guided backpacking trips oregon

Rogue River Hiking

Rogue river hiking .

An incredible Oregon adventure! The famous river trail along the Rogue River is considered to be one of the greatest North American hiking trails. Historical sites abound along the Rogue River trail and our trip visits them all. Each footstep is greeted with picturesque vistas of wildlife and nature. You visit glistening waterfalls, cross babbling brooks and gaze upon deep, rugged canyons. On this lodge-to-lodge hiking adventure, there are breathtaking views around every bend.

Imagine hiking through a wilderness with only a light daypack. Our rafts carry your gear leaving you unencumbered and free to discover some of America’s finest wilderness – the Wild Rogue Wilderness. After a rewarding day filled with the fragrance of pine, oak and madrone forests you arrive at a riverside lodge where a hot shower and a comfortable bed await. After settling into your room, we serve scrumptious hors d’oeuvres followed by a delicious dinner. Then there’s time to remember the highlights of the day and share a few tall tales under the stars.

We offer our Rogue River hiking trips in the late spring and early fall (our fall trips are camping vs. lodge-to-lodge). These are times of the year when the air may be a bit chilly for rafting but are ideal for hiking. Spring trips enjoy the abundant wildflowers blooming throughout the canyon. Side creeks run full and waterfalls dance over moss-covered rocks. The forest is alive with the joy of spring’s awakening. Spring or fall, our pace is casual and allows plenty of time to pause and relish the verdant beauty that is everywhere. Along the way, our knowledgeable guides tell you about the history, flora, and fauna of the canyon and forest.

Each day we walk between five and 15 miles on a trail that roughly parallels the river. During the 40-mile hike total elevation drop is just over 200 feet, so the overall hike is very slightly downhill. This hike is suitable for anyone in reasonable shape that can hike 10-15 miles per day.

Because our rafts carry your overnight gear and other trip supplies, you carry only water, an extra layer of clothing and perhaps your camera and binoculars. If you get tired and want a change of pace our raft isn’t far and you can hop aboard to be carried down the river. Each day our raft arrives at the evening’s lodge a bit ahead of the group so your gear is ready to be carried to your private room for the night.

See our Rogue River rafting trip for details about our lodge-to-lodge raft adventure.

Honoring Native People and Lands: Recognizing the significance of our travels through Indigenous territory, we would like to recognize the communities whose lands we visit. It is our hope, in doing so, to honor their legacies, their lives, and their descendants. To learn more about territory acknowledgement and specific information about the Native communities of this region, please visit our Territory Acknowledgement   page.

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Arrive in Merlin OR, Orientation Meeting

Travel to Merlin, Oregon and meet your Team Leader at Morrison's Lodge at 5:45pm PST for a one-hour orientation meeting to answer last-minute questions. You'll also receive your waterproof gear bags. Dinner is on your own.

ACCOMMODATION : Morrison's Lodge (Not Included in trip cost)

MEALS INCLUDED : None

Graves Creek, Black Bar Lodge

On the first day of this Oregon Adventure, our lead guide meets hikers at 8:15 a.m. the morning of the hike at Morrison's Lodge. Once everyone is greeted and, given directions on where to park their vehicles, the lead guide gives a short description of the hike. Hikers then step into a Lodge van and are transported to the hiking starting point: Graves Creek. On the first day, we hike about 9.6 miles to Black Bar Lodge. We stop for a riverside buffet lunch along the way, often near the Tyee Rapids campsite. One of the highlights of this Rogue River hiking trip is the many historic sites along the way. Our guides are natural storytellers and will make your trip more rewarding with their stories about these sites. In the spring there are also dozens of wildflowers in bloom in the Rogue River canyon and viewing them is fascinating.

After lunch, we continue along the intermediate Rogue River trail to Black Bar Lodge. As you hike, one of our guides provides raft support for the hiking group and upon arrival at Black Bar, will row over and get the group and transport them to the other side of the river. Hikers arrive at Black Bar Lodge late afternoon and the lodge staff assigns double-occupancy cabins. There’s time to freshen up before the evening’s hors d’oeuvres are served. We focus on locally-sourced foods, Oregon wines and beers as well as other beverages. Dinner is generally around 7 pm. Since the lodge is run by a generator, lights go out at 10 pm and back on the next morning at 7 am This makes for great star gazing and a peaceful, quiet sleep.

ACCOMMODATION : Black Bar Lodge

MEALS INCLUDED : L, D

Battle Bar, Marial Lodge

Oregon adventurers wake up and the Black Bar Lodge serves a country breakfast around 8:00 a.m. After that, there’s time to pack up before walking back to the river and crossing over to the trail. Today’s hike covers a little less than 15 miles on an intermediate trail. Again, some of the fun on the Rogue River trail is the many historic sites along the way and beautiful vistas of the river. After working up a good appetite, we serve the hikers a bountiful riverside lunch, usually at a place known as Battle Bar. Refreshed and re-energized, we continue hiking downriver to Marial Lodge, arriving late afternoon. Again, cabins are assigned, there’s time for a shower or other relaxing and then hors d’oeuvres are served. Dinner is served around the classic round tables of Marial Lodge. After dinner, we offer a short hike to enjoy the soft summer light and spectacular views of the river canyon. Evening is a good time for wildlife viewing as well. The power generator is never turned off at this lodge so there is power available all night.

ACCOMMODATION : Marial Lodge

MEALS INCLUDED : B, L, D

Rogue River Ranch, Paradise Lodge

We gently wake you around 7:30 a.m. for breakfast. It’s a casual pace though as today’s hike is just under five miles. Our destination is the Rogue River’s own Paradise Lodge. Since this is such a short hiking day, anyone who wants will head back upriver to the Rogue River Ranch which is a museum and interpretive center. After the visit and imaging what pioneer life in the canyon must have been like, we head back downstream, stopping for lunch at Marial Lodge. Then we continue on to Paradise Lodge. Our Rogue River hikers arrive at Half Moon Bar Lodge by mid-afternoon so there’s plenty of time to enjoy the expansive lawn and maybe have a game of Frisbee or sit and watch the river go by. As the afternoon sun sets hors d’oeuvres are served along with the usual selection of beverages. Then it’s a nice dinner and time to sit on the deck and watch the stars and share stories of the day. Again, there is power all night long at this lodge.

ACCOMMODATION : Half Moon Bar Lodge

Flora Del, Foster Bar, Morrison's Lodge

We wake you a bit earlier today around 7:00 a.m., enjoy a leisurely breakfast and then get back on the Rogue River hiking trail. About 6.5 miles later we reach Flora Del and have lunch. The river canyon has widened here and on a hot day you might enjoy a dip in the river. After lunch, we climb aboard our rafts to be transported to the take-out point, Foster Bar. We try to arrive by early afternoon, around 1:30 or 2:00 pm and then load up into vans to return to Morrison's Lodge. The drive takes about two hours and is a winding and scenic road through the mountains. 

ROW Oregon, LLC, doing business as ROW Adventures is proud to be an Equal Opportunity recreation service provider.  ROW Oregon, LLC operates under special use permit from the Bureau of Land Management, Medford District along with the U.S. Forest Service in Siskiyou National Forest.   All our operations and facilities are operated on a non-discriminatory basis.

MEALS INCLUDED : B, L

Dates & Rates

Supplementary information.

Lodge Hikes: prices are based on double occupancy in the lodges.  Limited rooms are available for groups of 3 if all are willing to share the same room.  These will be available on a first-come, first-served served.  If an odd number of guests, there is a single supplement fee of  $600 for 4-day adventures.

Camp trip - ROW's camp trips provide a similar itinerary to our lodge trips. ROW provides all camping equipment and ROW's guides cook delicious meals along the way!  We are happy to provide a tent for solo travelers at no charge. 

Lodge to Lodge private trips available for 1-23 guests:  Pay for 19 spaces and get the 20th space free.  

TRIP INCLUDES:  

• Services of our talented adventure consultants and professional guides
• Hand-crafted itineraries
• All meals/beverages as indicated in the itinerary (including beer and wine) 
• Lodge or camping accommodations as noted in the itinerary 
• Clean drinking water available at all times
• All rafting/camping gear 
• Specialized equipment for activities such as helmets, paddles, personal flotation devices, etc.
• Private pre-tour orientation meeting
• Transportation to/from river meeting points

DOES NOT INCLUDE:  

• 6% Land and water access fee
• Airfare/transportation to beginning and ending points
• Shuttling your car from launch to take out point if driving 
• Gratuities for guides
• Travel protection plan
• Pre & post-trip hotel reservations
• Items of a personal nature

Highly recommend!

Tom and Mariah were exceptional guides! My mom and I hiked 18 of the 40 miles, spotted a plethora of flowers, landscape and animals. We would meet up with our guides at lunch and enjoy the rest of the day on the food was spectacular and the lodges progressively got more chic each night. We are planning on coming back next summer. I highly recommend.

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20 Amazing Backpacking Trips in Oregon

Explore the beauty of the Pacific Northwest

By: The Outbound Collective + Save to a List

There's no better way to get to know the wilderness in Oregon than spending a few days exploring the backcountry. With dramatic volcanic mountain ranges, pristine alpine lakes, and the lush forests that the Pacific Northwest is so well known for, any backpacker hitting these trails will not be disappointed. And there's no reason to hibernate this winter, a lot of these backpacking trips are just as amazing - if not more so - during the winter months. Wherever and whenever you choose to go on your next backpacking trip in Oregon, we're sure you'll have an adventure you'll never forget. 

1. Backpack to Russell Lake

Photo: Erik Sanders

Distance: 11.4 miles Elevation: 1,926 ft Type: Out-and-Back

This incredible backpacking trip takes you along a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail and through untouched scenery. Camp near one of the many lakes and witness the beauty of fog rolling across the lake in the morning and brilliant starry nights. Take in stunning forest views, snow-covered mountain peaks, and vibrant wildflowers along the way.

2. Snowshoe the Rim at Crater Lake NP

Photo: Dan Loch

Distance: 30.99 miles Elevation: 4,124 ft Type: Loop

This hike gives you the chance to explore the stunning beauty of Crater Lake National Park without encountering huge crowds. Gain some solitude and perspective amidst the vast wilderness. This backcountry experience also brings extraordinary 360 views from Watchman Peak, Hillman Peak, Mt Scott, and Garfield Peak.

Note: If you are planning a late fall through early spring trip, plan and prepare ahead of time for heavy snowfall and possibly dangerous conditions such as ice and avalanches. This area averages 44 feet of snowfall annually.

3. Backpack around Broken Top

Photo: Michael Graw

Distance: 22.58 miles Elevation: 3,675 ft Type: Loop

Offering jaw-dropping views of the Three Sisters Wilderness and the central Oregon Cascades, this is a popular backpacking spot in Oregon for a reason. Trek along the trail as it winds through lush forests, alpine lakes, panoramic views, and meadows. If you have a clear day during your trip be sure to appreciate views as far as Mount Adams in Washington and the Ochoco Mountains in the east.

4. Backpack the Painted Canyon Loop, Honecombs Wilderness

Photo: Dusty Klein

Distance: 18 miles Elevation: 1,200 ft Type: Loop

Need a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life? This is the perfect trip to gain some isolation as you camp out amidst spectacular rock formations and canyons. Camp within the Honeycomb Wilderness near lakes and vast plateaus and appreciate some much-needed R&R time out in nature.

5. Backpack to Hidden Lake

Distance: 18.52 miles Elevation: 3,789 ft Type: Out-and-Back

Dive into this backpacking trip in Eagle Creek Wilderness and surround yourself with towering pine trees, granite peaks, and bright meadows. As you wind through the valley, take in the jaw-dropping views of the Wallowas, nicknamed “the Alps of Oregon.” Keep an eye out for herds of elk meandering by and relax by the lake after a day of trekking through the woods. 

6. Backpack the Lakes Basin and Summit Eagle Cap

Distance: 32.87 miles Elevation: 6,604 ft Type: Loop

Hike through gorgeous valleys, vistas, and forests and past many alpine lakes. Take in the stunning sight of the Wallowas and incredible wildlife such as bighorn sheep, black bears, mountain goats, and Osprey. 

7. Backpack Ruckel Ridge

Photo: Patrick Cole

Distance: 8.08 miles Elevation: 3,370 ft Type: Loop

Have your camera out and ready on this stunning hike. Taking you along a ridge, through a portion of the PCT, and across plateaus, this hike offers incredible scenic views of Mount Hood, Mount Adams, and the Columbia River Gorge. Come prepared for difficult and technical terrain along this route with steep inclines and several rock faces that must be climbed. 

8. Backpack to the Wallowas' Mirror Lake

Photo: Roark Nelson

Distance: 13.49 miles Elevation: 2,280 ft Type: Out-and-Back

Head onto this scenic and secluded mountain route for a chance to traverse past rivers and lakes and through valleys and forests. Enjoy some peace, quiet, and reflection time while staring at the majestic beauty of Mirror Lake and the surrounding snow-capped peaks.

9. Backpack Broken Top Trail to No Name Lake

Photo: Whitney Whitehouse

Distance: 4.84 miles Elevation: 1,198 ft Type: Out-and-Back

Despite the short distance, this backpacking trip will provide you with the opportunity to work out your legs with some steep inclines and navigation skills with unmarked trails. After a hard day of trekking through the woods, relax near a glacial lake. Look out for incredible views of the surrounding peaks such as Broken Top, Mount Jefferson, Mount Washington, and The Sisters: South Sister, Middle Sister, and North Sister. 

10. Backpack to the Matthieu Lakes

Photo: Isaac Desautels

Distance: 6 miles Elevation: 922 ft Type: Loop

If you only have a night and still want to squeeze in a backpacking trip, this is the trail for you. Take a dive in one of the warm swimming holes along your way while enjoying immaculate views of the famous mountain peaks the Three Sisters, Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, Mount Washington, and Tree Fingered Jack. 

11. Backpack to the Base of Mt. Thielsen

Photo: Talia Touboul

Distance: 7.26 miles Elevation: 1,926 ft Type: Out-and-Back

Hike through a vast forest of pines and enjoy glimpses of the lake through the trees as you ascend. Set up camp on the mountain ridge and head up to the top of Mount Thielson for a stunning 360-degree view of Diamond Lake and the wilderness beyond.

12. Backpack to North Lake

Photo: John Chau

Distance: 12.36 miles Elevation: 4,505 ft Type: Out-and-Back

Grab a friend and begin this remote backpacking trip that rewards you with stunning views as you hike through old-growth forests, scree fields, and camp by isolated lakes. Enjoy unique sights such as an old water tank and stand on overlooks that allow you to view the Columbia River and Mount Defiance.

