Hiking

There are roughly 1,000 miles of trail in Mt. Hood National Forest. Please observe rules and regulations, stay on designated trails, be alert and courteous, minimize your impact, and avoid muddy areas.

Trail etiquette for hikers generally calls for yielding to horses/pack animals, allowing equestrians and bicyclists to pass. Please resist the urge to cut switchbacks and create (or further establish) social trails. Tread Lightly and practice Leave No Trace ethics.

Backpacking

Backpacking is essentially a more advanced level of hiking. Generally speaking, backpacking is hiking for a longer period of time over a further distance, and typically includes at least one night of camping. Backpacking means you're bringing everything you need on your adventure in your pack, including clothes, food, and camping gear. 
Those who want to backpack are most often interested in exploring the deeper, more remote parts of the national forest off the beaten path. Wilderness is an excellent place for backpacking. Mt. Hood National Forest offers many opportunities for both short- and long-distance backpackers.

Day Hikes

Day hikes vary from just 30 minutes to a few hours. With more than 1,000 miles of trail on the Forest, there are plenty of day hiking options for visitors to choose from.

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Recreation Opportunities

Backpacking (105)

Day Hikes (309)

Showing: 1 - 10 of 309 results

Alder Flat Trail #574

This short and easily traveled trail meanders its way through Douglas fir, cedar and hemlock as it winds down to the shoreline of the Clackamas River.  It was burned in the 2020 Riverside Fire, but…

Alder Flat Trailhead

Trailhead for Alder Flat Trail #574. Parking area has space for 4-5 vehicles with limited overflow.Be careful in burned areas. Watch out for burned trees, eroded slopes, mudslides, missing…

Alpine Campground

Site Closed

High on Mount Hood, near the headwaters of the Salmon River, the Alpine Campground is the highest on the Forest. Snow can be present in mid-summer.  This campground offers excellent access to nearby…

Alpine Trail

Alpine Trail is a steep 2.1 mile trail that travels from Government Camp area to Timberline Lodge. In the winter many people downhill ski from Timberline down to Government Camp. This trail is not…

Anthill Trail #406B

This trail enters the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness. This trail offers fine views of the lower Hood River Valley, Wahtum Lake, Chinidere Mountain and the upper Eagle Creek Drainage. The anthills are…

Armstrong Campground

Site Closed

Armstrong Campground is a small campground, right on the edge of the Clackamas Wild and Scenic River. The river flows right by spacious, family-friendly campsites, giving visitors plenty of access to…

Badger Creek Trailhead

An outhouse is available at the nearby campground. Four parking spaces are available, and additional parking available at the campground. Additional information is available at the trailhead on a…

Badger Lake Campground

Badger Lake Campground is adjacent to Badger Lake and one of the major portals into the Badger Creek Wilderness. It's a rough drive to the campground, but campers are rewarded with a beautiful lake…

Bagby Hot Springs

Site Open

* Do NOT take smaller roads to Bagby, regardless of what Google Maps says. *Bagby OverviewThese natural hot springs are located among towering firs adjacent to a secluded tributary of the Clackamas…

Bagby Hot Springs Trail #544

Bagby Hot Springs Trail #544 leads to the popular Bagby Hot Springs site after about a mile and half. The full 12.5-mile trail continues south to traverse through Bull of the Woods Wilderness and…