Grab your winter coat and lace up your hiking boots. Winter in Oregon offers so many amazing hikes that are especially beautiful under snow and ice. From magical frozen waterfalls to leisurely forest boardwalks, here are eight of the best winter hikes in Oregon:
- Multnomah-Wahkeena Loop Hike
flickr/ Oregon Department of Transportation This amazing hike in the Columbia River Gorge is open year-round, with occasional snowfall in winter. The five-mile loop trail will lead you past the amazing Multnomah Falls, Wahkeena Falls, Fairy Falls, Weisendanger Falls, Ecola Falls, and Dutchman Falls. These icy waterfalls are all spectacularly beautiful in the middle of winter. (Plus, you’ll get to skip the summer crowds.)
Here’s a photo of Weisendanger Falls, located along the Multnomah-Wakheena Loop.
flickr/ Michael Matti
- Wildwood Recreation Site
flickr/ Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington Located along the Salmon River in the Mount Hood National Forest, the Wildwood Recreation Site is a lovely hidden gem woven with beautiful trails and boardwalks that are magical in the wintertime. Wildwood Recreation Site, 65670 US-26, Welches, OR 97067, USA
- Wildwood Trail
Latrice Jones/AllTrails This lovely winter hike in Oregon winds through the beautiful Forest Park in Portland. It’s a wonderful way to escape into the beauty of nature without even leaving the city! Bring your hiking boots - the trail can get muddy. Wildwood Trailhead, Unnamed Road, Portland, OR 97210, USA
- Cape Lookout
flickr/ David Lee This underrated Oregon park is located on the coast of Tillamook County. A stunning five-mile, out-and-back trail leads through a lush old growth forest to the tip of the cape, where you will find gorgeous views of the coastline and beyond. The trail can be muddy, so again, sturdy hiking boots are recommended. Cape Lookout State Park, 13000 Whiskey Creek Rd, Tillamook, OR 97141, USA
- Tumalo Falls
flickr/ Andrew Warren Rimmed with frosty white snow, the beautiful Tumalo Falls is a fantastic spot to visit in the wintertime. Located near Bend, you’ll find two great viewpoints right next to the parking area, but you can also hike along the creek on a 5 mile out-and-back trail. Tumalo Falls, Oregon 97703, USA
- Elowah Falls
flickr/ Michael Matti Elowah Falls is a stunning waterfall in the Columbia River Gorge that is positively enchanting in the winter. A 1.5-mile, out-and-back trail leads to this huge hidden waterfall, which becomes surrounded by glittering ice and snow in the middle of the winter. The trail gets quite muddy and slippery, so be cautious and wear sturdy shoes. The ice around the waterfall is also very slippery, but the sight is oh-so-spectacular. Elowah Falls, Oregon 97014, USA
- Mirror Lake
flickr/ Lydia Brooks Located in the Mt. Hood National Forest, the hike to Mirror Lake is beautiful any time of year. In the summer, the popular three-mile hike often draws crowds, but in winter, it becomes a snowshoeing paradise. The summer trailhead is often blocked by snow in the thick of winter, but you can park at Skibowl for a longer snowshoe hike to this jaw-dropping lake (which reflects the peak of Mt. Hood on clear days). Mirror Lake, Oregon 97049, USA
- Trail of Ten Falls
flickr/ Thomas Shahan Silver Falls State Park is a beautiful natural area located near Silverton. It’s full of amazing waterfalls and trails, including the legendary Trail of Ten Falls, which leads through mossy forests, dramatic canyons, and past numerous amazing waterfalls. This stunning trek can be done as a loop or in shorter sections, and really is some of the best winter hiking in Oregon. Silver Falls State Park, 20024 Silver Falls Hwy SE, Sublimity, OR 97385, USA
Be sure to come properly prepared for these Oregon winter hikes with warm clothes, sturdy shoes, and snow chains for your tires (if necessary). The trails can be quite slippery when muddy or icy, especially when you get close to a waterfall. But these are the best winter hikes in Oregon, and are totally worth the effort… and cold!
flickr/ Oregon Department of Transportation
This amazing hike in the Columbia River Gorge is open year-round, with occasional snowfall in winter. The five-mile loop trail will lead you past the amazing Multnomah Falls, Wahkeena Falls, Fairy Falls, Weisendanger Falls, Ecola Falls, and Dutchman Falls. These icy waterfalls are all spectacularly beautiful in the middle of winter. (Plus, you’ll get to skip the summer crowds.)
flickr/ Michael Matti
flickr/ Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington
Located along the Salmon River in the Mount Hood National Forest, the Wildwood Recreation Site is a lovely hidden gem woven with beautiful trails and boardwalks that are magical in the wintertime.
Wildwood Recreation Site, 65670 US-26, Welches, OR 97067, USA
Latrice Jones/AllTrails
This lovely winter hike in Oregon winds through the beautiful Forest Park in Portland. It’s a wonderful way to escape into the beauty of nature without even leaving the city! Bring your hiking boots - the trail can get muddy.
Wildwood Trailhead, Unnamed Road, Portland, OR 97210, USA
flickr/ David Lee
This underrated Oregon park is located on the coast of Tillamook County. A stunning five-mile, out-and-back trail leads through a lush old growth forest to the tip of the cape, where you will find gorgeous views of the coastline and beyond. The trail can be muddy, so again, sturdy hiking boots are recommended.
Cape Lookout State Park, 13000 Whiskey Creek Rd, Tillamook, OR 97141, USA
flickr/ Andrew Warren
Rimmed with frosty white snow, the beautiful Tumalo Falls is a fantastic spot to visit in the wintertime. Located near Bend, you’ll find two great viewpoints right next to the parking area, but you can also hike along the creek on a 5 mile out-and-back trail.