13. Backpack to Santiam Lake via Duffy Lake Trailhead

Photo: Samuel Judge

Distance: 9.94 miles Elevation: 1,362 ft Type: Out-and-Back

With scenic views and two lakes great for swimming, this trail provides a refreshing and wonderful experience outside for all hikers. Weave through old-growth and alpine forests, cross the North Santiam River, and take a cooling break under the Duffy Butte.

Note: This forest is only partially maintained with several down trees blocking the path so come prepared for the possibility of off-trail navigation. Moreover, snowpack covers the trail well into June so come prepared for colder weather and walking through snow.

14. Backpack to Burnt Lake

Photo: Angela Clarke

Distance: 12.27 miles Elevation: 3,225 ft Type: Out-and-Back

This hike will take you through Mount Hood National Forest, past a stunning waterfall, and ends near a vast lake. Enjoy camping near the lake where you will be met by majestic views of Mount Hood rising into the sky and deep green forests reflected off the crystal-clear lake.

15. Backpack the Eagle Cap Wilderness Loop

Photo: Colin Ayers

Distance: 40.13 miles Elevation: 10,630 ft Type: Loop

If you are looking for a longer backpacking trip with diverse views, this is the trail for you. Along your way, pass over 10 alpine lakes and summit Eagle Cap where you will witness stunning 360-degree views. The diverse terrain will have you crossing streams, hiking through thickly blanketed forests, past granite slabs, and through overgrown, gnarled bushes.

16. Backpack to Dome Rock via the Upper Trailhead

Photo: Zak Stone

Distance: 2.36 miles Elevation: 479 ft Type: Out-and-Back

This short trail is a great trail for beginner backpackers and those looking to spend only a night. At the summit take in extraordinary views of the Cascade Mountains, Willamette Valley, and Coast Mountain Range. Whether you choose to camp on Dome Rock or near Tumble Lake, make sure to watch the sky for vibrant sunsets and star-filled nights.

17. Basecamp at Green Lakes

Distance: 9.19 miles Elevation: 1,240 ft Type: Out-and-Back

Basecamp at this stunning lake nestled amongst the Central Cascades and enjoy the challenge of doing some day hikes up the four nearby peaks. As you hike up to Green Lake, trek past Fall Creek and several small waterfalls. In late summer catch the colorful array of wildflowers along the trail. For the rest of the year, enjoy trekking through a snow-packed trail and witness the beauty of this winter wonderland.

Note: Snowshoes and equipment like crampons and ice axes are recommended, particularly for those doing summits around the lake during winter and spring months.

18. Climb Tom Dick and Harry Mountain

Photo: Dan Moe

Distance: 8.28 miles Elevation: 1,726 ft Type: Out-and-Back

This hike will leave you in awe as you kick back and relax after summiting on granite slabs of stone with its iconic scenic views and photo opportunities. Stand face-to-face with Mount Hood from the top of Tom Dick and Harry Mountain and catch gorgeous views of Mirror Lake on this backcountry adventure. This trail is widely popular and is great for people of all ages, families, and dogs.

19. Backpack to Battle Ax Mountain

Photo: Jeffrey Green

Distance: 5.09 miles Elevation: 1,594 ft Type: Out-and-Back

This hike begins at an unmarked trail head and is a great overnight backpacking spot. Summit Battle Ax Mountain for the chance to see eleven volcanoes in the distance. Along your journey, you can experience a variety of scenery including unique rock formations, cascades, a lesser-known cave, fields of wildflowers, and the remains of a demolished fire lookout.

20. Backpack to Hunt’s Cove

Distance: 14.74 miles Elevation: 3,150 ft Type: Loop

Fantastic views of Mount Jefferson, Oregon’s Western Cascades, backcountry lakes, and babbling creeks will greet you around every twist and turn of this trail. This trail is a popular spot for backpacking in Mount Jefferson Wilderness. It provides fun opportunities to hike through dense forests filled with Douglas Firs and swim and fish along the lakes.

Cover photo:  Dan Loch

We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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Oregon Coast Trail Backpacking and Thru-hiking Guide

Explore the iconic oregon coast from washington to california.

June 5th, 2023

Enjoy this ~400-mile thru-hike along sea cliffs, forested headlands, and wide-open sandy beaches with numerous restaurant and inn-to-inn options along this border-to-border hike of Oregon. Hikers will visit many of Oregon’s iconic beaches, boardwalks, and tourist towns, as well as remote coastal destinations. 

Distance: ~400 miles

Elevation gain/loss: 25,740 feet/ 25,765 feet (depending on route)

Best season: June to September

Permits: None required for hiking

Difficulty: Moderate

Related: Corvallis to Sea Trail (C2C) Backpacking Guide

Read More: Oregon Desert Trail Thru-hiking and Backpacking Guide

We create reader-supported, objective, independently-selected gear reviews. This story may contain affiliate links, which help fund our website. When you click on the links to purchase gear, we may get a commission — without costing you an extra cent. Thank you for supporting our work and mission of outdoor coverage for every body! Learn more .

One of the perks of the Oregon Coast Trail are the ocean views from hiking the headlands. Photo by Whitney LaRuffa.

Quick Facts

The Oregon Coast Trail (OCT) is a 400-mile long distance trail that spans across Oregon from its border with Washington to California.

With frequent access to amenities like showers, hotels, WiFi, this thru-hike feels at times more like a European inn-to-inn wander than a typical US thru-hike. Still, there are days when your trails may be so remote that you may not see other people.

Keeping with the spirit of adventure, wayfinding, trail makers, and trail maintenance are not always guaranteed on the OCT. Rivers, estuaries, and sand volume change yearly and with each season; thus, maps may not be completely accurate, making each hiker’s experience unique. Some walking along paved roads is required.

Hikers will walk beaches and forested headlands, and enjoy the novelty of hitching boat rides from crabbers and anglers around big bays. Hikers will navigate tides with wildlife viewing of elk, marine mammals, and tide pools.

The OCT is a mix of wild adventure and peaceful saunter, giving thru-hikers a way to experience all of Oregon’s 262 miles of publicly-owned beaches and 64 miles of publicly-owned headlands.

The Oregon Coast land is the land of the Clatsop, Tillamook, Yaquina, Alsi, Siuslaw, Kuitsh, Coos, Coquille, Tututni, Chetco, and Tolowa people. Support indigenous-owned businesses along the trail and learn about causes in Oregon that are indigenous-led like the Oregon Native American Chamber .

Related: Appalachian Trail Gear List & Strategy

Read More: Pacific Crest Trail Gear List & Strategy

The OCT has numerous sea stacks, islands, and other formations that can only be accessed from the beach at low tide. Many sea stacks are protected for wildlife habitat and are closed to the public if they are in the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge. See the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for more information. Photo by Whitney LaRuffa.

Dramatic changes in topography from sandy beach, to sand dune, to rainforest to coast range mountain, to headland cliff — often with an ocean view.

Wildlife sightings of elk, bears, mountain lions, seals, sea lions, and grey whales as well as crabs, anemones, starfish, and other sea creatures in tide pools.  

Birdwatching from bald eagles to tufted puffins as well as coastal birds and songbirds in the forested sections of the trail.

Wide access to high-quality restaurants -especially fresh seafood. Expect fresh salmon, rockfish, Dungeness crab, and razor clams; in late summer, there’s albacore tuna. Many opportunities for fresh clam chowder, fish and chips, and fish tacos.

Plentiful hotels , hot showers, flush toilets, and clean tap drinking water.

Nearly every trail town has a coffee shop and brewery . Most towns also have weekly farmer’s markets with fresh produce.

Resupply is never an issue! Food carries are minimal — meaning that your backpack never needs to be heavy.

The novelty of flagging down boats to hitch rides across major bays .

Navigation changes from year-to-year as rivers and creeks change, which adds a spirit of adventure and the satisfaction of exploration to the trip; it requires hikers to be creative and flexible.

The Oregon Coast Trail isn’t just beach walking! You’ll hike through fern-filled forest, headlands, and sand dunes. Photo by Naomi Hudetz

Cost: More expensive per mile than other thru-hikes, as there are much more food and lodging options than the usual backpacking trip. Free beach camping is not always legal and staying at hotels or fee-based hiker-biker camps are essential to completing the route. Boat shuttles around bays also add up. 

Logistics: Compared to other thru-hikes, more planning is required to figure out where it is legal to camp, get potable drinking water, or go to the toilet. The Hiking the Oregon Coast Trail guidebook ( Amazon , Bookshop ) breaks up the trail into suggested itineraries for thru-hikers or inn-to-inn backpackers, making day-to-day planning significantly easier. 

Wind: Winds can be an issue, often reaching 20+ miles per hour. They come from the north to northwest, so the guidebook and experienced OCT thru-hikers strongly suggest heading southbound. Most OCT thru-hikers prefer hiking southbound to minimize wind exposure; northbounders may have a less enjoyable experience.

Perpetual dampness: Even if it’s not raining, any Oregon coast hike is usually extremely humid. Expect heavy condensation in your tent at night and limited opportunities to dry out your gear. 

Road walking along US 101: Although the newest guidebook describes a route where road walking makes up 10% of the route — mostly at stretches less than a mile — hikers will still have to road walk to get around some private property.

Navigation skills required: Navigation can be tricky as maps are never totally accurate because river and tidal patterns change from year-to-year and season-to-season. In addition, rivers and creeks change yearly, and headland landslides can take out steep seaside cliffs. 

Patience and Flexibility with Boat Rides: Boat rides around bay mouths rely on finding boaters — who are not always available and working with your schedule. When boat rides aren’t available, you’ll have to be patient, creative, and flexible and may even need to hitchhike, taxi, or road walk.

River fords: Hikers will have to cross some rivers. During June to September, they are usually passable, but may be too high to ford during high tide. The guidebook ( Amazon , Bookshop ) describes which rivers must be crossed at low tide only and how to get to the nearest bridge in the event that a river is too high to cross. 

Another Oregon Coast highlight are the beach sunsets, as seen here on the OCT in Manzanita, OR. Photo by Liz Thomas.

Signage in some parts of the OCT can be quite good. In other parts, it is a choose your own adventure. Photo by Whitney LaRuffa.

Difficulty and Skills

Bonnie Henderson’s Hiking the Oregon Coast Trail guidebook ( Amazon , Bookshop ) is essential to finding secret connector trails, tidal planning, and searching for boat rides across major bays to reduce road walking time along US 101.

While hiking the coast is possible without the book and associated maps, the guidebook will make it significantly easier and more enjoyable. Additionally, Henderson’s website www.hikingtheoct.com has up-to-date information to supplement the guidebook. 

Road Walking

To get around private property, steep sea cliffs, and/or to access bridges across some risky rivers, hikers may need to walk short stretches along the shoulder of US 101. This highway has a narrow shoulder and can be unsafe for pedestrians because cars drive so fast. Visibility to drivers can be an issue when the highway makes is windy or steep or weather is poor. The most up-to-date route in the guidebook states that almost all of the stretches along US 101 are less than a mile. However, without proper maps and directions, some hikers have spent up to 40% of the route along US 101.

We recommend consulting the guidebook and doing extensive mapping and research to minimize road walking. One way you can do this is by taking boat shuttles across bays, calling local taxis, or hitching the sections. 

If you must road walk, walk facing traffic, wear highly visible clothing, and aim to walk in the morning when traffic is lighter. You may also consider hiking the trail in September, when much of the summer RV traffic is gone for the season. See the guidebook for pros and cons of hiking the trail for each month. 

See our section below on How to Avoid Road Walking on the OCT for more information.

Navigating the Tides

Hikers must have the skills to navigate around each headland and to ford rivers and creeks that are impassable during high tide. Know the tide cycle and time your hiking each day accordingly. The guidebook is an excellent source to determine which sections will require knowledge and navigation of the tides. Henderson’s guidebook recommends the free app Tide Alert NOAA USA .

Coastal Hazards

Read up on the hazards of coastal walking — from incoming waves and riptides to getting trapped on the headlands. Ocean water can be hypothermia-inducing. Sneaker waves (unusually high waves) are always a possibility. Although highly unlikely, it’s worth being aware of what to do should a tsunami occur. This primer details what to know about hiking Oregon's coastline .

Campsite Planning Required

Unlike some other thru-hikes, free dispersed camping on public land is not possible every night of this hike. Oregon state laws make free beach camping impossible to do every night. Hikers don’t need reservations for every night of their trip, but you will need to be flexible. Those who want to hike sections 1 to 3 from inn-to-inn will definitely need reservations.  

While there is some free beach camping, it’s not possible every night. You’ll have to plan the length of your days around where camping is legal or where hotels are available.  Hikers should be able to hike 10 to 15 miles per day, which is the minimum distance to hike between legal campsites.

Time your OCT hike for a season where the river and creek fords are passable. Photo by Whitney LaRuffa.

Best Season

June to September are the best months, though in some years, it may be possible to hike earlier or later depending on the weather. 

River levels in the spring can be too high to ford across. In some years, it may be possible to start as early as April or May, although it’s not recommended. In those months, rain is much more likely and boat ferry services may not be operational. To get around the large bay mouths, you’ll need rides from boaters, who are more likely to be out from July to September. Expect temperatures averaging in the 60s, and some days with rain, fog, and/or wind.

Permits and Fees

Hikers don’t need a permit. However, if you park a car at Oregon State Park or a US Forest Service trailheads, you may need to make reservations to get a permit. Call beforehand to find out local permit requirements for parking. You will also have to pay campsite fees for walk-in campsites.

Bonnie Henderson’s new guide to the Oregon Coast Trail is the best resource for distance hikers and backpackers.

Maps and Guidebooks

Bonnie Henderson’s Hiking the Oregon Coast Trail ( Amazon , Bookshop ) is the best resource for navigating the OCT, figuring out campsites and lodging, and researching where you need to be aware of the tides. The OCT is a logistics-heavy long distance trail. Henderson has hiked the OCT more times than anyone (literally!) and knows hidden connector trails and insider scoops to reduce roadwalking and maximize safety and enjoyment of the hik. 

Navigation is made easier with a GPX route and our favorite app for mapping is the Gaia App.

Before we left for the trail, we downloaded the surrounding background maps using Gaia GPS .

Henderson’s website www.hikingtheoct.com has an up-to-date GPX track that you can download. However, be aware that the route is constantly changing with the seasons and from year-to-year as rivers move, sand levels change, or landslides close hiking trails. Do not rely on the GPX track alone. 

Green Trails Maps recently released 3 maps that cover the entire OCT — Astoria to Newport ( North Coast map ), Waldport to Cape Arago ( Central Coast map ), and Bandon to Brookings ( South Coast map ). We’re big fans of Green Trails maps , and the OCT maps are waterproof, tear resistant, and ultralight!

The view from Neahkahnie Mountain near the town of Manzanita in Section 1.

