Clackamas County, Oregon
Looking for the best backpacking in Clackamas County? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Clackamas County. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.
Top Backpacking Spots in and near Clackamas County
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Idanha, Oregon
Hike up the South Slopes of Mount Jefferson
15 mi / 7400 ft gainSet out from Pamelia Lake Trailhead through dense old growth forest. You'll see giant cedars, mixed firs and stunning mountain streams carving their way thru very green forest. After a couple miles, you'll reach Pamelia Lake. This is a great place to grab a snack, water, take photos and camp if y...Read more -
Idanha, Oregon
Hunt's Cove via Pamelia Lake Trail
14.74 mi / 3150 ft gainThis loop through the Pamelia Lake Limited Entry Area is one of the premier backpacking trips in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness. The trail offers sustained up-close views of Mount Jefferson and several lookout points provide panoramic views of the western Oregon Cascades. The several large back...Read more -
Linn County, Oregon
Coffin Mountain Fire Lookout
5.02.67 mi / 873 ft gainCoffin Mountain Fire Lookout is a beautiful day hike that takes you to its summit at 5771 feet elevation, covering roughly 1070 feet elevation gain. To get to the Coffin Mt. trailhead from Detroit OR, travel east on Highway 22 for approximately 19.5 miles to Forest Road 11 (Straight Creek Road)....Read more -
Cascade Locks, Oregon
Tomlike Mountain
4.57.65 mi / 1198 ft gainBeginning at the Wahtum Lake trailhead, follow the Wahtum Lake Express trail down to the shore and head east (right) around the lake. At the junction with the Pacific Crest Trail, follow the Herman Creek Trail to the east (right, again). You'll begin your ascent out of the Wahtum Lake bowl and to...Read more -
Cascade Locks, Oregon
Backpack the Mark. O Hatfield Wilderness Via Eagle Creek
1.026 mi / 2300 ft gainThis is a somewhat incomplete report because we did not venture too far into the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness. The sky had been threatening us with rain for the duration of our hike along Eagle Creek and we did not want to push our luck too far since we were hoping for an early start on our drive ...Read more -
Cascade Locks, Oregon
Ruckel Ridge Loop
5.08.08 mi / 3730 ft gainThis ridge is one of the lesser known paths from the Eagle Creek Trailhead. Instead of taking Ruckel Creek Trail, find the trail leading up Ruckel Ridge. It is a far more difficult hike of about 7 miles leading up to Benson Plateau. Along the way there are beautiful lookout points for Mount Hood,...Read more -
North Bonneville, Washington
Table Mountain via Aldrich Butte Trailhead
4.716 mi / 3350 ft gainHike up into the forest (take the right path, not the one going left), and follow it all the way until you get to "Carpenter Lake" (which always seems to be just an empty, marshy field). Keep going and do not take the right path at the first Y split off. Instead, stay left, until you come to anot...Read more -
Jefferson County, Oregon
Hike Canyon Creek Meadow and 3 Fingered Jack
5.0This hike is truly spectacular from the moment you step foot out of your car. Jack Lake lies at the beginning of the trail, and provides a beautiful sample of what's to come. Stop and take pictures if you feel so inclined, but don't stop here to camp, because it gets a LOT better!Follow the trail...Read more -
Sisters, Oregon
Backpack to Santiam Lake via Duffy Lake Trailhead
9.94 mi / 1362 ft gainYou start by weaving through an old-growth forest, gaining a little elevation, appreciating the shade, before you come up out and into the alpine forest the majority of the hike will take place in. You will quickly reach your first of many intersections within ~.1 mile into the trail. Be sure t...Read more -
Foster, Oregon
Hike the Middle Pyramid
4.5The Three Pyramids, half as tall as the better-known Three Sisters, are beautiful U-shaped glacial valleys, remnants of the Ice Age.To reach the top of Middle Pyramid, leave from the #3380 trailhead at the west end of the parking area. Early on there is a creek crossing (the bridge was still wash...Read more -
Cascade Locks, Oregon
North Lake via Wyeth Trail
1.012.36 mi / 4505 ft gainPark at the Wyeth Trailhead parking lot and start hiking south along the old road bed. At the junction with the Gorge-Wyeth Trail, bear left and follow the Wyeth Trail as it goes beneath several power lines. Follow the trail as it goes back into the woods and crosses Harphan Creek. Continue on an...Read more -
Cascade Locks, Oregon
Mount Defiance
3.712.55 mi / 5167 ft gainThis hike starts at the Starvation Creek Rest Area. After parking, head west back along the shoulder of the freeway, where you’ll see a wooden sign stating “Mt. Defiance Trail.” Continue heading west along the abandoned Columbia River Highway. Keep going west as you pass the junction with the Sta...Read more -
Sisters, Oregon
Snowshoe to the Mountain View Shelter
5.04 mi / 500 ft gainA short hike from the sno-park, the snow shelter is within an hour's reach of the trailhead. Make sure to print a trail map of the area's routes ahead of time, or take a picture of the map provided in the parking lot, as the network of trails can get you a little lost.From the parking lot, make s...Read more -
Sisters, Oregon
Three Fingered Jack Loop
3.824.07 mi / 3537 ft gainBegin this 2-3 day backpacking trek at the Santiam Pass trailhead off Highway 20, 31 miles east of Detroit and 21 miles west of Sisters, Oregon. You can begin the loop either north on the PCT or East on trail #4014 towards Square Lake (as it is a loop) I would recommend heading east. It's a 2.2 ...Read more -
Sisters, Oregon
Backpack to Square and Booth Lakes
2.08 mi / 240 ft gainThis is an easy access, fairly short backpacking trip to a high mountain lake, which is good for kids. A super dusty, dry and smoke permeated trip to the base of Three Fingered Jack. Forest fires raging throughout the northwest poured smoke in to the entire western half of the state during this A...Read more -
Stevenson, Washington
Three Corner Rock
4.03.86 mi / 1093 ft gainFrom the Rock Creek Pass Trailhead, begin the short hike to Three Corner Rock by heading south on the Pacific Crest Trail from its crossing of Road CG 2090. After a steady 1.5-mile climb of roughly 600 feet, look for a large fallen sign marking the junction to Three Corner Rock. Shortly after, an...Read more