the valley, looking minuscule amid its grand surroundings. For a short and easy hike, turn around after these initial mountain views. If you’re up for more, the Timberline Trail continues to the Muddy Fork of the Sandy River, backed by more dramatic views of Mt Hood.
4. Tamanawas Falls
Boulder field on the way to the falls
Distance: 3.5 miles out and back
Elevation gain: 600 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Kid-friendly: Yes
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 before arriving.
ADA access: No
Restrooms: Yes
Drive time from Portland: 90 minutes
Season: May - October. Tamanawas Falls is also a great snowshoe trail in winter.
Tamanawas Falls
The trail to Tamanawas Falls has one of the most rewarding finales for its distance on Mt Hood. The hike follows the gentle and picturesque Cold Spring Creek through an alpine forest. You’ll cross a few lovely footbridges and pass cascades that look like miniature waterfalls. In summer, wildflowers abound. The hike ends with two exciting features. The first is a trek through a field of andesite boulders, many of which tower above you as you walk. To your right, you’ll see the cliff they fell from. Just past the boulder field, you’ll reach the first view of 110-foot Tamanawas Falls plunging in front of a recessed grotto in a broad andesite cliff. The trail continues to the falls, letting you get close enough to feel the spray coming off the curtain of falling water. In the winter, strange and wonderful ice formations appear around the waterfall.
5. Trillium Lake Loop
Goldenrod blooms on the banks of Trillium Lake
Distance: 2-mile loop
Elevation gain: Minimal
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-friendly: Yes
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
Pass required: NW Forest Pass ($10/day), NOT America the Beautiful Pass. There are envelopes for on-site payment.
ADA access: Mostly not, but look for a few short barrier-free trails near the campground.
Restrooms: Yes
Drive time from Portland: 70 minutes
Season: May - October. Trillium Lake is also a popular snowshoeing trail in the winter.
Mallards swim in Trillium Lake
If you can overlook the crowds around the campgrounds, the short loop hike around Trillium Lake is one of the most stunning trails near Mt Hood. Arrive early for this one. Even on weekdays, it gets packed in the summer. The good news for hikers is that only a small fraction of visitors do the full trail, which is complete once more after recent repairs to the boardwalks. Once you get away from the easy lake access, you can have a relaxed and peaceful hike. The trail begins with a show-stopping view of Mt Hood reflecting off the lake. In the summer, you’ll see more than a few kayakers and paddleboarders on the water. The trail stays close to the lakeshore and has an impressive variety of wildflowers from start to finish. This flat and easy hike ends quickly. Consider bringing snacks for a picnic by the water after you’re done.
6. Salmon River Trail
The Salmon River Trail explores an old-growth forest
Distance: 4+ miles out and back
Elevation gain: 300 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-friendly: Yes
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 before arriving.
ADA access: No
Restrooms: Yes, port-a-potty.
Drive time from Portland: 70 minutes
Season: All year
Salmon River
It’s hard to do justice to the Salmon River Trail with pictures because the draw here is the journey rather than a single dramatic highlight. The trail explores what I would call the most impressive old-growth forest near Portland. Thick moss carpets the trunks of towering Doug fir and hemlock trees, hanging in clumps from their branches. Giant sword ferns fill the undergrowth. The Salmon River flows next to the trail throughout the hike. In summer, its icy waters will cool you down quickly, even if you only wade to ankle level. In the fall, look for migrating salmon in the river and mushrooms galore on the forest floor. In the canopy, big leaf maples add splashes of yellow to the green of the conifers. With a starting elevation of only about 1,000 feet, this trail is usually snow-free all year, making it one of the best winter hikes near Portland. The Salmon River Trail is flat and easy for the first two miles, then begins to climb. After another couple of miles, you can reach a ridge with views of the Salmon River Canyon.
Note: The Salmon River Trail is easy to confuse with the Old Salmon River Trail, but don’t worry too much about it. Both are excellent short hikes. As you drive down E Salmon River Rd, the first several trailheads you see are for the Old Salmon River Trail. This 2.5-mile (one-way) trail runs between the road and the river. It has easy and frequent river access. Drive a little farther and you’ll reach the Salmon River West Trailhead, which leads away from the road into the forest. I like them both, but the Salmon River Trail has the advantage of feeling more remote.
Old Salmon River Trail
7. Umbrella and Sahale Falls
The hike begins with views of Mt Hood
Distance: 3.4 miles out and back
Elevation gain: 900 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-friendly: Yes, but I’d skip the scramble down to Sahale Falls with younger kids.