Route Summary

The following is a bird’s eye view of some of the highlights of the 5 sections of the trail. Bonnie Henderson’s Hiking the Oregon Coast Trail breaks each section down into what you’ll see each day, intersections, water, toilet, and camping availability as well as resupply, lodging, and alternates. See the guidebook for on-the-ground level details.

The Oregon Coast Trail has an epic start — at the mouth of the Columbia River, the border between Washington and Oregon. You’ll begin at Fort Stevens State Park — Oregon’s longest, widest beach. Then you'll traverse majestic headlands and iconic Oregon landmarks of: Tillamook Head, Haystack Rock, Cape Falcon, Arch Cape, Oswald West State Park, and Neahkahnie Mountain.

You’ll also visit fun, popular coastal beach towns like Cannon Beach and Manzanita, with many options for cafes and restaurants. You’ll pass landmarks such as the remains of the ship The Peter Iredale, Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, and wildlife viewing opportunities. This section passes through the ancestral land of the Clatsop and Tillamook people. 

From Garibaldi to Siletz Bay, you’ll walk the remote Tillamook Coast to ascend Cape Meares, Cape Lookout State Park, Cape Kiwanda, and Cascade Head. This scenic section goes from wide beaches to temperate rain forests through the ancestral land of the Tillamook people. 

Hikers can visit the world-famous Tillamook Creamery , which could be directly on the route for those who walk around Tillamook Bay, or otherwise not far from the main route. Tillamook is also home to one of our favorite breweries on any long trail, de Garde Brewing . De Garde uses wild fermentation in their beer production, rather than cultured yeast. (In fact, de Garde chose Tillamook for their brewery because of the abundance of microflora in the air from the surrounding dairy farms.) 

Cape Mears State Scenic Point and National Wildlife Refuge is home to a lighthouse, the strange octopus tree, and numerous birds, including peregrine falcons. Both Cape Mears and Cape Lookout are made of basalt. Sandstone Cascade Head is considered arguably Oregon Coast’s most iconic hike and the only United Nations Biosphere Reserve in the state. Good trails take you deep into Sitka Spruce Siuslaw National Forest. Finally, you’ll end at the popular tourist town of Lincoln City, after passing through beaches famous for kite flying. 

Siletz Bay at Lincoln City to Florence takes hikers over Otter Crest, Yaquina Head, Cape Perpetua Scenic Area, Heceta Head, and Sea Lion Point, with many opportunities to visit towns, eat at quality restaurants, and resupply at grocery stores. It’s considered one of the best sections for inn-to-inn hiking but also has many hiker-biker campsites and surfer showers. 

This section is the ancestral home to the Tillamook, Yaquina, Alsi, and Siuslaw people. You’ll pass the tallest lighthouse in Oregon. There are numerous opportunities for whale watching as well as tidepools at the Spouting Horn, a rock formation that looks like a fountain at high tide. It’s also home to one of the few remaining old growth forests on the Oregon Coast with 600 year old trees.

The OCT has opportunities to find starfish and explore tidal pools. Photo by Whitney LaRuffa.

Florence to Port Orford is the most remote section of the OCT, passing through the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. There’s many opportunities for free dispersed camping; almost no need for road walking; and long, remote, undeveloped sections of beach to walk. 

This section visits the ancestral lands of the Siuslaw, Kuitsch, Coos, and Coquille people. You’ll visit Shallow Sunset Bay State Park, one of the warmest sections of water along the OCT, which is one of the few places where there are swimmers. You’ll also walk to the westernmost point in Oregon at Cape Blanco State Park. This and the following section are where you should plan to carry more food and water than other parts of the trail.

Port Orford Heads State Park to the California border is a scenic stretch with some logistical challenges. It passes Sisters Rock, Crook Point, and some rocky trail far above the beach at Boardman State Scenic Corridor. Again, plan to carry more food and water for this more-remote part of the OCT. It’s the traditional lands of the Coquille, Tutuni, Chetco, and Tolowa people.

Getting There

Portland International Airport (PDX) is the closest major airport to the northern terminus. This flight tracker can find flights to PDX from anywhere in the world.

Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport (MFR) is the closest major airport to the southern terminus. MFR is a much smaller regional airport. This flight tracker shows flights to MFR.

Amtrak stops at Portland Union Station, where you can get a bus to Astoria. The Point offers daily service from Union Station to Astoria. NW Connector also offers bus service, but requires a transfer.

Bus and Shuttle Services

From Portland, take the MAX light rail to downtown Portland where you can catch a bus from Union Station to Astoria. The Point offers daily service from Union Station to Astoria. NW Connector also offers bus service, but requires a transfer.

From there, you can get a local taxi to the northern terminus or take NW Connector transit to Fort Stevens State Park where the hiking trail starts.

To connect between coastal towns, check the NW Connector bus for schedules in the northern part of the hike. 

From the Southern Terminus, take a taxi, hitch hike, or walk about 3 miles to the nearest town. You’ll likely have to spend a night in Brookings, Smith River, or Crescent City before catching a 3 to 5 hour bus ride to the Medford airport. The Point transit offers service from Brookings, Oregon to the Medford airport. Brookings also may offer non-stop bus service from Brookings to Portland Union Station. 

Visit this website for a comprehensive list of all transportation options on the entire Oregon coast!

Northern Terminus

The northern terminus of the Oregon Coast Trail is in Fort Stevens State Park . This trailhead has full-service facilities and it’s one of the nation’s largest public campgrounds. Much of the fort is preserved and can be toured — there’s even an historic shipwreck!

You can take NW Connector transit from Astoria to Fort Stevens State Park.

Southern Terminus

The southern terminus of the Oregon Coast Trail is the California border, near Crissey Field State Recreation Site . The closest town to the trailhead is Brookings, Oregon. The Point transit offers service from Brookings to Medford airport.

Alternate Trailhead

For section hikers, there are many options for alternate trailheads. You may need a trailhead overnight parking permit. See the guidebook for more information on where to park and related fees.

Aside from the northern and southern termini, numerous trailheads to access the OCT exist all along the route. The guidebook outlines where they are and how to backpack or day hike along the OCT. Photo by Whitney LaRuffa.

Post-Trip Favorite Restaurant

The OCT has some of our favorite restaurants and breweries of any long distance hike. On trail, we highly recommend de Gaarde Brewing. Here are two of our favorite places at the termini.

Astoria is the oldest city in Oregon, and the first European settlement west of the Rockies. It sits at the mouth of the Columbia River where the river flows into the Pacific Ocean. The classic movie, The Goonies , was filmed here. Today it’s home to numerous restaurants and breweries — our favorite is Fort George Brewery for both food and beer. 

However, we’d also recommend turning the trip into a full brew-thru in Astoria by also visiting Buoy Beer Company and Reach Break Brewing . Nekst Event offers fantastic globally-inspired street food. For breakfast and lunch we highly recommend Astoria Coffee House & Bistro . For fish and chips, you won’t want to miss Bowpicker .

For dessert, the best carrot cake we’ve ever had is from The Naked Lemon Bakery . Do. Not. Miss it.

Brookings is the southernmost town on the Oregon coast, with excellent dining options. If you’re not tired of the fantastic Oregon seafood by this point, we highly recommend Catalyst Seafood . Brookings is also home to two excellent breweries — Chetco Brewing and Misty Mountain Brewing .

Forested sections of the OCT can be home to wildlife including bears and raccoons, which can be persistent in trying to access your food. Be considerate of wildlife throughout your trip. Photo by Naomi Hudetz.

How to Avoid Road Walking Highway 101 on the OCT

Unfortunately, there are still sections on the Oregon Coast Trail where road walking on Highway 101 is the only option. Highway 101 is unsafe for pedestrians. If you would like to avoid these road walks, we recommend hitchhiking or using one of the various transit options along the Oregon Coast. All of the transit options along the coast are listed here .

Regulations

Follow Leave No Trace Ethics , including camping and pooping far from water. For almost all of the trip, you'll be camping at hiker-biker campgrounds, many run by Oregon parks. These are good opportunities to get fresh water and use a flushing toilet, too.

Toilet Rules: There are numerous flush and pit toilets along the route and they are mapped and noted in the guidebook. Additionally, there are numerous port-o-potties near the OCT. For emergencies, carry a trowel and dig a cathole far from the hiking trail, private property, or intertidal zone. Catholes must be at least 6 inches deep for solid waste and pack out used toilet paper. 

Follow Snowy Plover signs and fencing when you are on a beach trail. The snowy plover is a shorebird that nests on sandy beaches and is endangered. There is no camping, beach fires, or dogs allowed in these areas. You also must walk only on wet sand through these sections (because the birds nest in the dry sand).

Camping is not legal on some beaches. There is no legal camping on beaches adjacent to many towns. Additionally, there is no camping adjacent to Oregon parks (stay at the state park hiker-biker campsites instead). There is no camping allowed in snowy plover protected areas. The guidebook explains which beaches are and are not legal for camping.

Beach fires are not legal on some beaches. Beach fires are only allowed on open sand inland of the vegetation line. Do not build beach fires next to drift logs or driftwood, as these are difficult to extinguish.

Dogs are not allowed on some beaches that have restrictions to protect the endangered snowy plover. As a result, having a dog on a backpacking multi-day trip on the OCT can be logistically difficult.

Resupply 

Resupply is very easy on the Oregon Coast Trail. You’ll pass through many towns along the way — too many to list in this guide. Some towns have very good grocery stores, and some are more limited. 

The guidebook lists resupply options for each day you are on the trail, so there are plenty to choose from. You will rarely need to carry more than 2 days worth of food. If you’re super picky, then you may want to do more detailed resupply planning.

Note that the southern two sections of the OCT, Section 4 and Section 5, are more remote. You’ll have to camp without options for inn-to-inn meals. See our What to Bring section on suggestions for backpacking stoves and meals.

Water Planning

Unlike other thru-hikes, the naturally flowing water sources along this hiking trail are highly contaminated by salt, highway, and urban agricultural runoff. Experienced hikers recommend that you do not drink water from streams and rivers. Instead, the guidebook lays out water planning for this route. The maps list out potable water sources. In general, hikers will not need to carry a full day’s worth of water (10 to 15 miles between campsites). The exception is the remote Sections 4 and 5.

Bears and Food Storage

There are bears along this route, although raccoons and jays may be a bigger threat to your food. Many hiker-biker camps have lockers where you can store your food away from critters. See REI’s Food Storage story or REI’s Bear Canister story for more recommendations on keeping animals away from your food.

God’s Thumb is a notable side trip not far from the official route of the OCT. Photo by Kate Hoch.

Side Trips and Variations

There are many opportunities for side trips to peaks or natural or historic landmarks on the Oregon Coast Trail. Some of the top choices include:

Cascade Head

God’s Thumb

Hugbug Mountain

Minus tide beach walking — only possible a few times a year, these are sections where the low tide is below 0 in height

There are many variations on this route; they’re dictated by the tides, your ability to get a boat ride across bays, changes in rivers and sand levels, private property changes, whether the military is training on the beach, sandy plover endangered species beach closures, landslides, and more. The guidebook outlines many alternates depending on the conditions you may face in any given section. 

Continue the OCT on the California Coastal Trail

Some hikers continue hiking the California coast for another ~100 miles on the California Coastal Trail. You'll travel through the redwood forests to Arcata. Read about the California Coastal Trail here from the California Coastal Trail Association and here from the California Coastal Conservancy .

Treeline editor Naomi Hudetz’s backpacking gear set up for for hiking on the Oregon Coast Trail. Photo by Whitney LaRuffa

TREKKING POLES

Sections of this coastal hike, especially in the headlands, are rocky. Trekking Poles can also help with fords. We carry the Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork poles along the coast, which are the most durable poles we’ve used. See our Best Trekking poles story for more detailed recommendations.

State Park hiker-biker campgrounds have a lot of people and lack privacy. Condensation is difficult to manage on the OCT, so we recommend a double-walled ultralight tent with a bathtub bottom. 

Our tent for the OCT was the Six Moon Designs Haven Tarp with the inner NetTent — a double-walled, 2-person shelter that only weighs 34 ounces. Check out our Best Backpacking Tents story for more recommendations!

A pack made of some material with waterproof properties is a plus on this coastal hike. The top winner from our Best Lightweight Backpacking Backpack guide is perfect for the OCT: the Six Moon Designs Swift X . We also have a long-term review of the Swift X .

You can buy the Swift X in either Liteskin or X-Pac material — both of which are waterproof. However, since the seams are not sealed, the pack itself isn’t waterproof. Therefore, we recommend a good pack liner too. 

SLEEPING BAG

You’ll likely not need a sleeping bag below 40°F degrees for this trip. We carried our beloved Katabatic Palisade 30°F down quilt and we were perfectly warm. 

Condensation was frustrating on this trip, so you may want to consider a quilt with synthetic fill rather than down fill. Enlightened Equipment has great options for synthetic quilts. In addition, check out our Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags guide for sleeping bag recommendations.  

SLEEPING PAD

A compact lightweight pad is nice for comfort because the state park campgrounds often had compacted, hard ground. The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite was the perfect choice for the OCT. See our Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads guide for more suggestions.

Dinner in a hiker campsite.

CAmp KITCHEN GEAR

The OCT is known for Portland-quality restaurants in the many seaside trail towns. That’s what makes this trail one of the best opportunities for an inn-to-inn thru-hike in the US. Still, Section 4 and Section 5 in the southern part of the trail are remote. You’ll likely have a night here or there camping on the beach, so you’ll need to bring your own dinner for at least a handful of nights. 

GOOD BACKPACKING FOOD

For an OCT backpacker accustomed to fine dining cuisine almost everyday of the trip, the few nights of the typical freeze-dried camp food can be a stark contrast. The closest dehydrated backpacking food we’ve found to fine dining are the Good-to-Go meals. They’re actually made by a French Culinary Institute in Manhattan graduate chef who has worked alongside top chefs in New York Times rated 4-star restaurants . 

Another unexpected benefit of the Good to Go Meals is that they offer flavor-rich dishes that can be tricky to find on the coast, like Bibimbap and my favorite, Thai Curry . So if you’re in town and are tired of your 14th bowl of clam chowder, you can still get some variety.

It’s quite easy to go stoveless on most of the OCT with the abundance of restaurant meals and coffee shops along the way. However, if you like hot coffee in camp or hot meals after a day of walking in the rain, we recommend carrying a stove. Additionally, if you thru-hike or backpack the remote southern portion of the trail (Section 4 and 5), you won’t have access to restaurant meals every day. Since wind is a constant presence on the OCT, we carried the Soto WindMaster backpacking stove and highly recommend it. See our Best Backpacking Stoves guide for more recommendations. 

COOKING POT

We carried the Toaks Titanium 750mL pot on the OCT. It’s the perfect size for one — it will fit an entire box of mac & cheese. See our Best Backpacking Cooking pots story for more recommendations. 

