10 Great Spring Hikes near Portland
Spring hiking in the Pacific Northwest means two things to me: waterfalls and wildflowers. After months of gray drizzle, nothing could be more welcome than blooming cherry blossoms in the city and desert parsley in the Columbia Gorge. Early spring can also be a good time to hit popular trails before the crowds of summer arrive. Here are some great hikes near Portland to tackle this spring.
Tips for spring hiking
Wildflower blooms vary from year to year and can be hard to predict. For help getting your timing right, check out this wildflower bloom tracker.
Spring weather in and around Portland is extremely variable. Prepare for mud and unexpected rain showers while on the trails. Hail showers are also common in spring, although the hail is usually pretty small and doesn’t last long.
Unless you’re prepared for winter driving and hiking conditions, it’s best to stick to lower-elevation hikes until later in the spring. Snow and ice linger on the mountains long after they have melted in the valley and the foothills.
1. Lacamas Park
Pothole Falls
Distance: 1.2+ miles
Elevation gain: Minimal to about 200 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Dog friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trails.
Pass required: None
ADA access: Not great. Parking, restrooms, and views of Lacamas Lake are accessible. The Lacamas Lake Heritage is unpaved but pretty wide, even, and flat. The trails around Round Lake are more irregular.
Restrooms: Yes
Driving distance from Portland: 30 minutes
When to visit: Anytime in spring for the waterfalls. Camas blooms are variable but generally happen in April or May. I’d expect a later bloom this year given the cold spring of 2023.
Woodburn Falls
With two lakes, three waterfalls, and wildflowers aplenty, the trails in Lacamas Park check all the boxes for great spring hiking near Portland. Despite being right in the middle of Camas, Washington, Lacamas Park has trails that feel worlds away from the city. If you visit in early spring before the wildflowers bloom, a hike around Round Lake and its nearby trails will take you to all three waterfalls and the impressive rapids of Lacamas Creek. The hike around the lake is a 1.2-mile loop and includes Pothole Falls. To see all the waterfalls, you can add a couple of spur trails for a total distance of about 3 miles. Check out a trail map here.
In April and May, begin looking for wildflowers along the trails. The highlight is the 0.7-mile loop around the Camas Lily Fields on the east side of Round Lake, which is easy to add to a waterfall hike. Since the dates for camas blooms vary from year to year, it can be hard to get your timing right. Generally, late April and early May will be your best bet.
For more wildflowers, try out the Lacamas Heritage Trail along the west bank of Lacamas Lake. The full hike is 7 miles out and back. The scenery is pretty throughout so do as much or little as you want. Look for early bloomers like skunk cabbage and trillium in early spring followed by bright yellow Oregon grape blossoms later in the season. After your hike, you might want to stop for lunch at Acorn & the Oak, where the back patio looks onto Lacamas Lake.
Acorn & the Oak patio
2. Tom McCall Waterfront Park
Tom McCall Waterfront Park
Distance: 1 mile out and back, with options for a longer walk.
Elevation gain: Minimal
Difficulty: Easy
Dog friendly: Yes, leashed are welcome in the park.
Pass required: None, although parking nearby is metered.
ADA access: Yes, the trail is on city sidewalks.
Restrooms: Yes, but you won’t want to use them.
Driving distance from Portland: None
When to go: Late March until early April for cherry blossoms.
Mallards relax beneath the cherry blossoms
I don’t usually write about urban hikes, but the cherry blossoms at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in downtown Portland are special. For a short time beginning in mid-March until early April, delicate flowers open to create a soft pink canopy along the waterfront trail. Head to the north part of Tom McCall Waterfront Park between the Steel Bridge and the Burnside Bridge to walk amongst the cherry blossoms. For a longer hike, you can continue down the waterfront trail for views of Portland’s bridges and the Willamette River. If you visit on Saturday, stop by the Portland Saturday Market to browse local art, crafts, and food.
3. Tom McCall Trail
Lupines and Columbia River views on the Tom McCall Trail
Distance: 3.4 miles out and back
Elevation gain: 1000 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Dog friendly: No, dogs are not allowed on the trail.
Pass required: None
ADA access: No, not beyond the Rowena Crest Viewpoint.
Restrooms: No
Driving distance from Portland: 75 minutes
When to go: April and May for wildflowers. The trail is closed from November 1st until March 1st to prevent erosion.
Lupines and balsamroot on the Tom McCall Trail
For a very different Tom McCall spring hike experience than the Portland waterfront, head out to Rowena Crest in the eastern Columbia Gorge. At peak season, the Tom McCall Trail has wildflowers along the trail from start to finish. You’ll begin the trail at Rowena Crest Viewpoint, which overlooks the famous twists and turns of the Historic Columbia River Highway from above. From there, the trail heads up to the top of McCall Point. On a clear day, look for the peaks of Mt Hood and Mt Adams starting from about halfway up the hill. At the top, you’ll be rewarded with fields of lupines, balsamroot, and paintbrush surrounded by views of the Columbia Gorge and the mountain peaks.