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
Pass required: None
ADA access: No
Restrooms: Yes
Drive time from Portland: 90 minutes
Season: Summer and fall
Umbrella Falls
The hike to Umbrella and Sahale Falls starts at one of Mt Hood’s coolest and most interesting waterfalls. The elegant, 60-foot Umbrella Falls forms countless delicate streams as it cascades over thin ledges that remind me of stacked books. From here, you’ll follow a shady trail surrounded by huckleberry bushes. In summer, it’s a wildflower bonanza. About 1.5 miles from Umbrella Falls, you’ll reach the hike’s other waterfall, 100-foot Sahale Falls. To get a good look at it, you’ll need to make a short scramble down to the pool at its base. In summer, the mist from the falls makes it a great place to relax and cool off. You can turn around here for a 3.4-mile out-and-back hike or continue to Elk Meadows to make it a 4.4-mile lollipop loop.
8. Silcox Hut
Silcox Hut
Distance: 2.7-mile loop
Elevation gain: 1,000 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Kid-friendly: Yes, although the elevation gain might be challenging.
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
Pass required: None May - October. Use a Sno-Park Pass from November through April (the trail will probably be inaccessible during these months).
ADA access: No
Restrooms: Yes, in Timberline Lodge.
Drive time from Portland: 90 minutes
Season: July - October
Sulfur-flower buckwheat blooms near Silcox Hut
The short and steep trail to Silcox Hut is the best hike to tackle if you want to get a tiny taste of what it would be like to climb Mt Hood without overcommitting yourself. Starting from Timberline Lodge, you’ll walk a mile toward the summit until you arrive at the rustic-chic ski cabin, gaining 1,000 feet of elevation along the way. Silcox Hut is about as high as you can go using Mt Hood’s developed hiking trails. The attraction here is more about the scenery at 7,000 feet than the hut itself, which hikers cannot enter. The last tree, no doubt a gnarled whitebark pine, will be below you. Small and fragile wildflowers grow sparsely amid piles of volcanic rock. Just west of Silcox Hut is the terminus of the Magic Mile chairlift. Behind it, Mt Hood’s snowy, glacier-covered summit looms.
9. Mirror Lake
Mirror Lake
Distance: 4.2-mile lollipop loop
Elevation gain: 700 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Kid-friendly: Yes
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 before arriving. Sno-Park Pass required Nov - April.
ADA access: Accessible parking area and restrooms. The first 0.2 miles is paved but then becomes unpaved and uneven. Find details here.
Restrooms: Yes
Drive time from Portland: 65 minutes
Season: May - October
Paintbrush blooms along the trail to Mirror Lake
Like Trillium Lake, Mirror Lake reflects Mt Hood’s summit on a clear day. The lake is smaller, but its (relative) tranquility is a consolation. You won’t find nearly as many crowds here as at Trillium Lake, thanks in large part to the 2-mile hike in. The trail to Mirror Lake climbs steadily through a shady forest with some pleasing wooden footbridges and many wild rhododendrons along the way. Hike this trail in June to see them blooming. Once you reach Mirror Lake, take the (somewhat overgrown) path around it to see views of Mt Hood and its mirror image. Head back for a 4.2-mile lollipop loop or continue on the trail for an 8-mile out-and-back hike up Tom, Dick, and Harry Mountain. I wouldn’t call this a short hike anymore, but the Cascade Mountain views make it tempting to continue. You can see Mount Hood, Mount Adams, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Jefferson at the top on a clear day.
10. Wildwood Recreation Site
Wildwood Recreation Site is a year-round destination near Mt Hood
Distance: 0.75+ miles
Elevation gain: Minimal
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-friendly: Yes
Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trails.
Pass required: America the Beautiful Pass. You can buy a day pass on-site ($5).
ADA access: The Cascade Streamwatch Trail and Wetland Trail are flat, wide, and even. Trail surfaces are pavement, crushed gravel, and boardwalks. Accessible parking and restrooms.
Restrooms: Yes
Drive time from Portland: 1 hour
Season: All year
Wetlands Trail
Wildwood Recreation Site is a well-developed park that offers something for everyone. Near the boundary of the Mt Hood National Forest, its trails are among the closest to Portland in the Mt Hood area. Three short and easy hikes start from the parking lot, each about 0.75 miles long. The Cascade Streamwatch Trail and Wetlands Trail are flat, even, and doable with most mobility devices. The Old Mill Nature Trail is a narrow and irregular dirt path that leads to the remains of an old sawmill. While you’re exploring, be sure to stop at the underwater fish viewing window on the Cascade Streamwatch Trail. You can see juvenile fish here all year. Look for adult salmon in the fall. After exploring the trails, snag a table near the Salmon River for a picnic.
Salmon River
In summary, the best short hikes near Mt Hood are:
Zigzag Canyon
Lookout Mountain
Top Spur Trailhead to Muddy Fork
Tamanawas Falls
Trillium Lake
Salmon River Trail
Umbrella and Sahale Falls
Silcox Hut
Mirror Lake
Wildwood Recreation Site
Enjoy your hike at Mt Hood!
With love,
Emma
Explore nearby
Check out my hiking guide for Timberline Lodge.
See five Cascades peaks from the viewpoint at Larch Mountain.
Explore Mt Adams.
Try out these fun and easy things to do at Mt Rainier National Park.