Regardless of whether you go stoveless or not on the OCT, we highly recommend carrying a long handle spoon for beachside ice cream or clam chowder. We carried the TOAKS long handle spoon — we like it so much that it’s in our Backpacking Essential Accessories story and our gift guides .

WATER PURIFIER

Unlike most backpacking trips, we did not carry a water purifier. The naturally occurring water on the OCT is highly contaminated from urban and agricultural run-off. We, along with other experienced OCT hikers, recommend getting tap water in town. With that being said, if you absolutely must carry a purifier, you are going to be safer with some of our heavier water purifiers recommended for international travel from our Best Backpacking Water Filters guide.

Treeline writer Mike Unger chose to wear merino wool on the OCT. Good footwear and a shirt and hat with good sun protection are a must. Additionally, have good rain gear. Photo by Naomi Hudetz.

What to Wear on the Oregon Coast Trail

In short, good footwear that can handle uneven beach walking, along with good rain gear, are must-haves on this hike. Additionally, we highly recommend that you choose clothing that is brightly colored with reflective material (maybe even a safety vest) for the sections of hike where you’ll need to roadwalk. 

SHOES OR BOOTS

We wore the men’s and women’s Altra Lone Peaks while hiking on the OCT. They’re lightweight, comfortable, and dry quickly after fords. In addition, they had enough traction to manage the steep and muddy sections. The Altra Lone Peak 5s are our Long Distance Winners in our Best Women’s Trail Running Shoes story and Best Zero Drop shoe in our Best Men’s Trail Running Shoes guide. 

If you’d feel more comfortable in boots, check out our Best Hiking Boots story or our Best Lightweight Hiking Boots story . 

A nice footwear compromise for this trip would’ve been hiking shoes designed to feel like a trail runner but have stability similar to a boot. See our Best Hiking Shoes story for footwear that has more durability and stability than trail runners.

Additionally, if you are day hiking sections of the OCT, you may be more comfortable in hiking sandals. Many people feel more comfortable on beach hikes wearing sturdy sandals. See our Best Hiking Sandals guide for our recommendations. 

HIKING SHIRT

There were days with full, all day long sun exposure on the OCT. At the same time, the humidity can make your clothes damp, even if you’re not sweating. Therefore, we recommend a merino wool sun hoody. 

We wore the Minus 33 Woolverino ¼ zip hoody and can’t say enough good things about it.  It’s 84% merino, 12% nylon, and 4% spandex — the spandex gives it the perfect amount of stretch. The ¼ zip is great to vent excess body heat, and it also has a functional chest pocket. See our Best Sun Shirts guide or Best Base Layers guide for more recommendations. 

Not only are headlamps handy to have when trying to navigate hiker-biker camps on the OCT, but they’re one of the Ten Essentials for general safety . We carried the BioLite Headlamp 330 rechargeable headlamp. The more we use this headlamp, the more we love it. See our Best Headlamps guide for other recommendations. 

RAIN JACKET

Good rain gear is essential on the OCT any time of year. We carried the the Patagonia Torrentshell 3-layer rain jacket ( women’s and men’s ). We’re glad we had the extra protection of a 3-layer rain jacket, as rain on the Oregon coast was heavy. See our Best Lightweight Rain Jackets article for more recommendations. 

RAIN PANTS / SKIRT

We carried the ULA Equipment rain kilt and the Zpacks DCF rain kilt on the OCT and we were very happy with our choice. The soaking rain on the OCT lends itself to a rain skirt rather than rain pants.

SYNTHETIC INSULATED JACKET

We both carried the Patagonia Micro Puff jacket ( women’s and men’s ). It’s a synthetic-fill insulated jacket, rather than a down jacket. With synthetic fill, we didn’t have to worry about it getting damp or wet. Patagonia claims that it has the best warmth for the weight of any of their jackets. It’s the overall winner in our Best Synthetics Jacket guide. See our Best Synthetic Insulated Jackets guide for more recommendations. 

For sun protection, we wore pants on the OCT. The Ferossi pant from Outdoor Research ( women’s and men’s ) worked well — they’re lightweight, but functional. They’re winners in our Best Men’s Hiking Pants guide and Best Women’s Hiking Pants guide. The Ferrosi softshell fabric is the same as in the Outdoor Research Ferrosi softshell , the winner in our Best Softshells guide .

MISCELLANEOUS GEAR

Map and compass .

One of the ten essentials! We always carry our favorite Suunto M-3 D Leader compass. 

FIRST AID KIT

We carried our homemade first aid kit. If you’d rather buy a pre-made first aid kit, Adventure Medical Kits has a great ultralight option.

Although the wind sometimes made using an umbrella challenging, we still carried the Six Moon Designs Silver Shadow with the hands-free attachment kit and we were glad to have it at times.

Other Resources 

Oregon State Parks: Oregon Coast Trail

Oregon Coast Trail Foundation

Day Hiking the Oregon Coast

Transportation options on the entire Oregon coast

The Point transit system

NW Connector transit system

Green Trails Maps ( North Coast , Central Coast , and South Coast )

The Foothills Trail is a 77-mile footpath along the Blue Ridge Escarpment of North and South Carolina. Layered in history, water features, and mountain views, this 4-season-friendly route provides new scenery each day.

The New England Trail (NET) is a ~200-mile new national scenic trail in CT and MA. This hiking and backpacking guide covers camping, water, resupply, logistics and more.

The Northville-Placid Trail (NPT) is an approximately 135-mile (218 km) route highlighting a less-traveled region of New York’s Adirondack Park. This north-south footpath links rivers, valleys, and remote lakes through the valleys and high plateaus of the Adirondack Wilderness.

SPRING SPECIAL: Buy one spot, get one 1/2 off on any of our 2024 group tours or select fall dates .

Fully Wild.

Classic backpacking trips | oregon, usa, these are the trips we've grown up on. throw on a pair of hiking boots, grab your backpack, fill it with food for a few days, convince a couple friends to join, and venture into the unknown. not our gourmet option, but the benefits of these trips are countless:  , learn valuable backpacking & wilderness skills, leave the logistics, trip planni ng, safety, and local knowledge to the guide, explore oregon's largest wilderness and disconnect from your daily grind   with friends and family, new & old, no distractions. that's right, no cell service here., trips starting at $330 per person, per day. trips generally run from may - october. we recommend 2-4 nights to truly experience the wild., what to expect: compared to our upscale trips, our classic backpacking trips are less glamorous and more wild. you carry a backpack with all the gear you need for you entire stay- sleeping bag, tent, pad, food, & your choice of libation. the night before your trip, meet your local guides in the small cowboy town of baker city or la grande for a complimentary beer. get to know your guides, get fitted for backpacks and gear, explore the map, and learn about your adventure to come. after a short drive and trailhead safety talk, put on your packs for a journey into wild oregon. take regular breaks for water, snacks, and trailside educational chats. learn about local natural history, flora & fauna, native america lore, and (depending on the season) forage for wild berries and mushrooms.  time at camp is for friends and family away from modern distractions. no cell service here try your hand at fly fishing, camp games, or put your feet up under huge eastern oregon skies. end the night with stories around the campfire, and in true american tradition, roasting gourmet s'mores. .

Dates & Details

All camp locations are located in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. All tours depart from Baker City, or La Grande OR. Expect impressive scenery, vast stretches of wilderness, crystal clear alpine lakes, and endless beauty. 

Inclusions:, local naturalist guides, group safety equipment, camp activity gear, and other group tools, basic guide prepared meals, permits & fees, photographer & download link to photos, optional backco untry cocktail package, optional "shopping session" at local outfitter to get you outfitted with gear at a discount, shuttles, when needed, endless adventure, new friends, an experience of a lifetime, difficulty:, no experience necessary for any go wild experiences. that's the point sample itineraries:, bench canyon loop:  17miles / 3700' total gain / hike 4-7 miles a day, moving camp each day as you explore two beautiful drainages of the sw wallowas., elkhorn crest:  27 miles / 2800' total gain / day 1: 5 mil es, day 2: 12 miles, day 3: rest, day 4: 10 miles. big mileage days on this one but not a lot of elevation gain. hike along the epic elkhorn crest of the blue mountains with 360 views. , nearest airports:, boi - boise international, boise, id   / pdt - eastern oregon regional airport, pendleton, or, elkhorn crest itinerary:, evening before tour:  meet at our favorite brewpub in eastern oregon for an evening "meet & greet" to talk logistics, pack bags, and get to know each other over beverages and music. contact us for discounts at local hotels., day 1:  depart baker city for 45min drive to trailhead. hike 5 miles to a beautiful secluded camp with wildflowers and mountain goats., day 2: rise early to pack up and hike 12 miles to your next lake, a large alpine body of water waiting to be jumped into. , day 3: rest day optionally follow your guides on an optional hike to a nearby lake teaming with trout and wildflowers, day 4: hike out of the wilderness with massive views along the way., main eagle / bench canyon itinerary:, day 1:  depart baker city for 1.5 hr drive to trailhead. hike 4.5 miles to our secret creek side camp spot for epic views and trout fishing., day 2: day 2 brings an easy 3 mile hike to a gorgeous talus backed lake. take a dip, relax at camp, or tag on an extra hike to another lake., day 3: up and over hike to the summit past mazama ash, a massive basalt flow, and other epic geology to yet another high mountain lake to make camp., day 4: depart the wilderness for home but not before covering more new group and outrageously gorgeous terrain., the fine print:.

$500 deposit due at time of booking. Due to the nature of our business with limited dates, trip sizes and commitments of guides, this is non-refundable. The deposit may however, be transferred to a future Go Wild trip if the cancelation is made 90 day prior to tour departure. 

Final payment due 90 days prior to departure by check, cash, or Venmo. Cancelations within 90 days will be charged the entire balance unless you or us can fill the spot at full price. 

Weather: All tours operate rain or shine. Weather's no reason not to have fun! In case of extreme or dangerous conditions, tours are refunded in full.

Go Wild has the right to cancel any trip that does not meet our 6 guest minimum; confirmations will be made 90 days prior to the start of the tour.

Contact us: 541.403.1692 // [email protected]

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Hike Oregon’s world famous Rogue River Trail with lodge to lodge comfort, raft support (you only carry a daypack), great meals, Momentum style horderves, and local wine and beer.   The Rogue River is an iconic American classic; one of the world’s great wilderness rivers, and a founding member of the National Wild and Scenic River System. The canyon it creates is classic Pacific Northwest scenery – big trees, tumbling side streams, and cascading waterfalls. Our trip combines old west history, our unique American Wilderness, and the comfort and style of European trekking.

The Rogue River National Recreation Trail cuts through the heart of the Rogue canyon and offers stunning views of the river and unique access to a wilderness playground that is home to a staggering amount of wildlife. The trail is 42 miles of wilderness single-track that is only accessed from the start, the finish, or by river.  Originally built for pack mules supplying miners the trail is now over 100 years old and links areas rich with pioneer history and lore – some of it surviving to this day in the form of remote, river-accessed, wilderness lodges and abandoned historic homesteads.

Each day we hike between 5 and 15 miles on a rolling trail that roughly parallels the river (there is the option to shorten the days by jumping in a raft). There are amazing views of the canyon and opportunities to see bald eagles, osprey, otter, and black bear. Because all your overnight gear is transported by raft to the lodges, you only need to carry a daypack with a jacket, water, and any snacks. At lunch you will meet up with your guides and the rafts at a beautiful riverside beach or bench. Lunches will have shade, chairs, our well-loved lunch spreads, and cold drinks.

In the afternoon we will hike into a wilderness lodge strategically placed along the Rogue River corridor. The availability of lodges is a unique aspect of the Rogue. There are very few places in the world with a system of remote riverside lodges only accessible by boat or trail. It allows for the amazing experience of true wilderness adventure capped off by comfortable and cozy evenings in a remote lodge steeped in pioneer history.

The accommodations are rustic but comfortable and may include cabins or rooms. In each room you’ll find beds made up with fresh linens, bathrooms stocked with plenty of towels and hot water for showers. We will offer ‘Momentum style’ horderves and local wines and beer and then the lodge dinner is served family-style in a dining room or on the deck. Evenings are spent relaxing on the deck with a glass of wine or beer, fishing at the river’s edge, hiking to side creeks, playing games, or enjoying the peace and quiet of a deck chair and a good book.

We offer scheduled Rogue River hiking trips in the spring and fall when temperatures are ideal for hiking, when the canyon is alive with fall colors, and when we have the best chance to see bear. The trip is suitable for anyone in reasonable shape that can hike 10-15 miles per day.  We also offer private hiking trips for charters and groups.

Our Rogue Lodge to Lodge Hiking tour is active, comfortable, one of the most unique ways to experience one of the countries iconic wilderness river canyons, and done with Momentum’s style and attention to detail. The trip is a way to step back in time, into the Pacific Northwest wilderness, and get away from wifi, cell phone chatter, and hectic daily schedules.

Options and Info

Itinerary & mileage.

Each day we hike between 5 and 15 miles on a rolling trail that roughly parallels the river (there is always the option to shorten the days by jumping in a raft). In the afternoons we will hike into a wilderness lodge strategically placed along the Rogue River corridor.... learn more

Why Momentum for Rogue Trail Hiking

• A small company committed to amazing trips & our wild places. • Our hiking trips are small (4 to 12 guests) and like all our river trips they are led by guides with a minimum of 5 years of experience leading trips around the world. Guides who truly enjoy sharing the outdoors and their outdoor experiences with others. • We are well known for our food and we have made our hiking trips euro style with big lunch spreads with cold drinks, shade, and chairs for taking a break from the trail. In the afternoon the guides will prepare a local Momentum appetizer with local wines and beers before dinner is served by the lodge. Read more about our food and what our guests say about it>> • Most importantly - we are friendly, we love what we do, and it shows!

