I have people asking all the time for recommendations on where to hike when they come to visit Portland. There are so many options and it can be overwhelming to pick where to go. Generally speaking, if you live in Portland there are three ‘areas’ that have great options for day hikes: 1) the Oregon Coast 2) the Columbia River Gorge and 3) Mount Hood. We’ve hiked a lot in these three locations over the last year and a half. So, with summer just around the corner, I’m sharing my favorite hikes in each of these parts of Oregon.

Quick note: my biggest priority when choosing a hike is making sure that there is a good view or waterfall or just something that I am hiking towards. I love getting out into nature, but if I’m going to put in the work I also want a good view! That being said, with each of these hikes, all of them have either a mountain view, coastal view, or waterfall/gorge view at the end of each trail.

Mount Hood

Timberline Lodge to Zig Zag Canyon

The hike to Zig Zag Canyon on Mount Hood has easy (and free!) parking and is the highest I’ve been able to hike on the actual mountain. You will cross ski runs on the trail, so make sure you go when the snow has melted so you aren’t dodging skiers and snowboarders on your hike. It can get very hot in the summertime, but on a clear day it is truly magnificent to be on the mountain and looking up at the summit of Hood. We take all our Oregon visitors here because it’s just breathtaking.

Lost Lake Butte Trail

Everything around Lost Lake is humming with visitors in the summer. There is limited parking for this hike, and when we did this two years ago we had to walk about a mile to the trailhead from where we parked because there were so many campers and hikers. As someone who hates crowds when hiking, I will say that this hike is worth it despite the amount of people. It essentially takes you up to a lookout to see Mount Hood in all her glory. We were able to snag a campsite here for this coming summer and I can’t wait! Definitely hoping to do this trail again.

Top Spur Trail

Top Spur is one of those trails that takes you to views that don’t even seem real. Getting to this trail is quite a feat, though. It’s a looooong bumpy road that goes on for about 7 miles before you park at the trailhead. The hike itself is not very long and if you are able to get there on a clear day the views are unbelievable. You might even pass some hikers that are on the PCT!

Columbia River Gorge

Wahclella Falls

This hike is so much better than the ever popular Multnomah Falls. While Multnomah is iconic, it’s so crowded. We take all our Portland visitors to Wahclella instead. It’s not a long hike and parking is, for the most part, fairly easy. In the photo above I am eight months pregnant….so it’s definitely not too difficult!

Hardy Falls and Pool of the Winds

If you’re looking for a trail full of waterfalls, this is the spot for you. There is a massive ‘pool of wind’ (as the name indicates) that is very cool to see. There are also incredible views of the Gorge from this hike as well. You can even see Beacon Rock. Because this hike is technically in WA, you get to see the Oregon side of the Gorge which I personally think is more stunning to look at.

Wind Mountain Trail

This hike, as the name indicates, is windy. But the views of the Gorge! They are so beautiful! (Is it obvious yet that I’m a view chaser when it comes to hiking??) It’s a pretty steep incline, but along the way you can spot other peaks that are in The Cascades. We hiked this on a clear blue-sky day and it definitely delivered.

Oregon Coast

Cape Falcon Lookout

This hike is sentimental as it’s the first hike we did when we visited Oregon for the very first time back in 2015. It was also the first hike we completed after moving to Portland in 2020! In my opinion, this is the best hike along the coast. It looks out over Short Sand Beach and you can watch the surfers as you hike to the lookout along the water. Afterwards, we like to eat lunch down on the beach. The Oregon Coast is one of my favorite places on earth, and this particular spot holds a special place in my heart.

Ecola State Park (and Indian Beach)

This state park is a staple along the Oregon Coast. There is a parking lot with a huge field to just sit and and lookout onto Cannon Beach and the iconic Haystack Rock. If you’re in the mood for hiking, the hike to Indian Beach is pretty rad. Or, you could just hike the first .5 miles of that trail and get to the first (and only) lookout along the trail.

Hug Point Trail

So, technically, I have not done this hike yet. But it’s the next hike we will be doing when we head back out to the coast. It’s super short and the trail sends you right out onto the beach that shows off those famous Oregon Coast cliffs (my favorite).

Have you hiked in Oregon? Are there any that I’m missing that you I need to check out? I would love to hear!