I’m really enjoying hiking in the forests of the Gorge this winter! We started at the Herman Creek trailhead and took the Herman Bridge Trail to the PCT, then stopped for lunch at the Pinnacles before continuing to Dry Creek Falls and back.
Besides the well known paths that lead up Beacon Rock, Hamilton Mountain, and Hardy Ridge, Beacon Rock State Park contains additional trails that make creating hike loops of varying distances possible.
December is a great time to hike at Silver Falls State Park. The lodge and park entrance are all dressed up for the holidays, water levels are higher in the waterfalls, and there are far fewer crowds.
Cape Horn is located on the Columbia River in Washington, near the town of Washougal. The full loop hike is open from July 16 to January 31 each year. The upper section is open all year, but the lower section is closed from February to July 15 for peregrine falcon habitat.
Angels Rest is a classic location for a sunset hike. The views at the top are amazing, and it’s not too far to hike out in the dark. Just make sure to take a headlamp!
Wanting a good conditioning hike on a foggy and rainy day, we got a little more adventure than we anticipated when it got pitch dark for the last two miles of our hike.
For this loop hike, we started at the Upper Larch Mountain trailhead before the road closes for the season. It was a clear sunny day, and views from Sherrard Point were amazing.
For this loop hike, I was hoping to find an alternate route to Silver Star that was less steep and rocky than the Grouse Vista trail. I found out that the Tarbell trail is not less steep or rocky, but it was interesting.
The classic loop from Multnomah Falls to Wahkeena Falls… beauty in every season.
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