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• 5 --> "We have traveled with many guide companies in the past including Backroads, Country Walkers, REI, Northwest Frontiers Scotland, Mountain Travel Sobek, etc and can honestly say we have never had a guide any better than Andy. He took great care to make everything run smoothly, accommodated us at every turn, and was always cheerful,patient, and friendly (sounds like the Boy Scout Handbook). Above all he is a genuinely nice guy..." - Joel --> "We have traveled with many guide companies in the past including Backroads, Country Walkers, REI, Northwest Frontiers Scotland, Mountain Travel Sobek, etc and can honestly say we have never had a guide any better than Andy. He took great care to make everything run smoothly, accommodated us at every turn, and was always cheerful,patient, and friendly (sounds like the Boy Scout Handbook). Above all he is a genuinely nice guy..." - Joel 1 2 3 4 5 -->
• 5 --> "It was a highlight of my LIFE! The scenery and serenity of the wilderness is a life-changing memory. The guides were interactive, fun, and sincerely cared about us and worked REALLY hard to make the experience the best! Now I want to do more nature adventuring!" - Nancy --> "It was a highlight of my LIFE! The scenery and serenity of the wilderness is a life-changing memory. The guides were interactive, fun, and sincerely cared about us and worked REALLY hard to make the experience the best! Now I want to do more nature adventuring!" - Nancy 1 2 3 4 5 -->
• 5 --> ""I loved walking that far everyday then looking forward to a comfortable evening. Nice way to enjoy the river, and something I probably wouldn't have done without your guidance. Thank you!!"" - Diane --> ""I loved walking that far everyday then looking forward to a comfortable evening. Nice way to enjoy the river, and something I probably wouldn't have done without your guidance. Thank you!!"" - Diane 1 2 3 4 5 -->
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Table of contents

Oregon Coast Trail Backpacking Guide – Bandon to Port Orford

Some of the links on this page are affiliate links

Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of exploring this beautiful section of the Oregon Coast Trail with one of my best friends. The trip was a spectacular reminder of how rewarding and diverse backpacking can be. James and I were both blown away by the pristine seclusion of this 30-mile stretch of Oregon coast. I highly recommend placing this trip on your Oregon backpacking to-do list. You will not be disappointed.

Here’s a quick trip report and some helpful planning tips to make your trek more straightforward. If you have any thoughts or questions, please leave me a comment below. If you enjoy this post, feel free to spread the love with a “like” or “share” at the bottom. Thanks!

Highlights:

• Pristine beach scenery
• Surprising solitude
• Rugged rock formations
• Magnificent sunsets
• Abundant ocean wildlife
• Cape Blanco Lighthouse
• No permits needed
• Walking on hard-packed sand
• It’s right near the beach (boy-eee!)
• 3 Large river crossings
• Some camping restrictions
• Shuttle or hitchhike necessary
• Possibility of strong storms and wind
• Walking on soft sand

Trip Timing

We spent 3 days and 2 nights hiking this 30-mile stretch of beach . We pack light, so the pace of the trip was quite relaxing. It was almost too relaxing actually – we kinda wanted more walking and did take a couple of side trips to add mileage. If you think you’d enjoy packing lighter (and trust me, you will), check out the top picks and gear recommendations section of my site.

We executed this trip in the beginning of April. This trek is open year-round but it will be best in the spring, summer, and fall when the weather is warmer and river levels are lower. April could have been a tough time for us to cross the rivers, but we didn’t have any issues. Also, pay close attention storm warnings before your trip . The sea can get very angry on the coast when heavy storms roll in, so don’t take any chances.

Difficulty – Moderate

This trip is about 30 miles with very little elevation gain and 3 large rivers to ford . When the tide is low there are large sections of hard-packed sand that make the walking easy. When the tide is high (and on some narrow beach sections) you’ll have to walk on softer sand , which is much more tiresome. You’ll only have to walk in soft sand for about ¼ of the trip and it’s not really that bad. Print out a tide timetable for the dates of your trip.

River Crossing

The other possibly challenging element of this trek comes in the form of fording rivers. The Elk River, the Sixes River, and Fourmile Creek will all require getting your feet wet – likely up to thigh level. I’ve done a fair bit of river fording and I consider these to be moderate to advanced crossings depending on the conditions . They will be easy when the river levels are low (summer, early fall), and more challenging when river levels are high. But don’t be dissuaded from this trip just because of these crossings. Learn the skills – This video I produced will help – check on conditions before you travel, take time to scout out a safe ford, cross at a wide section of river, and turn back if it ever feels unsafe .

Shuttle / Bus / Hitchhike

You could plan a shorter out-and-back hike on this section, but it’s more common to hike from Bandon to Port Orford (or vice versa) and then shuttle/bus/hitchhike back to where you started . Heading south or north will both be rewarding routes, so choose what’s easiest for you.

The obvious challenge with this strategy is getting back to where you started. You could take two cars, but that rarely makes sense. There is a bus that runs between the two towns , so that’s a solid option. Alternately, you could hitchhike, which is what we did . The 101 runs directly through both towns and is less than a mile from the beach in either town. For that reason it was very easy to pick up a ride. We got a hitch in about 15 minutes and the drive took about 30 minutes or so.

Note: If you’re hitchhiking, don’t get in the car if it doesn’t feel right. Say you just realized that you forgot your camera and you need to go back to look for it. Tell the car to go on without you and walk away. I’ve never had to do that and I’ve done a lot of trail hitchhiking, but you don’t want to take an unnecessary risk.

Snowy Plover Camping Restrictions

In general, you can camp anywhere on the Oregon Coast as long as you’re not in a state park, you’re not within view of any houses, and you’re not in a restricted area . In the Bandon to Port Orford section that leaves plenty of areas for camping, but there are some clear restrictions.

The biggest issue is that there’s an 11-12 mile section where you won’t be able to camp starting at Bandon and heading south . This is because the area is restricted due to an endangered bird species – the Snowy Plover . It’s actually a pretty neat little bird, so the hassle seems worth it.

If you plan on hiking south from Bandon, start out early so you can get past this section. If you are heading north from Port Orford, don’t expect to camp anywhere within 11-12 miles of Bandon before your last day of hiking.

There is a lot of driftwood along the Oregon Coast for making great campfires, but PLEASE follow the rules . Practice extreme caution if you plan on having a campfire, even on the beach. It’s an extreme rarity that forest fires are started on purpose. Most of the time people that start forest fires are outdoor enthusiasts that make simple mistakes. Don’t be that guy.

Campfire Rules From: visittheoregoncoast.com – Use small pieces of wood only. Large logs are prohibited. The fire must be west of the vegetation line, NO EXCEPTIONS. Build your fire away from the beach grass & piles of driftwood. Extinguish the fire with water. Don’t just bury it. Doing this will allow the fire to remain hot and continue to smolder for hours. This could also cause someone to get burned.

Water / Bugs / Animals

Water is readily accessible along this route. Bring a good water filter . We had no bug issues at all. You never know though, so be prepared. A combination of Permethrin on your clothing and a VERY small amount of 30% DEET on exposed skin will keep you 100% protected. It’s like wearing a frickin’ mosquito forcefield. We had no problems with animals either. Please learn how to properly store your food though .

Maps & Guidebook

Maps aren’t really required for this section because you mostly just follow the coast with a couple of bluff walk arounds . That said, you should definitely carry a simple map with you and know all the mileages in-between key landmarks on the trail. There are a few places you could get confused, and that’s always a bummer. A very basic map and some info can be found here .

The Backpacking Oregon Guidebook is a fantastic resource for this hike – and lots of other Oregon backpacking trips. It has play-by-play descriptions of the hike with an easy to follow simple map. I highly recommend picking up a copy of this book  – and any of the other states in that series of books.

Getting There

It’s pretty easy to get on this “trail” which is mostly beach walking. If you head to Bandon or Port Orford , hit the beach, and start walking towards the other town  you’ll be good to go. You might find parking restrictions in either town if you’re looking to park next to the beach, but if you drive a short distance away, you’ll find a place to stash your ride no worries.

Backpacking Gear

We prefer lightweight backpacking because it’s more comfortable and it allows us to cover more ground with less effort. For recommendations on our favorite lightweight backpacking equipment, check out the CleverHiker Gear Guide  and Top Picks  page.

What To Pack

TENT : We used the Zpacks Duplex  tent on this trip. We love its combination of incredibly low weight and livability and that’s why it’s one of our top picks on our best lightweight backpacking tents  list.

BACKPACK : We used the Gossamer Gear Gorilla  backpack on this trek. It’s lightweight, convenient, comfortable, and make our list of the best lightweight backpacking packs .

SLEEPING BAG : We used the Western Mountaineering UltraLite  on this backpacking trip. It’s lightweight, incredibly warm, and makes our list of the best backpacking sleeping bags .

SLEEPING PAD : We both used the  Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite  sleeping pad on this trip. It’s light, comfortable, warm, and make our list of the best backpacking sleeping pads .

COOKING SYSTEM : We used the Jetboil MiniMo  cooking system and Snow Peak Folding Spoon  on this trek, all of which make our top picks gear list  and best lightweight stove list .

WATER PURIFIER : We used the SteriPEN Ultra  as our main purification method on this trip. It’s lightweight, works fast, and doesn’t require any pumping/squeezing or chemicals. Check out our best water purifiers list for our other top recommendations.

SHOES OR BOOTS : We wore Saucony Peregrine 7  trail runners ( Men’s  and Women’s ) on this trail and they were excellent. If you prefer boots, make sure they’re lightweight and break them in really well before your trip. Here’s why we prefer hiking in trail running shoes:  5 Reasons to Ditch Your Hiking Boots .

HEADLAMP : A small headlamp like the Petzl Actik  is an affordable, bright, and lightweight option.

FOOD : When backpacking the Oregon Coast Trail you’ll have to carry all your food. For some suggestions on common backpacking food options, check out our backpacking food video .

FOOD STORAGE : For this trip, we brought an Ursack  to keep the critters out of our food. There are no food storage requirements for this area, but you should always store your food properly in the backcountry.  Bear canisters  and Ursacks  are the most effective storage methods and the easiest to use.

Here are some of our favorite hiking/backpacking clothing items from our Top Gear list .

1 Rain jacket shell – Patagonia M10 / Rab Kinetic Plus 1 Pair rain pants – Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic 1 Down jacket – Patagonia Ultralight Down Hoody 1 Fleece jacket – Extra warmth under your down jacket that will be warmer when damp and better to hike in. 1 Pair hiking pants or running tights 1 Pair hiking shorts – Nike dri fit running shorts 1-2 Hiking t-shirts – Nike dri fit t-shirts 1 Long-sleeve shirt – Nike dri fit quarter zip 1-3 Pair underwear – ExOfficio boxer briefs or ExOfficio women’s briefs 2-3 Pair socks (add thin sock liners if using boots) – Balega running socks for warm weather & SmartWool mountaineer socks for snow. 1 Pair long john bottoms – long john top optional for nighttime use. 1 Warm hat 1 Sun hat 1 Pair gloves or mittens

MAP &COMPASS : The Backpacking Oregon Guidebook is a fantastic resource for this hike, offering detailed information on this hike. You can also find a simple map and basic info here . In addition, we always hike with a compass .

FIRST-AID KIT : Always bring a small personalized first aid kit. We used the .5 Ultralight Kit  and added extras, like painkillers and personal medications.

SUN PROTECTION : Sunglasses (polarized recommended), sunscreen, and spf lip balm are an absolute must.

POCKET KNIFE : We brought along a small Swiss Army Knife , which came in handy here and there.

OTHER ITEMS :

• SMALL TOWEL: the Nano pack towel is great.
• CASH and ID
• PERSONAL TOILETRIES
• HAND SANITIZER: Always apply after using a bathroom and before eating.
• WET WIPES: These can be useful for cleaning up after hiking.
• INSECT REPELLANT: At higher elevations insects weren’t a problem for us at all. For lower elevations, a 1oz bottle of DEET will do the trick.
• CAMERA: The Sony RX100 is our go-to camera for lightweight backpacking.

Additional Resources

This dude made two YouTube videos  of the trip he took in January 2013. He spends WAY too much time talking about a river crossing that trips him up in the first video and he’s backpacking A LOT heavier than I prefer to. The second video is a much better watch. These video have some good shots of the area’s scenery and I’ll fully support anyone anywhere that has the guts to get out into the wild and hike, however they want to do it.

The Oregon Coast Trail runs the length of Oregon along the coast with some walk-arounds for big rivers and tough sections.  Oregon.gov has some helpful info on the OCT as does the National Coast Trail Association .

Why trust us?

We understand how tough it is to find trustworthy gear advice, and that’s one of the main reasons we built CleverHiker. We live for outdoor adventure, and we take these guides very seriously.

• Our recommendations are completely independent and based on hands-on experience.
• We test outdoor gear for a living – we’ve logged over 20,000 trail miles and 1,000 nights in the wilderness.
• Our team has thru-hiked some of the most iconic long trails, including the Continental Divide Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail, Colorado Trail, Long Trail, Oregon Coast Trail, Arizona Trail, Pinhoti Trail, Superior Hiking Trail, as well as extensive peak bagging, and international treks.
• We field test every product we recommend, which is sadly not the norm.
• We travel to industry trade shows to stay up-to-date on product innovations.
• We continuously update our guides throughout the year and when new products launch.
• We treat recommendations to our readers as if they were for our family and friends.
• We’re lifelong learners and we’re always open to feedback. If you think we’ve missed a worthy product or got something wrong, we’d love to know about it.

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The Oregon Coast Trail: The Best, Biggest Beach Walk of Your Life

From dense, moss-draped rainforest to misty, cliff-guarded beaches, the oregon coast trail is 425 miles of pure pacific beauty with a complicated story behind it..

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In profile, the tip of Cape Falcon looks like a long, crooked finger dipping into the Pacific. From the coastal rainforest 200 feet above, it slopes down to sea level, hemlock and spruce giving way first to ferns and gnarled salal, then to sheer, banded sandstone cliffs that drop straight into the roiling surf. 

Perched on a nearby lookout, I peered down at the waves below and instinctively tightened my grip on my 3-year-old son Rhys’s jacket. We were less than two hours into a 13-mile hike through the Oswald West State Park section of the Oregon Coast Trail, and for the sixth or seventh time we had stopped to take in the view. But how could we just walk on by this?

This is the hiker’s dilemma on the Oregon Coast Trail: There are 425 miles to cover, and so many sights to stop and see along the way that, if you’re not careful, you might never get to the finish line. At its best, the OCT is like a hiking Greatest Hits album, a series of soaring clifftop vistas, towering forests, and wild Pacific beaches stitched end to end. A day or a weekend on it is a sampler of everything captivating about the Pacific Northwest. An end-to-end thru-hike ? As long as you can handle some pavement-pounding—the trail still has its gaps—it’s the kind of adventure you won’t be able to replicate anywhere else.

The sun still hadn’t risen when my wife dropped us at a pullout off of US 101 to begin our hike south. It was slow going at first: Under the rainforest’s canopy, the October morning gloom condensed into inky blackness. A hundred feet from the trailhead I snagged my foot on a tangle of roots and nearly went down, catching myself on my trekking poles before I pitched onto my face. As the first hints of daylight began to filter through the foliage and fog, we picked our way south and west, heading toward the sound of the sea.

Before it’s anything else, hiking the Oregon Coast Trail is a sonic experience. As you walk away from 101, the federal highway that traces the length of Oregon’s coast, the rumble of trucks and traffic recedes; approaching the coast, you hear the crash of waves breaking against rock before you smell the salt spray or see the water . In between, the rainforest blankets everything in a thick, heavy quiet, the pine needles and humus muting even your footfalls. Paradoxically, with outside sounds turned down, the natural noises of the forest only stand out more. Each bird call, creaking branch, and drip of water is audible against the silence. 

