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Whether you’re short on time, new to the outdoors, or bringing the whole family, it’s nice to have some go-to trails to check out with an excellent views to effort ratio. And if you are exploring the Pacific Northwest, here are some of the best easy hikes near Portland, Oregon for you to check out first.

How to get to the best hikes around Portland

If you are coming from outside of the Pacific Northwest, the best way to get to these incredible hikes is to fly into Portland, OR (airport code PDX). If you want to spend a great day in Portland outside of your hike, check out this post. It is easiest to rent a car, but there are some shuttle options available for some of the hikes if this is not an option for you. Uber and Lyft are also a possibility, although they could be expensive.

What to Wear when Hiking around Portland

You never know just quite what you might get in the Pacific Northwest, but it really depends on the season. The area around Portland has so many waterfalls because it can be pretty wet – so not surprisingly you may need different gear than when you hike in other areas of the country. Just because you are opting for easy hikes near Portland doesn’t mean you don’t need to be prepared.

In addition to the ten essentials, make sure to pack a rain jacket, wear waterproof shoes, gloves, and bring extra layers – I prefer wool baselayers from WoolX Wool. However in the summer, you probably will not get much rain so make sure to pack sunscreen, bug spray and extra water.

Permits and Fees Required for Easy Hikes near Portland

Permits

The Columbia River Gorge Waterfall Cooridor on the Oregon side will be implementing a permit system between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend for vehicles wishing to travel along the stretch of the road between Vista House and Ainsworth State Park (this includes a large majority of the hikes on the Oregon side). For more details, check out this page for information. Please note, you will not need to obtain a permit if arriving via shuttle, private transportation, or bike.

Passes and Fees

There are three passes that you might encounter/need depending on which of the easy hikes near Portland that you choose. They are as follows:

• Interagency/America the Beautiful Annual Pass – This pass is also known as the “national parks pass” but it offers so much more. It also allows use of many US Forest Service sites, recreation areas, and Bureau of Land Management land. It is currently $80 for 12 months.

• Northwest Forest Pass – This pass is not necessary if you already have the Interagency/America the Beautiful Pass as this pass gets you access to everywhere that the Northwest Forest Pass does. However if you are local and not planning to visit any other federally-managed lands outside of Oregon and Washington, you will save money by purchasing this pass. It is currectly $30 for 12 months.

• Oregon State Parks Pass – For state park areas in Oregon you can purchase an annual pass for $30 or 24 month pass for $50. Here is the link. Daily Oregon State park permits must be purchased on site.

For more information about these passes including fee-free days, check out these links: Oregon State Parks Pass and US Forest Service Pass information.

Leave No Trace

A really important piece of exploring is protecting the nature that you are visiting. The best way to do this is to learn and follow the 7 principles of Leave No Trace. These are:

• Plan ahead and prepare
• Travel & camp on durable surfaces
• Dispose of waste properly
• Leave what you find
• Minimize campfire impacts
• Respect wildlife
• Be considerate of others

If you want to learn more about these principles or find out ways that you can give back, check out the Leave No Trace website here.

Easy Hikes near Portland, Oregon

Each of these hikes is under 2.5 hours from Portland. Some are much closer than that. Not all of the trails are accessible year-round so make sure to check conditions in advance through and app like AllTrails and with the Forest Service prior to planning your trip.

Please note that “easy” is a relative term. Some of these trails are harder than others but they are technically all classified as “easy”. And if you are searching on your own, keep in mind that if you are looking for short hikes near Portland these are not all necessarily easy because some of them have intense elevation gain. You can prepare as a new hiker by reading this post on beginner hiking tips.

Wahclella Falls

Number of Miles: 1.9 miles
Elevation Gain: 223 ft
Difficulty (1 is easiest – 5 is hardest): 2
Permit Required: No
Fees (if applicable): $5, Covered under the Northwest Forest Pass/America The Beautiful Annual Pass
Dogs Allowed: Yes
Best Time of Year to Hike: Year-round

This is an amazing easy hike near Portland that you should check out. It is an impressive waterfall with an excellent view to effort ratio. There are some areas on the trail with steep drop-offs to one side so extra caution would be necessary if hiking with children. Hiking to waterfalls are one of the best things to do in Portland on a rainy day.

Trillium Lake

Number of Miles: 1.9 miles
Elevation Gain: 26 ft
Difficulty (1 is easiest – 5 is hardest): 1
Permit Required: No
Fees (if applicable): $5, Covered under the Northwest Forest Pass/America The Beautiful Annual Pass
Dogs Allowed: Yes
Best Time of Year to Hike: Spring-Fall, road is closed in winter making the hike much longer/requiring snowshoes

This trail is a great one to do if you are truly looking for an easy trail near Portland. And if you end up not wanting to hike, you can still see great views right from the parking lot. Currently a portion of the trail is closed for repairs so you can’t do the whole loop but it is still worth going as the reflection of Mt. Hood on this lake is one of my favorites.

Eagle Creek to Punchbowl Falls

Number of Miles: 4.7 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,046 ft
Difficulty (1 is easiest – 5 is hardest): 2
Permit Required: No
Fees (if applicable): $5, Covered under the Northwest Forest Pass/America The Beautiful Annual Pass
Dogs Allowed: Yes
Best Time of Year to Hike: Year-round

This trail is on the way to my favorite waterfall near Portland, Tunnel Falls. To get to that waterfall, you have to be down for about 15 miles of hiking round trip. And since that is not for everyone, stopping at Punchbowl Falls is a great alternative. This whole area is beautiful.

