These backpacking trips are all focused on close-up mountain scenery in the Cascades, including Mount Hood, Mount Adams, the Three Sisters, Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens.
These nine backpacking trips are suitable for beginners, with short distances to campsites and minimal elevation gain. Locations range from low elevation forests, to the Olympic Coastline in Washington, to the Central Oregon Cascades.
This 4-5 day backpacking trip goes to the popular Lake Basin area in the Wallowas to basecamp near Mirror or Mocassin Lakes. Multiple options exist for day hikes, including to the summit of Eagle Cap Mountain, over Glacier Pass to Glacier Lake, or a loop hike around the Lakes Basin.
The Ohanapecosh campground, in the southeast corner of Mount Rainier National Park, is surrounded by lush old-growth forest with the scenic Ohanapecosh River running through the campground.
The Bivouac campground at Smith Rock State Park isn’t just for rock climbers – it’s also a great place for hikers to camp when visiting this high desert location.
Smith Rock State Park is located in the high desert of Central Oregon. An internationally renowned location for rock climbing, the park also has plenty of trails for hikers who want to experience the majestic rock scenery.
During the colder months when higher elevation hikes are covered in snow, I like to stay in shape by doing conditioning hikes in the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon Coast Range, and lower elevations near Mount Hood.
Crater Lake was formed when Mount Mazama (12,000 ft.) exploded about 7,700 years ago, leaving a caldera that eventually filled in and formed the lake. These four hikes feature the best of the park’s unique scenery.
The five hikes listed here are my favorites on the Oregon Coast, including trails to secluded beaches, through coastal rainforests, to summits with panoramic views, and along the coastline with tidepools, spouting horns, and if you are lucky, views of migrating whales.
I Heart Pacific Northwest is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
© 2022 I Heart Pacific Northwest / Yulan Studio, Inc. All rights reserved.
