Coolest 13+ mile hikes
Yocum Ridge | 20 miles | 4900 ft of elevation gain | The longest hike I’ve ever done, and it has it all. Crossing the Sandy River, passing Ramona Falls, the long trek up the forested ridge, weaving through wildflower meadows, to the rocky end of the trail. I went in late August and still had to navigate a little snow at the top. An unforgettable experience.
Paradise Park | 18 miles | 4200 ft of elevation gain | This takes you to one of the most beautiful wildflower displays on Wy'East (Hood). You can get here from Timberline Lodge, but I prefer the Paradise Park Trailhead for a less exposed hike to the meadows at the top.
Observation Peak and Trapper Creek | 16 miles | 3900 ft of elevation gain | A tour of the north and central parts of the Trapper Creek Wilderness. Old growth forests. Waterfalls and creeks. Huckleberries aplenty. Wildflowers. Wind in the trees. Relatively quiet.
Mt. Defiance | 14 miles | 5300 ft of elevation gain | A hike to the highest peak in the Columbia River Gorge. A bit like summiting Loowit, which is why people often train here. A steep ascent, lots of thriving fireweed and charred forests, and spectacular views.
Cooper Spur via Tilly Jane | 13 miles | 5100 ft of elevation gain | My favorite hike, period. Of all the “get as high as you can on the mountain without needing climbing equipment” hikes, this epic quest through forest, a burnt but recovering ridge, past the Tilly Jane A frame and the Cooper Spur Shelter, up to the trail log book at the end of the trail, is the most epic of epic quests.
Lolo Pass to Buck Peak | 16 miles | 2500 ft of elevation gain | If you’re looking for a long day hike on the PCT, this is good choice, which takes you north from Lolo Pass through the Bull Run Watershed, with your return trip looking straight at Wy’east.
Larch Mountain | 14 miles | 4000 ft of elevation gain | There is a whole other world of forest and waterfall magic once you get above Multomah Falls, on the way up to Sherrard Point (Larch Mountain). This is also the way to the Ornament Trail, a seasonal hidden gem.
Cast Creek and Horseshoe Ridge | 15.5 miles | 3700 ft of elevation gain | If you love ridges, you’ll love these ridges! Coming down Horseshoe Ridge was especially magical. The side trip to Cast lake is worthwhile. The wildflowers on Zig Zag Mountain are many.