Dry Creek Falls

Number of Miles: 4.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 886 ft
Difficulty (1 is easiest – 5 is hardest): 2
Permit Required: No
Fees (if applicable): $5, covered under the Northwest Forest Pass/America The Beautiful Annual Pass
Dogs Allowed: Yes
Best Time of Year to Hike: Year-round

This hike reminded me a lot of Abiqua Falls (this one is more difficult, click here to learn about Abiqua Falls and some of the other best waterfalls near Portland) but without the ropes and without the sketchy road to get there. In fact, you park right in the heart of Cascade Locks just before crossing the Bridge of the Gods to access the trail. When I did this hike, I visited mid-week and never saw another person – it was quite glorious.

Top Spur

Number of Miles: 2.1 miles
Elevation Gain: 702 ft
Difficulty (1 is easiest – 5 is hardest): 2
Permit Required: No
Fees (if applicable): No
Dogs Allowed: Yes
Best Time of Year to Hike: Summer-Early Winter

If the reflection of Mt. Hood at Trillium Lake was not quite enough for you, this hike gets you up close and personal with the mountain. The road to get to the trail head is quite bumpy and there are a lot of potholes. That being said, there were some sedans at the trail head. The main views of this trail are from the portion of the Timberline loop that it connects up with. For a longer hike (from a different trail head) with the same views, check out Bald Mountain from Lolo Pass.

Drift Creek Falls

Number of Miles: 3.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 541 ft
Difficulty (1 is easiest – 5 is hardest): 2
Permit Required: No
Fees (if applicable): $5, covered under the Northwest Forest Pass/America The Beautiful Annual Pass
Dogs Allowed: Yes
Best Time of Year to Hike: Year-round

This is the farthest on the list from Portland so it is best to go on a day you were already planning to be at the Oregon Coast, or when you have some extra time for driving. The drive is worth it though. The suspension bridge makes for such a cool feature on this trail.

Best Areas to Find Easy Hikes Near Portland

Tyron Creek State Natural Area

Believe it or not, this is actually the only state park in the Portland area.

Therefore, this is a great place to go if you want to check out some easy hikes near Portland since this place sits just 15 minutes away from the city.

Because whether you’re looking for paved or unpaved trails, or you want to do a bit of walking, horseback riding, or mountain biking, this is the place for you.

So, check out one of the eight bridges and explore the eight miles of hiking trails that make their way through the area.

In particular, the 0.3-mile Trillium Trail is perfect for hikers of every ability and features tons of great viewing platforms too.

Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge

This is one of the best birding spots in the state that doubles as the home of some of the best easy hikes near Portland.

See, in total, the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge features over 4 miles of gravel trails, like the River Trail and The Wetland Trail, that are perfect if you are looking for easy hikes near Portland, Oregon.

And these hikes will take you through 1,856 acres of wetlands and lowlands areas that are known for a diverse array of wildlife including Bald Eagles, Great Blue Herons, Deer, Wood Ducks, Red-Tailed Hawks, River Otters, and Garter snakes.

There is even a fabulous Visitor Center on-site that you can check out if you need help identifying bird species currently residing in the park.

Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge

Located in southeast Portland, this 141-acre park sits along the banks of the Willamette River and is home to a wealth of stunning birds.

So, do a 2.3-mile hike along the perimeter of Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge and be on the lookout for birds that include Nature Hawks, Quail, Mallards, Coots, Kestrels, and Woodpeckers.

Additionally, the Refuge is home to the Oaks Amusement Park, which is a great place to stop if you want to bring the kids with you as you try some of the easy hikes near Portland.

Easy Hikes Near Portland FAQs

Is There Good Hiking near Portland?

Yes, there is great hiking near Portland. And since the city is well-located near many natural areas, this is an ideal destination for people who love the great outdoors.

So, local highlights include hikes through expansive forests, urban strolls through verdant gardens, gorgeous waterfall hikes near the Columbia River Gorge, and alpine lake treks around Mount Hood.

What is the Easiest Long Trail to Hike?

Some of the easiest long trails to hike include:

• Enchanted Valley, Olympic National Park
• The Sunshine Coast Trail, British Columbia
• Tahoe Rim Trail. Distance, California/Nevada
• The Long Trail. Distance, Vermont
• Superior Hiking Trail, Minnesota
• Pinhoti Trail, Alabama/Georgia

Is Portland or Seattle Better for Hiking?

Portland is better for hiking since there are over 198 trails for explorers to choose from. In contrast, Seattle only has 82 hikes on offer.

However, both cities are definitely ideal destinations in their own right for anyone looking for world-famous hikes.

How long is the 4t trail in Portland?

The 4t Trail in Portland is a 10-mile long loop trail that is considered moderately difficult.

Easy Hikes near Portland

Hopefully this list of some of the top easy hikes near Portland helps you plan for the next time you are ready to hit the trails. Have you done any of these? Which one do you want to do first? Let me know in the comments.

You May Also Enjoy These Posts:

• Hiking Tips for Beginners
• Best Waterfalls in Oregon
• Best Columbia River Gorge Hikes
• Best Waterfalls near Portland
• Best Wildflower Hikes in the Columbia River Gorge
• 10 Places to Visit in Oregon

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