If you’re used to lesser woods, the sheer density of Oregon’s old-growth rainforest is shocking. Sitka spruces and Douglas firs interweave their canopies with beards of lichen hanging off their branches and turkey tail and reishi mushrooms jutting from their trunks like shelves. Ferns and skunk cabbage sprout between them in the wet duff. Moss coats everything from living trees and punky deadfall to signposts and the ground itself. By some estimates, this and other temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest are the most concentrated collection of plant life in the world, with a biomass several times higher than that of a tropical forest.

That these temperate rainforests are so dense is partially due to wildfires —specifically a lack of them. Unlike the drier forests of central Oregon or California, large-scale blazes are rare here, thanks in part to the more than 100 inches of rainfall that the wettest parts of Oregon’s coastal rainforests receive annually. (It bears mentioning that the rainforest can still burn during unusually dry summers, which many researchers expect will become more and more common as the Earth’s climate warms.) In recent years, that has made the OCT a fallback for Pacific Crest Trail hikers forced off-route by megafires, as many were in 2022 .

Even when it’s not raining, the moisture on the coast seems ambient, thickening the air and coalescing into dense fog banks. As we hiked, every bush and branch we pushed past sprinkled us with dew. Within an hour, my clothing was damp enough that it clung to my skin.

Despite the temptation to stop and snap photos every 100 yards, we made decent time. Rhys alternately rambled down the trail, pausing to pick up toddler-size walking sticks-slash-pirate-swords, and rode on my back in a soft carrier I had brought. By 10:30 a.m. we had reached our planned lunch spot at Short Sand Beach, a hike-in-only half-mile stretch of coast bounded at one end by a waterfall and the other by forest-topped sea cliffs. We ate ramen we cold-soaked in a Nalgene ; Rhys built a sand castle ornamented with driftwood and smooth cobblestones while I squished the damp sand between my toes and watched a half-dozen wetsuited surfers catch waist-high waves backdropped by a wall of sea fog. For somewhere just more than a half-mile from the nearest parking lot, the beach felt oddly remote, like we had found a place on the edge of everything.

If it weren’t for the way Oregon has preserved its beaches, it’s fair to say the OCT wouldn’t exist. Nearly 40 percent of the trail is beach walking, long rambles down public stretches of sand. The fact that those beaches are open to hikers at all largely comes down to two bold moves that the state government made a half-century apart. 

The first occurred in 1913, when, in response to private sales of beach property, Governor Oswald West and the state’s legislature declared the entire shoreline of Oregon a public highway. That same year, they established the Oregon State Highway Commission. Beginning in 1922, the Commission created Oregon’s first state park from donated land, founding what would soon become a string of recreation areas down the coast. Ten years later, it completed work on what is now US 101, the highway that traces the path of the OCT today.

But there was a catch to those protections: They only applied below the high tide line. In 1966, Bill Hay, the owner of the Surfsand Motel in Cannon Beach , took advantage of that loophole, using logs to fence in a section of beach for guest use only and posting “no trespassing” signs around it. In response, the state legislature introduced the Oregon Beach Bill, which declared all of the state’s beaches, from the vegetation to the water, public.

At first opposition to the measure was stiff; conservative legislators rebuked it as government infringement of property rights. But the bill had a powerful supporter in Tom McCall, the state’s Republican governor, and after he successfully rallied public opinion with a high-profile appearance in front of the Surfsand’s disputed plot of beach, the state’s legislature passed it near-unanimously in June 1967. As a result, Oregon’s entire coast is open to the public, with little of the ambiguity, carve-outs, or legal dodges that have locked up sandy shores in other parts of the country. If there’s a beach in Oregon, you can hike on it.

I think this is as it should be. Spend a few hours walking the OCT, and you’ll come to appreciate my point of view. The coast here is sculpted, with sea stacks and cauldrons and little pocket beaches carved into the rock by the distal edge of a sea that stretches clear to Japan. The idea that someone rich or fortunate enough could stamp “mine” on all that beauty and keep the rest of us out would be laughable if it weren’t so offensive.

With our break over, we got back to hiking. Before long, we had crossed 101 and started the steep ascent up Neahkahnie Mountain , the high point of the trail at just over 1,400 feet. We switchbacked through meadows blanketed in fog, Rhys riding in the soft carrier on my back while I gritted my teeth and plodded up. 

As we climbed back into the forest, the clouds thinned, and shafts of light began to glow through the mist and illuminate the understory. It was Hallelujah Chorus light, the kind of sunbeams you’d expect to see trained on a saint in some medieval painting. After spending hours trudging through the damp brush, the dry warmth was a welcome change. 

Near the crest of the mountain, the trees finally broke, and for the first time all day, we could see the clear, blue sky. Below us, the cloud layer stretched as far as we could see, covering everything to the horizon like a second ocean. I snapped another picture, and both of us spent a long moment taking it all in. Then, we started our descent toward Manzanita, back down into the drizzle and the fog.

Four days of tidepooling and whale-watching later, I was ready to stretch my legs again. After an early breakfast at our site in the Forest Service’s Tilicum Beach campground, my wife, Nat, settled in with a book while I threw snacks, water, and extra layers in a daypack and began following the shoreline south with Rhys.

It was just past low tide, cool and foggy again, and the damp sand made for easy going. We took it slowly, stopping to check out the flotsam the waves had carried in, like skate egg cases and driftwood. Rhys found and dragged a long strand of bull kelp after us, leaving a track in the sand. At one point, I spotted movement in the waves and turned to find a pair of sea lions swimming through the surf alongside us.

A staircase and a tunnel carved into the overgrown bushes brought us into Yachats, a town of about 1,000 people hugging the edge of a river mouth. The trail passed through neat residential neighborhoods and a small downtown on marked sidewalks and dirt paths. Maybe it was because we were hiking on a drizzly weekday morning, but it seemed nearly deserted, apart from a few seaside dog walkers and a lone fisherman casting into the surf.

Just past town, where the trail began to climb into the forest once again, we came across an amphitheater cut into the trees. Rows of benches clustered around a small, flat clearing; on the far side of the clearing, a wooden suspension bridge over a now-dry creek led further into the mountains. At the center, draped in beads and stone necklaces, sat a stylized concrete statue of a woman, her face turned to the sky. Her name was Amanda De-Cuys, this 3.7-mile stretch of the OCT—dubbed Amanda’s Trail—was her namesake. As a nearby historical sign informed us, her story was emblematic of one of the darkest chapters in Oregon’s history.

In 1855, the United States government established the Coast Reservation, a 1.1-million-acre parcel spanning one-third of the current state of Oregon’s shoreline. A number of central and southern Oregon tribes, including the Coos, Alsea, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw, signed a treaty with the U.S. agreeing to live on the reservation and allow settlement of their homelands in exchange for food, clothing, and other benefits.

If you have the barest grasp of American history, then you can guess what happened next. The U.S. government never ratified the treaty and never provided the supplies or aid it had promised, but took the tribes’ land anyway. Over the next two decades, the U.S. split and shrank the reservation again and again, giving away the best farmland to settlers. In 1860, soldiers forcibly marched tribal members to the Alsea Subagency in what’s now Yachats. Unable to hunt or farm the poor land, half of the subagency’s Native residents would die over the following 17 years , falling victim to hunger, disease, or the brutality of the soldiers sent to keep them in line.

Against that backdrop in 1864, a small U.S. army detachment traveled up the Coos River, just down the coast from Yachats, to round up members of the Coos tribe who had refused to move to the subagency. At a ranch owned by a settler named De-Cuys, the soldiers captured three people, including De-Cuys’s common-law wife, Amanda. In his diary, one of the soldiers, Corporal Royal Bensell, described her as “old and blind”. (De-Cuys, it’s worth noting, could have saved Amanda from captivity by marrying her; he refused.) 

“After getting in the boat I was surprised to hear one of the [women ask] me, ‘Nika tika nanage nika tenas Julia [Let me see my little Julia],’” Bensell wrote. “I complied with this parental demand and was shocked to see this little girl throw her arms about old Amanda De-Cuys’s neck and cry, ‘Clihime Ma Ma [dear mama].’”

Being separated from her daughter was only the beginning of Amanda’s troubles. Over the next nine days, Bensell and his comrades marched her and nearly four dozen other Native captives up the coast. Amanda, unable to see, often lagged behind. At one point she tore her bare feet so badly on the rock, Bensell wrote, that she left “blood sufficient to track her by.” There’s no record of Amanda after she reached Yachats; we can only guess as to what the rest of her life, short or long, was like.

Separated from her child and marched at gunpoint to a place she didn’t know—Amanda De-Cuys’s story seems unimaginable in its cruelty. But unimaginable is a poor word to describe something that didn’t just happen, but happened again and again. Today, the Siletz Reservation, which succeeded the Coast Reservation, covers just 0.3 percent of the land it originally did. The violence that Amanda and her contemporaries suffered wasn’t just real, it was foundational: Those land grabs were the basis of the U.S. state of Oregon and everything built there since, from the highways to the national forests to the little towns that stud the coast. After a while at Amanda’s statue, we continued on across the bridge. Rhys sang to himself as he looked down at the dry creek bed below; I followed silently, distracted by my thoughts.

The trail kept climbing, through Jurassic ferns and trees hundreds of years old. Compared to Neahkahnie, it was easy going: the route ascended gradually, tracing ridges and hillsides. The rooty, rough conditions we had encountered earlier were gone, replaced now by even, cruiser treadpath matted with pine needles. With only a few miles left to go and hours of daylight left, Rhys and I stopped for every promising distraction, looking at dew-covered orb weavers’ webs and watching fat banana slugs mosey across the forest floor. 

We passed and stopped to greet a few fellow hikers, an older couple out for a dayhike and an OCT thru-hiker with a closed-cell foam mat strapped to the outside of his frameless pack. It was only afterward that I realized why those encounters felt so strange: Until then, we had been hiking almost completely by ourselves. Over the course of two days on the OCT, we had encountered fewer than a half-dozen other hikers, mostly clustered around trailheads and road access. 

I understand why the Oregon Coast Trail is the dark horse of long trails. It doesn’t have the wildness of the Pacific Crest Trail or the community of the Appalachian Trail . There’s little backcountry camping, and the trail rarely strays more than a few miles from a paved highway as the crow flies. While the roadwalks are getting shorter, they’re still substantial.

But listen: The OCT has something no other long trail has. It sits on one of the most beautiful coasts in the world, and a hike down it is a chance to get to know every spectacular inch—the tidepools, the ancient forests, the whales sounding offshore, and the people who call it home. It’s the kind of environment that seems to be begging you to go slower, just to soak it all in.

After another hour and a half, we reached the West Shelter, a small three-walled stone shack set up on the top of a sea cliff. When the weather’s clear, it’s the best spot to see Cape Perpetua, a high, wooded headland projecting into the ocean. No such luck: The fog was so thick it was almost corporeal. Rhys and I ate the last of our trail snacks and gazed out into what looked like a wall of swirling cotton.

Still, I didn’t sweat it. On the Oregon Coast Trail, the best view of your life is always just around the corner.

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The 30-mile thru-hike was the ideal trip for putting our backpacking and hiking candidates through the wringer.

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Wander women

Empowering wilderness adventures for all women. Join us to laugh, learn, connect, reflect, and grow!

“Kori’s mindset and leadership gave me the nudge I needed to step into the backcountry. The skills and experience I gained from her gave me the confidence to return.”

– Kris

Wander Women backpacking trips are the perfect adventure for women of every age and every personality! Trips are “expedition style”, which means everyone works together to carry the gear, cook meals, and perform camp chores. But don’t worry, even if you have never been camping before we will teach you everything you need to know!

You will be provided with a comprehensive packing list, complete with tips on where to find the things you need. Before each trip, we hold a pre-trip gathering where you can get to know the group, ask questions about gear, and get tips for packing your backpack. If you are not local to Portland, we offer online pre-trip meetings on request.

On the first day of the trip, we’ll meet at the trailhead (about 5hrs East of Portland) in the afternoon, divvy up group gear and food, and head off down the trail. Each day we will hike for several miles on rustic trails, carrying everything we need on our backs. You’ll eat delicious meals customized for your dietary needs, and sleep in tents. Throughout the trip there will be  intentional reflective activities , educational opportunities, and plenty of time to just enjoy the wilderness and the company of other women .

We can’t wait for you to join our community!

“Confidence that I still can, even though I thought I couldn’t. I feel like a renewed soul getting back to the wild places!”

 – Margaret

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Oregon Nature Trails

Custom oregon nature trails – guided walking and hiking tours through oregon.

Explore nature’s barely discovered paradise by walking Oregon’s trails along the Pacific coastline, through dense temperate rainforest, around volcanic peaks and through the open country of the high prairie where the Wild West is still alive.

The undiscovered American hiking paradise. Oregon is a very undeveloped state, and an area of endless natural beauty. From its towering Cascade mountains to jutting volcanoes, and from a quiet sand and rugged coastline with romantic lighthouses to the endless vistas of high desert country, Oregon offers the picturesque escape into the Wild West that so many outdoor adventure lovers dream about. Join us as we explore ancient forests thick with moss, mushrooms, ferns, unusual birds, wildlife and only us. Hike through canyons, under overhang-cascading waterfalls, then walk to a lake in a glacial valley, discover dinosaur fossils, swim in a cool alpine lake, share the path with true cowboys and watch the sunset over giant crashing waves.

Learn about and take part in America’s pioneer history on a walking and hiking tour through Oregon. In the mid-19th century, thousands of Eastern folks tried their luck on the famous Oregon Trail, looking for a fruitful land of paradise. Their treacherous journey brought them to this amazing state, where signs of their mining, herding, lumber and farming history lives on. Much remains untouched: high mountain wilderness lakes, rough volcanic coastlines with crashing waves, forests of enormous trees, fields of alpine flowers, churning rivers and lazy creeks; all this in one incredible state.

Mount Hood, from Central Oregon

Top Attractions of the Oregon Nature Trails Hiking Tour:

• Wander gorgeous and secluded Pacific beaches without a person in sight.
• Hike small trails through untouched old growth forest and recent lava flows.
• Discover the excitement and history of a wild west past that still exists today.
• Walk a majestic volcano’s rim at Crater Lake National Park, be dwarfed by the tallest trees at Redwood State Park.
• Mt. Hood, Mirror Lake
• Ride to the historical gold-mining town of Sumpter on an original steam engine.
• Oregon Coast Aquarium where Keiko was trained for release.
• Walk the Oregon coastal sand dunes, largest in America.

All Tour Dates and Rates

Route Map: Oregon Hiking Trails, 14 day tour

View the Daily Schedule Itinerary 14 Days / 13 Nights

Dates and Rates

Oregon Nature Trails pricing 2021 – this tour has been combined with Oregon Trail Dreams :

If you have a group of individuals who would like to participate in this tour contact us for a private / custom tour quote.  Private tours can be arranged for any group size, and we can customize the itinerary to match your specific interests.

