The Mt. Hood Hikes You Need to do
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Not too far east of Portland, Oregon lies Mt. Hood, Oregon’s highest point, and the fourth-highest point in the Cascade Mountain Range. With lots of land for hiking, biking, climbing, and exploring, there’s tons to see and do! Below we’ve captured some of the best Mt. Hood hikes.
Trillium Lake
Distance: 1.9 miles
Elevation Gain: 26 feet
Difficulty: Easy
This great hike is perfect to stretch your legs. It circles Trillium Lake and was designed to be all-access, so people with limited mobility or using strollers can also use the trail. You’ll see stunning views of Mt. Hood from the lake, so if you’re limited on time in the area, it’s a must-do!
Tamanawas Falls
Distance: 3.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 580 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
One of the best Mt. Hood waterfall hikes, you’ll follow a creek to reach a beautiful waterfall cascading over a 110-foot lava cliff. It’s the perfect hike for families with wildflowers in the summer and stunning autumn colors in the fall. If you’re steady on your feet, you can climb to the right of the falls to reach behind the falls.
Paradise Park
Distance: 12.1 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,300 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Of all the iconic Mt. Hood hikes, Paradise Park from Timberline Lodge is certainly on the list. There are beautiful views throughout, as well as several logical turn-around points if you don't want to go the whole way (The hike to Little Zigzag Canyon is 2 miles round-trip, and Zigzag Canyon overlook is 5 miles). The trail begins at Timberline Lodge, a national historic landmark built in 1937, the perfect place for a post-hike brew.
Mirror Lake
Distance: 4.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 672 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
This gorgeous hike is easily accessible from the highway making it crowded, but for good reason. You’ll hike to a peaceful lake with stunning views of Mt. Hood. On a calm day the mountain will be reflected perfectly in the lake before you. It’s one of the best Mt. Hood lakes, but if you can, go on a weekday or early or late to try to avoid the crowds!
If you're up for more hiking, you can continue past Mirror Lake on the Tom, Dick, and Harry trail for a summit and more view. This will make the hike a total of nine miles.
McNeil Point
Distance: 8.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,585 feet
Difficulty: Hard
See Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams on clear days from the top of this hike. You’ll also be rewarded with fantastic views of Mt. Hood on this adventure. After you’ve hiked through a relaxing forest, you’ll get above the treeline and you can stop for a picnic lunch at the old rock shelter at McNeil Point. It’s a great hike with great rewards!
Angel’s Rest to Devil’s Rest
Distance: 10 miles
Elevation Gain: 3,077 feet
Difficulty: Hard
See beautiful vistas from Angel’s Rest, 1,500 feet above the Columbia River. You’ll be on top of ancient lava flows after you’ve hiked past waterfalls and springs. Downtown Portland is even visible from this hike! If you’ve got the time and the fitness for it, it’s a great hike with stunning views to add to your list.
Timberline Trail
Distance: 41.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 10,341 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Literally one of the best hikes around Mt. Hood, you can go on a multi-day backpacking trip and loop the mountain. On this adventure you'll see amazing views of Mt. Hood, Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, and Mt. Adams. You’ll also be able to see the Columbia River and Portland from parts of the trail. With lava flows, glaciers, wildflowers, meadows, rivers, and waterfalls, there’s fantastic things to see on this hike.
Ramona Falls
Distance: 7.1 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,040 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
If you're in the Mt. Hood area during late summer or early autumn, head to Ramona Falls. The towering peak of Mt. Hood stands above as you enter the alpine forest past andesite cliffs on your way to the falls. Be prepared for stream crossings!
Lolo Pass to Bald Mountain
Distance: 6.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,400 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
You can make your way along the popular Pacific Crest Trail and Timberline Trail before jumping off onto the less-visited Bald Mountain Trail. Your reward will be a panoramic view of the Cascades and a peaceful spot to appreciate Mt. Hood’s magnificence.
No matter which of the best hikes near Mt. Hood you pick, you’ll love the views and the scenery. Plus, if you enjoy hiking around the area, you can start looking into climbing Mt. Hood! If you want to go explore the area but aren’t sure where to start, we can plan your hiking trip and give you a personalized itinerary. Just check out our Mt. Hood adventure. Then, be sure to tag us on social if you go on any of these hikes; we’d love to see what you get up to!
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