4. Rowena Plateau Trail
Lupines bloom on the Rowena Plateau Trail
Distance: 2.2-mile lollipop loop
Elevation gain: 240 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Dog friendly: No, dogs are not allowed on the trail.
Pass required: None
ADA access: No, not beyond the Rowena Crest Viewpoint.
Restrooms: No
Driving distance from Portland: 75 minutes
When to go: April and May for wildflowers.
Rowena Crest Viewpoint
Like the Tom McCall Trail, the Rowena Plateau Trail starts at the Rowena Crest Viewpoint. Rather than going up the hill to McCall Point, this trail explores the fields and cliffs of the Rowena Plateau. Since it is short and sweet, it can be an easier alternative to the Tom McCall Trail or you can do both trails for maximum wildflowers. Expect to see excellent displays of lupines and balsamroot along the trail creating a colorful foreground for the basalt cliffs of the plateau and surrounding Columbia Gorge. The trail ends at a viewpoint overlooking the Columbia River.
5. Tyron Creek State Natural Area
Trillium blooms on the Old Main Trail
Distance: Up to 8 miles of trails with many options for shorter hikes.
Elevation gain: Minimal to about 500 feet depending on the trail.
Difficulty: Easy
Dog friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome in the park.
Pass required: None
ADA access: The 0.3-mile Trillium Loop Trail is paved, flat, and even.
Restrooms: Yes
Driving distance from Portland: None
When to go: Great year-round hiking, but go around March or April for trillium blossoms (2023 is a late season, so the first flowers are just emerging in April).
Beaver Bridge on the Middle Creek Trail
The trails at Tryon Creek State Natural Area are good choices for hiking near Portland anytime throughout the year. In spring, they are also some of the best places to see wildflowers, specifically western trillium. Look for flowers in the undergrowth with three white petals. As the season progresses, these petals will become covered with pink spots and then turn a deep mauve. Although you can find trillium blooms in woodlands from the Columbia Gorge to the coast, Tryon Creek is one of the most reliable and easiest-to-reach places to look for them.
Tryon Creek has about 8 miles of hiking trails that form many loops. Pick up a map at the Nature Center for help navigating these intersecting trails. Beyond wildflowers, you can search for the park’s eight footbridges as well as wildlife like deer, coyotes, foxes, rabbits, chipmunks, songbirds, salamanders, tree frogs, and banana slugs.
6. Wahkeena Falls - Multnomah Falls Loop
Weisendanger Falls
Distance: 5-mile loop
Elevation gain: 1600 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Dog friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are allowed on the trail.
Pass required: It depends. There are two parking lots for Multnomah Falls: a small one across the Historic Columbia River Highway and a larger one directly off I-84. You do not need a permit in 2023 for the smaller parking lot. The larger parking lot requires a Multnomah Falls Timed Entry Permit from May 26, 2023 - September 4, 2023, 9 AM - 6 PM. On a busy day, you are more likely to find parking if you have a permit for the larger lot. Learn all about Multnomah Falls Timed Entry Permits here.
Alternatively, you can start this hike from Wahkeena Falls, which does not require a permit. This parking lot is small and fills up quickly on summer weekends.
ADA access: Just the viewpoints at Wahkeena Falls and Multnomah Falls. Accessible restrooms.
Restrooms: Yes, in the Multnomah Falls Lodge.
Driving distance from Portland: 30 minutes
When to go: Potentially year-round, although the hike is challenging when snow and ice are on the trail. The waterfalls and cascades are best from late fall through spring.
Multnomah Falls
The loop trail connecting Multnomah Falls, Wahkeena Falls, and four other waterfalls is perhaps the ultimate Columbia Gorge hike. It is especially magical in spring when the streams, cascades, and waterfalls along the trail are full of rushing water. The season after the winter snow melts and before the crowds of summer arrive is a great time to admire elegant Weisendanger Falls and ethereal Fairy Falls surrounded by cliffs of basalt, towering Doug firs, and massive sword ferns. For details, check out my guide to the Wahkeena Falls - Multnomah Falls Loop here.
7. McDowell Creek Falls County Park
Majestic Falls
Distance: 1.6-mile loop
Elevation gain: 300 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Dog friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
Pass required: None
ADA access: No
Restrooms: Yes, in the Lower Parking Lot.
Driving distance from Portland: 1 hour 45 minutes
When to go: Year-round except when icy. The waterfalls are best from late fall through spring.