Prices – 14 days / 13 nights

please contact us for rates

An elk photographed near the Oregon Coast

Interested in reserving this tour? Please contact us for more information!

Oregon Nature Trails – Tour Itinerary (14 days, 13 nights)

This tour schedule will give you an idea of the various locations we visit on this tour. We feature more information about our top attractions and include many of the places you may not have heard of before, giving you a good idea about what you can expect on these guided tours. Read about the various cities and national parks visited on this tour.

Our Accommodations

Stay at  unique hotels in great locations on these tours of the Western USA We assure that your stay is memorable at each location by choosing comfortable hotels with little extras.  For example, many have swimming pools, fitness facilities, internet access and a continental breakfast.  What’s more where possible we choose locations that provide you with access to nearby restaurants, sights and activities.  Our hotels are generally 2 star, a night or two in pleasant rustic accommodations are also included to give you a chance to really experience the west.  From our large city hotels to our personable small town locations this tour offers a wide variety of excellent accommodation.

Discover Oregon on hikes and walks Image Gallery- coming soon! Our image gallery gives you a chance to experience some of our tour locations before you embark on this journey.  Be sure to bring along your camera- there are many chances for that perfect, memorable photograph.  From rugged coastline along the Pacific to the volcanic Cascades mountains these tours give you an opportunity to experience some of the most beautiful locations of the Northwest.  Take a look at our image gallery for inspiration!

All Tour Dates and Rates   Book Your Tour Now

Take a look at other Travel Dream West small group tours by clicking on one of the images below:

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321 Trips Meet Your Criteria

Welcome to Wildland Trekking

Four key factors set us apart from other adventure and hiking companies.

All Inclusive Trips

Wildland hiking tours allow guests to focus 100% on the hiking experience. We provide all gear, meals, transportation, professional guides, permits, fees and much more!

Small Groups

Our hiking trips are always small group adventures, typically 4-12 people per trip. Join a personalized trekking vacation that prioritizes quality of experience above all else.

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Our trip diversity allows you to enjoy the world's inspiring landscapes in a variety of ways and at different times in your life, and we hope you'll sample them all!

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These extraordinary men and women have the ability to turn a great get-away into an unforgettable, inspiring - and sometimes truly life changing - adventure.

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Save on a discounted tour.

Interested in enjoying one of our premier adventures, and saving 15-25% on the cost? See our list of discounted hiking and backpacking tours. Often these trips are coming up fast and require some flexibility with scheduling, but if one works for you it can pay off. Feel free to call us at 800-715-HIKE (4453) with any questions!

World-Class Hiking Destinations

We operate premier hiking tours all over the USA from the deserts, to the canyons, to the mountains, to the seashores and beyond. We also operate internationally to life-list destinations like Kilimanjaro, Iceland, the Alps, Peru, Patagonia and more world-class hiking destinations. View all destinations

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For people who love to hike and travel, Wildland has something for everyone.

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Highly rated on.

For us quality of experience is only second to safety.

We are committed to providing world-class trekking experiences for our guests that go way above and beyond the mass-produced tours so common today.

The Mt. Rainier Inn trip with Wildland was perfect. The Inn was comfortable; the guide was an expert in his field; the pacing was just right to accommodate all those on the trip; the scenery was ideal. If you can go please do.

Why Join a Guided Hiking or backpacking Tour?

10,000+ people join our guided hiking tours and backpacking trips annually, and there are many reasons so many people make this choice.

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Trained Guides

Hiking with an experienced, trained guide helps to maximize the safety and enjoyment of your trekking adventure. This is especially true if your trip is in an unfamiliar area, which guided trips often are.

Everything Included

A specific hiking or backpacking trip may be on your "life list" and you don't want to purchase all the gear and equipment to do a single trip. In this situation going with a guide service where everything is included provides a tremendous benefit.

Knowledge & Learning

Some guests are most interested in learning as much as they can about the area(s) they're hiking through. Guides can bring places to life by sharing stories, knowledge, observations, context and personal passion.

Convenience

We handle all the trip planning and on-the-ground logistics. This service takes the burden of planning almost entirely off your plate. Additionally you can travel light and have everything waiting for you.

Learn from Experts

Some guests are new to the outdoors, backpacking, hiking, and/or camping and prefer to go with experts to learn best practices from professionals. Guided trips are an excellent way to get started.

A Perfect Combination

For most guests it's a combination of some or all of these reasons that they join guided hiking tours and backpacking trips. Whatever your reason is, we're ready to help you create the experience of a lifetime.

Explore with our Expert Hiking & Backpacking Guides

For the last 15+ years Wildland has been awing guests with the professional and inspiring service our exceptional guides and staff provide. The secret sauce to our award winning trips is our staff (guides, managers, adventure consultants, drivers and more) who are deeply passionate about wilderness, about adventure, and about sharing those loves with others.

Hermit Loop Backpacking Trip

Hiking and Backpacking Guide

If you want to truly experience the grandeur and thrill of walking through the Grand Canyon, the 4 day Hermit hiking journey is the best way to achieve this once in a lifetime experience. Our guide Josh was first rate and managed our hiking group with skill and flexibility!

— Michael A.

Choosing the Right Hiking Trip

Choosing the right trip is a key ingredient for enjoying your hiking vacation. We offer backpacking trips, horse/llama/porter supported hikes, inn-based hiking tours, basecamp hiking tours and day hike tours. For guests looking to challenge themselves and travel deep into the backcountry, a backpacking trip is the best choice. Some people want to explore the backcountry but without heavy backpacks, and for those folks we recommend horse/llama/porter supported trips. Inn-based and basecamp tours are multi-day hiking vacations that showcase the best hikes and highlights of an area and are either inn-based or camping-based, and are great for families, couples, and solo travelers. And, finally, day hikes with an award winning hiking tour company like Wildland are an exceptional way to maximize a short amount of time at one of America’s amazing national parks.

When and Where to Hike

For desert hiking destinations like Joshua Tree and Death Valley, the best seasons are spring, fall and winter. In mountain destinations like Yellowstone, Iceland, the Pacific Northwest, the Alps and others, the best seasons to hike are late spring, summer and early fall. Some destinations are great year round, regardless of whether they are in the desert or mountains; examples are Grand Canyon, Sedona, the Smoky Mountains, Yosemite, Yellowstone (ski and snowshoe tours), Peru, and Ecuador. Winter is, generally, the most underrated season for hiking and backpacking tours in many areas, as it’s a spectacular time of year to hike but largely skipped over by many people.

When choosing your next destination, it’s important to consider more than just the time of year. You can call us 7 days a week at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to speak with our Adventure Consultant Team.

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Weekend getaways, week-long adventures, gritty expeditions, best backpacking in oregon, from backpacking the oregon coast to overnight trips, the pacific northwest offers an unbeatable landscape. pack your bag for an overnight backpacking adventure and trek through the alpine meadows, magnificent mountain peaks, wild beaches, or colorful canyonlands that call oregon home. no matter what you’re looking for, we’ve got you covered. explore our trails for short backpacking trips through oregon or a gritty expedition., *our information may not always be current and should be used for trip planning / selection purposes only. always call ahead for the most current information before setting out on your trip., weekend getaways.

Black Canyon Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 18

Group Size Limit: N/A

Best For: 1-2 nights

Permit/Reservation: Not required 

Cottonwood Canyon State Park

Number of Miles of Trail: 15

Group Size Limit: 10

Best For: 1 night

Mill Creek Wilderness

Badger Creek Wilderness 

Number of Miles of Trail: 55

Group Size Limit: 12

Best For: 1-7 nights

Diamond Peak Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 52

Best For: 1-7 nights 

Permit/Reservation: Required 

Bull of the Woods Wilderness 

Number of Miles of Trail: 75

Best For: 1-10 nights 

Permit/Reservation: Required May 15-Oct. 15

Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

Number of Miles of Trail: 370

Best For: 1-13 nights (hard limit)

Deschutes National Forest

Number of Miles of Trail: 98*

Eagle Cap Wilderness 

Number of Miles of Trail: 530

Fremont-Winema National Forest

Group Size Limit: 6

Hells Canyon Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 360

Group Size Limit: 8

Kalmiopsis Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 160+

Malheur National Forest

Number of Miles of Trail: 240+

Best For: 1-29 nights (hard limit)

Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 200

Mt. Hood National Forest

Number of Miles of Trail: 1,000

Mount Hood Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 100+

Permit/Reservation: Required May 15-Oct. 15 

Mount Jefferson Wilderness 

Number of Miles of Trail: 163

Best For: 1-22 nights 

Permit/Reservation: Required

Mount Thielsen Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 78

Best For: 1-10 nights

North Fork John Day Wilderness

Ochoco National Forest & Crooked River National Grassland

Best For: 1-13 nights 

Permit/Reservation: Not required

*Estimate 

Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest 

Permit/Reservation: Not required *Estimate

Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness 

Number of Miles of Trail: 100

Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 70

Best For: 1-9 nights 

Siskiyou Wilderness

Group Size Limit: 25

Sky Lakes Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 65+

Best For: 1-8 nights

Strawberry Mountain Wilderness 

Number of Miles of Trail: 125 

Best For: 1-17 nights

Three Sisters Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 260

Best For: 1-36 nights 

Umatilla National Forest 

Number of Miles of Trail: 715

Umpqua National Forest 

Waldo Lake Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 84

Best For: 1-11 nights 

Permit/Reservation: Required  

Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Number of Miles of Trail: 2,700

Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness 

Number of Miles of Trail: 200+

Willamette National Forest

Number of Miles of Trail: 1,700

Looking for more overnight backpacking adventures near Oregon? See our  Washington , Idaho , Nevada , and California state pages for more close trips!

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Best Backpacking Trails in Oregon

Top trails (428)

• Mirror Lake Loop Trail Moderate • 4.6 ( 5595 ) #1 - Mirror Lake Loop Trail Mount Hood National Forest Length: 4.2 mi • Est. 1h 55m Mirror Lake Loop Trail is a great family-friendly hike in Mount Hood National Forest. Traveling from the parking area and trailhead, you will hike roughly 2 miles before coming to Mirror Lake. This is a great place for a picnic and a swim during warmer months! The trip up crosses meadows and travels over bridged streams, with lots of wildflowers in the spring. During the winter it is recommended to wear microspikes or crampons and bring poles as the trail can get snowy and icy, making it...
• Tom, Dick and Harry Mountain via Mirror Lake Trail #664 Hard • 4.7 ( 4259 ) #2 - Tom, Dick and Harry Mountain via Mirror Lake Trail #664 Mount Hood National Forest Length: 8.2 mi • Est. 4h 9m Tom, Dick and Harry Mountain is a popular destination offering incredible views of Mount Hood, Mount Adams, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens and Mount Jefferson. Park at the Mirror Lake Trailhead near Government Camp and follow the well-maintained Mirror Lake Trail #664 past Mirror Lake to the summit. Although the trail is heavily-trafficked, crowds usually thin after Mirror Lake. The first quarter-mile of the trail is considered ADA accessible by the park. The trail then becomes forested...
• McNeil Point Trail Hard • 4.8 ( 2720 ) #3 - McNeil Point Trail Mount Hood National Forest Length: 8.5 mi The beginning of this hike leaves from Top Spur trailhead and explores a beautiful forest setting and is quite relaxing. Early on as you straddle the side of Bald Mountain you are walking through closed-in brush, but at higher elevations you will be above the tree line and the trail becomes quite steep and strenuous. The old rock shelter at McNeil Point is a great spot to stop and have lunch. From here, you can see Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams on a clear day. This trail also features some of the...
• South Sister Trail Hard • 4.7 ( 3063 ) #4 - South Sister Trail Three Sisters Wilderness Length: 11.6 mi South Sister is the third tallest mountain in Oregon and the tallest of the famous three-sister chain. The trail enters the Three Sisters Wilderness shortly after leaving the trailhead. Day and Overnight visitors: Central Cascades Wilderness Permit required between Friday of Memorial Day weekend and the last Friday of September; reserve at recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. For parking, a valid recreation pass may be used as a form of fee payment or Central Cascades Wilderness...
• Timberline Lodge to Zig Zag Canyon Moderate • 4.7 ( 1844 ) #5 - Timberline Lodge to Zig Zag Canyon Mount Hood Wilderness Length: 4.7 mi • Est. 2h 16m This hike begins from from Timberline Lodge along the PCT, then travels to the Zig Zag Canyon overlook, slightly up the ridge above, and then back. There are views of Mount Hood and wildflowers are abundant in the summer months. Snow could be present on the trail well into late May or even June following a big winter.
• Bald Mountain from Lolo Pass Trail Moderate • 4.7 ( 1737 ) #6 - Bald Mountain from Lolo Pass Trail Mount Hood National Forest Length: 6.7 mi • Est. 3h 29m The views from the Timberline Trail are spectacular. You will begin by following the Pacific Crest Trail south from Lolo Pass. As you approach Bald Mountain, follow the Timberline Trail making a small loop. This trail experiences downed trees seasonally during the wintertime so the full route may not be passable during the spring and early summer. For current conditions, please visit the park page at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/mthood/alerts-notices
• Green Lakes Trail Moderate • 4.8 ( 2332 ) #7 - Green Lakes Trail Three Sisters Wilderness Length: 9.1 mi • Est. 3h 49m This popular trail starts right off Cascade Lakes Highway, about 30 minutes west of Bend. There's a parking area at the trailhead, and also parking along the road. There's a fee to park if you don't have a Northwest Forest Pass. The machine at the trailhead takes credit cards but no cash. This trail makes for either a day hike or a backpacking trip. There are about 22 campsites at the lakes. You might see some people running the trail as well, as it's generally flat and wide. This route...
• Timberline Trail Around Mount Hood Hard • 4.7 ( 1220 ) #8 - Timberline Trail Around Mount Hood Mount Hood National Forest Length: 39.8 mi • Est. Multi-day The incredible Timberline Trail, beginning at Timberline Lodge and circling the immense Mount Hood, is the backpacking trip of a lifetime. Covering about 40 miles on both the Pacific Crest Trail and Timberline Trail, most people complete the trip in 4 days and 3 nights. Located in the Cascade region, this trip features stunning views of Mount Hood, Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, and the Three Sisters. Portland, the Coastal Range, and the Columbia River are also visible from...
• Wy'East Falls via Eagle Creek Trail #440 Hard • 4.7 ( 861 ) #9 - Wy'East Falls via Eagle Creek Trail #440 Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Length: 10.3 mi • Est. 4h 45m This day trip or backpacking route takes you up Eagle Creek to a series of Falls and backcountry camps. You'll travel past Wauna, Metlako, Punch Bowl, Loowit, Skoonichuk, Four Mile, Tenas, and finally arrive at Wy'East falls. The Eagle Benson Trail #434 past the falls historically connected this route to the PCT and to Wahtum Lake, however, this route is overgrown and non-existent. A cross-country adventure is possible to connect these two trails, but this would require bushwhacking, long...
• Mount Defiance Trail Hard • 4.6 ( 1511 ) #10 - Mount Defiance Trail Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Length: 12.6 mi Many consider this hike one of Oregon's most challenging trails. As you climb this six million-year-old shield volcano, you will find breathtaking views of the Columbia Gorge, Mt. Adams, and Mt. St Helens. While a bunch of communication equipment mars the top, you will still find one of the best views of Mt Hood.