Tumalo Falls, Oregon 97703, USA
Elowah Falls is a stunning waterfall in the Columbia River Gorge that is positively enchanting in the winter. A 1.5-mile, out-and-back trail leads to this huge hidden waterfall, which becomes surrounded by glittering ice and snow in the middle of the winter. The trail gets quite muddy and slippery, so be cautious and wear sturdy shoes. The ice around the waterfall is also very slippery, but the sight is oh-so-spectacular.
Elowah Falls, Oregon 97014, USA
flickr/ Lydia Brooks
Located in the Mt. Hood National Forest, the hike to Mirror Lake is beautiful any time of year. In the summer, the popular three-mile hike often draws crowds, but in winter, it becomes a snowshoeing paradise. The summer trailhead is often blocked by snow in the thick of winter, but you can park at Skibowl for a longer snowshoe hike to this jaw-dropping lake (which reflects the peak of Mt. Hood on clear days).
Mirror Lake, Oregon 97049, USA
flickr/ Thomas Shahan
Silver Falls State Park is a beautiful natural area located near Silverton. It’s full of amazing waterfalls and trails, including the legendary Trail of Ten Falls, which leads through mossy forests, dramatic canyons, and past numerous amazing waterfalls. This stunning trek can be done as a loop or in shorter sections, and really is some of the best winter hiking in Oregon.
Silver Falls State Park, 20024 Silver Falls Hwy SE, Sublimity, OR 97385, USA
For more ways to get some fresh air on the trail, check out our list of wonderful hikes in Oregon.
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The OIYS Visitor Center
best winter hikes in Oregon December 10, 2021 Sarah What are some other things to do during the winter in Oregon? When the temperatures plummet here in the Beaver State, one of the best things to do during the winter in Oregon is to head to one of the many natural hot springs. Oregon’s Lithia Springs is a place that needs no introduction; this PNW destination has long been lauded for its healing powers. Located in the unique little town of Ashland, this resort’s outdoor saline pool is perfect for soaking, and, during the warmer months, some poolside lounging might be just what you need to decompress from the stress of everyday life. There are 38 accommodations at this resort, and almost every room has its own soaking tub filled with the spa’s healing mineral waters. Does Oregon ever get any frozen waterfalls? It is not often there are frozen waterfalls in Oregon, but one does freeze over on occasion, and there’s nothing more marvelous than Multnomah Falls when it’s frozen. This 620-foot fall will absolutely take your breath away, and leave you in awe at the glory of Mother Nature. Breathtakingly beautiful year-round, there are numerous ways to experience the falls; a variety of hikes, a pedestrian bridge, and even while dining in Multnomah Falls Lodge. What are some things to do during the winter in Oregon? In addition to all the fun of hiking, some things to do during the winter in Oregon are:
Visit Crater Lake Stay at any of these 5 skiing resorts Hang out with Reindeer at Timberview Farms Go dog sledding on Mt. Bachelor
The OIYS Visitor Center
best winter hikes in Oregon
December 10, 2021
Sarah
What are some other things to do during the winter in Oregon? When the temperatures plummet here in the Beaver State, one of the best things to do during the winter in Oregon is to head to one of the many natural hot springs. Oregon’s Lithia Springs is a place that needs no introduction; this PNW destination has long been lauded for its healing powers. Located in the unique little town of Ashland, this resort’s outdoor saline pool is perfect for soaking, and, during the warmer months, some poolside lounging might be just what you need to decompress from the stress of everyday life. There are 38 accommodations at this resort, and almost every room has its own soaking tub filled with the spa’s healing mineral waters. Does Oregon ever get any frozen waterfalls? It is not often there are frozen waterfalls in Oregon, but one does freeze over on occasion, and there’s nothing more marvelous than Multnomah Falls when it’s frozen. This 620-foot fall will absolutely take your breath away, and leave you in awe at the glory of Mother Nature. Breathtakingly beautiful year-round, there are numerous ways to experience the falls; a variety of hikes, a pedestrian bridge, and even while dining in Multnomah Falls Lodge. What are some things to do during the winter in Oregon? In addition to all the fun of hiking, some things to do during the winter in Oregon are:
Visit Crater Lake Stay at any of these 5 skiing resorts Hang out with Reindeer at Timberview Farms Go dog sledding on Mt. Bachelor
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
When the temperatures plummet here in the Beaver State, one of the best things to do during the winter in Oregon is to head to one of the many natural hot springs. Oregon’s Lithia Springs is a place that needs no introduction; this PNW destination has long been lauded for its healing powers. Located in the unique little town of Ashland, this resort’s outdoor saline pool is perfect for soaking, and, during the warmer months, some poolside lounging might be just what you need to decompress from the stress of everyday life. There are 38 accommodations at this resort, and almost every room has its own soaking tub filled with the spa’s healing mineral waters.
Does Oregon ever get any frozen waterfalls?
It is not often there are frozen waterfalls in Oregon, but one does freeze over on occasion, and there’s nothing more marvelous than Multnomah Falls when it’s frozen. This 620-foot fall will absolutely take your breath away, and leave you in awe at the glory of Mother Nature. Breathtakingly beautiful year-round, there are numerous ways to experience the falls; a variety of hikes, a pedestrian bridge, and even while dining in Multnomah Falls Lodge.
What are some things to do during the winter in Oregon?
In addition to all the fun of hiking, some things to do during the winter in Oregon are:
- Visit Crater Lake
- Stay at any of these 5 skiing resorts
- Hang out with Reindeer at Timberview Farms
- Go dog sledding on Mt. Bachelor