Royal Terrace Falls
McDowell Creek Falls County Park in the Cascade foothills has one of the most underrated hikes near Portland. Despite having a beauty reminiscent of the famous Silver Falls State Park, it receives only a small fraction of the visitors. The loop trail around McDowell Creek Falls connects two stunning waterfalls, the Crystal Pool, and numerous cascades along McDowell Creek. The three-tiered Royal Terrace Falls is especially memorable for the unique contours of the sandstone and breccia cliff that form the falls. This hike is perfect for springtime when the Majestic Falls, Royal Terrace Falls, and McDowell Creek have the most water flowing. Plus, unlike Silver Falls, it’s free to visit and you can bring your dog on the trails.
8. Mosier Plateau Trail
Balsamroot and lupines on the Mosier Plateau Trail
Distance: 3.5 miles out and back
Elevation gain: 760 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Dog friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
Pass required: None
ADA access: No
Restrooms: Yes, look for the port-a-potty in the Mosier public parking lot.
Driving distance from Portland: 60 minutes
When to go: April and May for wildflowers.
Mosier Creek Falls
The Mosier Plateau Trail packs in highlights over a short distance, especially in spring when the balsamroot is blooming. Just beyond the trailhead, you’ll walk through the historic Mosier Cemetery and then reach a viewpoint overlooking Mosier Creek Falls. The falls are lovely in spring when the bright green of new grass surrounds the craggy basalt cliff of the waterfall. After passing the falls, you’ll climb the hill up to Mosier Plateau and its sea of balsamroot. These bright yellow flowers make a perfect foreground for the Columbia River and slopes of the Gorge. A short loop at the end of the trail takes you through a stunning field thick with wildflowers before you return the way you came.
9. Hardy Falls, Rodney Falls, and Pool of the Winds
Rodney Falls
Distance: 2.5 miles out and back
Elevation gain: 600 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Dog friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
Pass required: Washington Discover Pass ($10/day or $30/year)
ADA access: No
Restrooms: Yes
Driving distance from Portland: 50 minutes
When to go: Year-round except when icy. The waterfalls are best from late fall through spring.
Rodney Falls
Hardy Falls, Rodney Falls, and Pool of the Winds make up a massive, multi-tiered waterfall in Beacon Rock State Park. Although less well-known than many of the waterfalls in Oregon, the falls here on the Washington side of the Gorge are just as impressive as their counterparts across the river. The falls look particularly good in spring when more water is flowing over the waterfalls and cascades.
The hike to Hardy Falls, Rodney Falls, and Pool of the Winds is a satisfying destination, but it’s also fairly short and you may be tempted to try out one of the other hikes in Beacon Rock State Park while you’re there. Rather than turning around at Rodney Falls, you can continue on the trail and make a lollipop loop around the summit of Hamilton Mountain for a 7-mile hike. For an easier bonus hike option, make a short spur out to Little Beacon Rock on your way back from the waterfalls. Or, drive across Highway 14 and make the 1.8-mile climb to the top of Beacon Rock.
10. Coyote Wall and the Labyrinth
Labyrinth Trail
Distance: 3.6 miles out and back
Elevation gain: 900 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Dog friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
Pass required: None
ADA access: No
Restrooms: Yes
Driving distance from Portland: 90 minutes
When to go: April and May for the best wildflowers.
Accordion Rock
The Labyrinth Trail from Coyote Wall is one of the best spring hikes near Portland because the wildflowers here usually bloom here before anywhere else in the Gorge. The soft yellow of desert parsley lines the trail beginning in late March. Look for other early bloomers along the trail like shooting stars, grass widows, cluster lilies, and prairie stars.
Even if your timing isn’t quite right for wildflowers, the views from this trail are worth the trip. Look for spectacular examples of columnar basalt making up Coyote Wall and Accordion Rock, recognizable by its even vertical columns. The unusual diagonal slope of the cliffs here is due to the Yakima Fold Belt, where the crust of Oregon is rotating clockwise into a more stable Washington. After hiking for about a mile on the Labyrinth Trail, you’ll reach unobstructed views of the Columbia Gorge to both the east and west.
Shooting star blooms on the Labyrinth Trail
In summary, these are 10 great hikes near Portland to try out in springtime:
Round Lake Trail at Lacamas Park
Tom McCall Waterfront Park
Tom McCall Trail
Rowena Plateau Trail
Tryon Creek State Natural Area
Wahkeena Falls - Multnomah Falls Loop
McDowell Creek Falls County Park
Mosier Plateau Trail
Hardy Falls, Rodney Falls, and Pool of the Winds
Coyote Wall and the Labyrinth Trail
Enjoy the spring hiking near Portland!
With love,
Emma
More hiking ideas to explore
Bachelor buttons at Catherine Creek
