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Portland, Oregon

Looking for the best backpacking in Portland? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Portland. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Backpacking Spots in and near Portland

  • Yacolt, Washington

    Hike Silver Star Mountain via Grouse Vista

    4.5
    6 mi / 2000 ft gain
    The Grouse Vista Trailhead is located through the town of Washougal off of highway 14 just past Camas. Once you leave the city, the road will turn to gravel and dirt though it is fairly well maintained until snow arrive and accessible by most cars so long as you're willing to get drive over loose...
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  • Stevenson, Washington

    Three Corner Rock

    4.0
    3.86 mi / 1093 ft gain
    From 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...
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  • North Bonneville, Washington

    Table Mountain via Aldrich Butte Trailhead

    4.7
    16 mi / 3350 ft gain
    Hike 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...
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  • Amboy, Washington

    Siouxon Trail to 14 Mile Falls

    5.0
    13.03 mi / 2310 ft gain
    When you park at the top of the trail, all you see is layers and layers of emerald trees and ground clear of any underbrush. Once on the trail, you start on a rapid decline that brings you to the first of the many streams along this hike. Cross the bridge made out of logs and head towards the ma...
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  • Cascade Locks, Oregon

    Backpack the Mark. O Hatfield Wilderness Via Eagle Creek

    1.0
    26 mi / 2300 ft gain
    This 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 ...
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  • Cascade Locks, Oregon

    Ruckel Ridge Loop

    5.0
    8.08 mi / 3730 ft gain
    This 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,...
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  • Clackamas County, Oregon

    Tumala (Squaw) Mountain

    4.7
    4.51 mi / 1099 ft gain
    On a clear day, this short, secluded hike offers breath-taking views of Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood, and Mt. Jefferson, as well as of downtown Portland, Coast Range, and the Roaring River Wilderness. Begin the hike from the Twin Springs Trailhead and immediately take your fi...
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  • Tillamook, Oregon

    Wilson River Trail

    3.0
    18.58 mi / 4879 ft gain
    This long trail provides hikers with great views of the corridor in the Coast Range. As the trail follows public land for the most part, there are a couple sections with steady elevation gains to avoid private land: near Lees Camp and Ryan Creek. Although the trail receives some of the most rain...
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  • Rhododendron, Oregon

    Burnt Lake and Zigzag Mountain

    5.0
    12.27 mi / 3225 ft gain
    After getting your back country permit from a park ranger, you can park your car and head up Zigzag Mountain. There's a tiny 'parking lot' (lot of dirt) where you park that's right by the trailhead. The hike up to the campsites is roughly 4 miles, and it is all uphill. Not only are you surrounde...
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  • Cascade Locks, Oregon

    Tomlike Mountain

    4.5
    7.65 mi / 1198 ft gain
    Beginning 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...
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  • Mount Hood, Oregon

    McNeil Point via Top Spur Trailhead

    4.9
    7.17 mi / 2428 ft gain
    The hike to McNeil Point begins at Top Spur Trailhead, in the Mt. Hood National Wilderness. Follow signs for McNeil Point along the Pacific Crest and Timberline Trails heading north. Though there are numerous camping opportunities along the way (most of the route follows the PCT), an old stone s...
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  • Cascade Locks, Oregon

    North Lake via Wyeth Trail

    1.0
    12.36 mi / 4505 ft gain
    Park 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...
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  • Government Camp, Oregon

    Tom Dick and Harry Mountain

    5.0
    8.28 mi / 1726 ft gain
    Looking to score those iconic photos of Mt. Hood? Climb the well-graded trail to Tom Dick and Harry Mountain, one of the most accessible summit hikes to Portlanders, and see where they were all taken. Starting from the busy Mirror Lake Trailhead, climb roughly 900 feet and 1.5 miles to Mirror La...
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  • Government Camp, Oregon

    Veda Lake Trail

    4.0
    2.5 mi / 748 ft gain
    This hike starts at the Fir Tree Trailhead and is an out and back 2.8 mile round trip. It's short, but there's 660 feet of elevation gain. To start, you climb steeply then it's an easy hike to a beautiful viewpoint overlooking the lake. The trail descends via switchbacks down to the lake for the ...
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  • Government Camp, Oregon

    Climb the Mt. Hood Summit

    4.8
    7 mi / 5239 ft gain
    Starting at 6,000 ft of elevation at Timberline Lodge, start your climb up the south side of Mt. Hood. If you head out at noon, in 6 hours you can make it about an hour past the last ski lift, called Palmer, where you can set up camp for the night. You may need to dig out a flat spot for your ten...
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  • Cougar, Washington

    Mount St. Helens Summit via Worm Flows

    4.8
    10.53 mi / 5725 ft gain
    The Worm Flow Route, starting at Marble Mountain Sno Park, is the most direct winter route up to the summit. You'll start at around 2,700 feet and begin a steady walk along the trail for 2 miles. Although the trail is fairly well marked well above the snow, you'll want to pay attention to the arr...
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