North America United States

Mount Hood National Forest

Old-growth forest, glacier views and the basalt curtain of Ramona Falls on the slopes of Oregon's highest peak.

  • 11.3 km
  • 4 hours
  • moderate
  • Best Jun–Oct
  • Pacific Northwest forest
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Photo: @50shadesofpnw

The hike

Mount Hood National Forest wraps around Oregon's tallest volcano, an hour from Portland. The Ramona Falls loop is its classic day hike: a crossing of the glacial Sandy River, then a shaded climb through moss-draped firs to a 36-metre waterfall that fans over columns of basalt.

For bigger days, the Timberline Trail circles the whole mountain in about 66 km of meadows, glacier-fed creeks and ridge views.

Official site

Plan your trip

Best months: Jun–Oct

Permits & fees
Northwest Forest Pass for trailhead parking; free self-issue wilderness permit at the trailhead.
Getting there
Drive about 1 hour 15 minutes east of Portland via US-26 and Lolo Pass Road.
Good to know
  • The seasonal footbridge over the Sandy River is removed in winter — check before you go.
  • Arrive early on summer weekends; the lot is small.
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Sources

Checked October 2026. Distances and times are typical for the route above; conditions, permits and fees change — confirm with the official source before you go.