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Frequently asked questions about backpacking trails in Oregon

What national parks in oregon have backpacking trails, what is the longest backpacking trail in oregon, which backpacking trail has the most elevation gain in oregon, what is the most popular and difficult backpacking trail in oregon, adventure anywhere.

• Bridal Veil
• Government Camp
• Cascade Locks
• Rhododendron
• Mount Hood Parkdale
• Crater Lake
• Crater Lake National Park
• Silver Falls State Park
• Smith Rock State Park
• Guy W. Talbot State Park
• Oswald West State Park
• Cape Lookout State Park
• Ecola State Park
• Mayer State Park
• Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park
• Humbug Mountain State Park
• Starvation Creek State Park
• L.L. Stub Stewart State Park
• Sunset Bay State Park
• Milo McIver State Park
• Port Orford Heads State Park
• Trail of Ten Falls
• Trail of Ten Falls (Short Loop)
• Multnomah Falls Trail
• Wahkeena and Multnomah Falls Loop
• Angel's Rest
• Misery Ridge and River Trail
• Latourell Falls Loop
• Mirror Lake Loop Trail
• Wahclella Falls Trail
• Eagle Creek to Punchbowl Falls
• Tunnel Falls via Eagle Creek Trail #440
• Tom, Dick and Harry Mountain via Mirror Lake Trail #664
• Tamolitch Blue Pool via McKenzie River Trail
• The Thumb via The Knoll
• Ramona Falls Trail

Oregon Outback Stargazing: Fort Rock

Crater Lake Summer Adventure

Summer Canoe & Kayak Tours

Clear Lake Kayak Tour

Lava Tube Cave Tours

Perseids Meteor Shower Canoe Tour

Perseids Meteor Shower Hike

Discover What's Around This Bend!

LOOKING FOR FUN THINGS TO DO IN BEND, OREGON? COME PLAY OUTSIDE WITH US!

Wanderlust Tours offers half-day naturalist-guided tours and trips throughout the year in Bend, Sunriver, and Sisters, Oregon. Our company has specialized in outdoor tours, outdoor activities, and things to do in Bend Oregon since 1993. Renowned for our knowledgeable and professional guides, our small group tours take you away from crowds to seek out the quiet of the Central Oregon Cascade lakes, rivers, forests, and caves. In our opinion, we offer the very best variety of things to do in Bend, Oregon!

OUR TOURS DEPART EVERY DAY, YEAR-ROUND!

If you have any questions or would like to book over the phone, please call our office at (541) 389-8359 !

Featured Summer Tours

Click photo to learn more!

Cascade Lakes Kayak Tours

Moonlight & Starlight Canoe Tours

LAva Tube Cave Tours

We have plenty of other amazing summer tour options that you can find on our Summer Tours page!

Upcoming Special Events

Stargazing & Hike At Fort Rock

Clear Lake Kayak TOur

Crater Lake Summer Tour

Take a look at our full list of upcoming events on our Special Events page!

Great day yesterday with Ali and Jared. Did the kayak at Sparks Lake in the afternoon and went over to Paulina Lake for the canoe in the evening. Absolutely fantastic experiences. Ali was super knowledgeable about the area, formations, and overall history of the region. Made my first trip to Oregon a memorable one!

- Aaron P -

Had the good fortune to have Austin as our guide on both the nighttime snowshoe trip around Mount Bachelor and the afternoon cave exploration at Boyd's Cave the next day. Austin was a lot of fun and very knowledgeable, and did well to tailor the experience to the members of the tour, especially in our second trip as it was just our party. The winter options were a lot of fun, and hoping to check it out when there's more options available in the summer!

- Spencer C -

Beautiful starlight canoe tour with an exceptional guide, Jeannie, who was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic! She was very encouraging and helpful, no worries if you’re not skilled in canoeing. Told us all about the geology of Sparks Lake and the geological history of the area. Pointing out planets and stars that were visible on slightly cloudy night but still very beautiful, peaceful atmosphere. Local beers, hot chocolate and local bakery snacks were also a nice treat provided. Jeannie clearly cares about this area’s breathtaking nature and had plenty of great recommendations for outdoor experiences around Bend. Highly recommend the experience!

My team and i did the bonfire snowshoeing tour and it was incredible i can't say enough good things about it. jared was our guide and he had so much knowledge of the area with lots of interesting stories to tell. the experience itself walking through mt. bachelor at night was amazing but jared made it even more fun and interesting for us. i can't wait to come back to bend and participate in another wanderlust tour.

- Shelby B -

KIMBERLY GUIDED ME AND MY THREE KIDS ON A GREAT TOUR OF A NEARBY LAVA TUBE. MY DAUGHTER PARTICULARLY APPRECIATED THAT THIS TOUR WAS WOMAN-LED. KIMBERLY HAD GREAT KNOWLEDGE OF THE CAVE AND ITS FORMATION TO SHARE WITH OUR GRADE SCHOOL AGE KIDS. THE CAVE IS ABOUT TWENTY MINUTES OUTSIDE OF BEND. TOTAL TIME UNDERGROUND WAS AROUND TWO HOURS. SAFETY EQUIPMENT WAS PROVIDED BY THE TOUR COMPANY. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED HALF-DAY TRIP.

- Bradley S -

HAD A FANTASTIC TIME WITH AUSTIN DURING OUR CAVE TOUR. VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND FRIENDLY. DEFINITELY RECOMMEND AND WILL USE THE COMPANY AGAIN NEXT TIME I’M AROUND HERE.

- David Y -

CHARLIE WAS AN EXCELLENT GUIDE. THERE WERE 3 KAYAKS. THE OTHER TWO WENT MUCH, MUCH FASTER THAN US. CHARLIE WAS ABLE TO HANDLE IT ALL WITH PATIENCE AND COURTESY. HE WAS JUST GREAT. THE TOUR WAS BEAUTIFUL.

Our kayaking tour with chris was amazing he was very personable and engaging. he gave just the right amount of information when needed and also afforded us quiet moments to take in the scenery. the experience with wanderlust tour was great from the moment we walked in and were greeted with smiles to when we left with "thank you's" and waves. i highly recommend this tour if you're in bend. best part of the day was seeing two bald eagles.

- Temetra W -

FANTASTIC CAVE TOUR BY AUSTIN!

- Christopher Y -

KAYAK TOUR ON HOSMER LAKE WITH CHRIS THIS MORNING. WHAT A BLAST! LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE AREA AND HAD A WONDERFUL PADDLE ON A BEAUTIFUL LAKE.

I’ve been on a few kayak tours and this one was my favorite ever colton was the most awesome kayak guide, he kept the group entertained and was extremely informative about the nature and landscape. good driver too we will absolutely do another tour with this company on our next visit, hopefully we can get him as a guide again.

- Sierra R -

WE HAD A CEO RETREAT IN BEND AND HIRED WANDERLUST TOURS TO PROVIDE A "BREWS AND CANOES" EVENT AND DINNER ON ELK LAKE. THEY DID A FANTASTIC JOB FOR US, WE WERE MOST IMPRESSED BY ERIKA OUR GUIDE! WE WERE ALL VERY IMPRESSED BY THE ENTIRE EVENT AND ERIKA'S PASSION AND INTEREST IN THE EVENT. THANK YOU!

We did the brews and canoes tour with colton and had the best time somehow, no one else booked this tour so it was basically a private tour colton told us some fun facts about bend, the cascade lakes and beers. you could tell how much he loved bend and all of the area, he treated us like friends instead of tourists and made the tour so informative and fun.

- Corinne C -

THE TOURS ARE INCREDIBLE AND THE GUIDES ARE FULL OF SUCH POSITIVE ENERGY. JAMES IS A VERY UPBEAT GUY AND KATIE REALLY KNOWS HER GEOLOGY. I WOULD SO TAKE A TOUR WITH WANDERLUST AGAIN.

- Mitchell S -

All reviews courtesy of Google & Trip Advisor

Wanderlust Tours

Our Mission : Wanderlust Tours exists to inspire our guests and vibrantly share the natural and cultural history of Oregon in order to instill appreciation and protection of the environment.

Our Ethic: We hold great respect for the natural surroundings of our tours and hope to introduce people to delicate ecosystems while maintaining a low impact on the environment.  

Our Staff: Wanderlust Tours is made up of people who are passionate about the intricacies of nature, having fun outdoors and thrive on sharing their knowledge with those who choose our tours. >> Meet our Staff!

Permits: Wanderlust Tours is registered with the Oregon State Marine Board and operates under special use permits from the Deschutes National Forest, Willamette National Forest, and the National Park Service.

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7 Spectacular Free Camping Spots on the Oregon Coast

By: Author The Drivin' & Vibin' Team

Posted on June 5, 2024

The Oregon Coast has it all, from outdoor adventures and spectacular scenery to tons of free camping destinations.

Before you hit the road, be sure to add these locations to your itinerary.

Today, we’re highlighting the best budget-friendly camping in Oregon.

Let’s get into it!

Why Opt for Free Camping on the Oregon Coast?

The rugged coast of the Pacific Northwest features lush temperate rainforests, quaint seaside villages, and enchanting geological formations. You’ll also find plenty of free and budget-friendly camping opportunities throughout Oregon. 

Imagine enjoying a hot cup of coffee from the comfort of your rig as you look out across the misty seascape. What could be better than that? After all, the only thing that could enhance the experience is knowing you didn’t pay a dime for your campsite.

It’s important to note that you can tent camp for free on all of Oregon’s public beaches. However, you can’t park cars or campers overnight in many places, so you’ll mostly encounter cyclists taking advantage of this option. 

While waterfront options might be limited for RVers, plenty of boondocking sites are just off the coastline. You might have more spots at your disposal than you could imagine once you enter the surrounding wilderness!

Best Budget Camping in Oregon

From oceanfront sites to hidden gems deep in the rainforest, you’ll find plenty of places to set up your rig for the night. Here are some of the best free camping destinations on the Oregon Coast.

#1 Elk River Forest Road

Elk River Road, near Humbug Mountain State Park, is an excellent spot to overnight in a small camper van or tent. The rocky terrain and narrow road make it less than ideal for a trailer or other large rig. 

Campsites begin near the fish hatchery and continue toward the river. You’ll find at least 20 pull-out sites along the way. However, we hear the riverfront spots are the ones to go for. 

Don’t expect any amenities here, but the views and the sounds of the bubbling river should make up for it. 

Find It Here: 42.735652, -124.401737.

#2 Dismal Nitch Rest Area

While we typically avoid including rest areas on our free campsite lists, this one gets a pass. Dismal Nitch Rest Area is just off SR 101, about ten miles south of Naselle. Pretty much every spot has incredible views of the Pacific.

You’ll technically be camping in a parking lot, but it comes with other perks beyond the spectacular sights. There are restrooms on-site, and you can grab a free cup of coffee before you get back on the road. 

Be aware that you can only park here for about eight hours, so this needs to be a quick overnight stop along your journey. 

Find It Here: 46.249786632, -123.858799389.

Check out these Sensational Day Trips Along the Oregon Coast !

#3 South Lake Dispersed Camping Area

The South Lake Campground in Siuslaw National Forest is on National Forest Development Road 1428 near the town of Beaver. You’ll take a narrow, one-lane gravel road deep into the forest to get here. It’s probably best for vans and car campers, but we’ve heard of folks towing 23’ trailers to this spot.

Once you get here, you can fish the fully stocked lake or get out on the water in a kayak or canoe. You’ll find pit toilets and fire rings but no trash service, so pack it in and pack it out. 

Find It Here: 45.20163, -123.722933.

#4 Hebo Gravel Pit

The gravel pit is a popular spot for free camping in the dense coastal forest near Hebo, Oregon. After traversing the thin and windy road, the landscape opens into a vast open space with plenty of room for a few rigs. 

The road that leads here, NF2282, is incredibly narrow. We don’t recommend trying to travel it after nightfall. All the surrounding forest roads are gravel and tend to be steep. We suggest skipping this spot if you’re in a Class A or a fifth wheel, but other setups should be fine. 

While this area is relatively remote, locals often come here for target practice, so don’t be alarmed if you wake up to the sound of shots ringing through the air. 

Find It Here: 45.144879, -123.755946.

The Temple of Oculus Anubis might be Oregon’s Weirdest Destination.

#5 Siuslaw Power Lines

Car campers and Class Bs can access this secluded spot in the Siuslaw National Forest. While there’s technically a turnaround, it’s heavily rutted and hard to maneuver, especially for big rigs. 

Located at the end of one of the many forest roads, you won’t have access to any amenities. In fact, there are No Campfire signs throughout the property, so you won’t even be able to roast marshmallows here. 

However, you’ll enjoy excellent views of the sand dunes. If you time your trip just right, you might even find ripe blackberries to add to your breakfast! 

Find It Here: 43.853421, -124.033524.

#6 Wildhorse Campground

The Wildhorse Campground is on National Forest Development Road 3318 in Gold Beach. This free camping area is in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, near the Oregon Coast. It’s close to hiking trails, and cycling paths, and maybe best of all, it has pit toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables. 

Wildhorse is the place to hit for true solitude. There’s no cell reception, allowing you to enjoy the wilderness and get off the grid for a while. 

Be aware that Wildhorse is only open seasonally, so plan to stay here between May and November. 

Find It Here: 42.460788, -124.162797.

#7 BLM Rd 28 1

Our final free camping area near the Oregon Coast is near the town of Roseburg. Located off of BLM Rd 28 1, you’ll find about three campsites suitable for sizeable rigs. The narrow road is fully paved and level, so most folks won’t have a problem traversing the path. 

This destination features a small creek that flows behind the camping area. Folks who’ve stayed here say the waterway is soothing and provides excellent white noise as you drift off to sleep. While there aren’t any other amenities, including cell service, you can enjoy a peaceful night of rest off the beaten path. 

Find It Here: 43.9695, -123.6711.

Grab your copy of the Oregon Bucket List Adventure Guide !

You Can’t Beat Free Camping in Oregon!

The Oregon Coast is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy plenty of free camping options. From the emerald forests to the misty ocean, there’s something for everyone in the Pacific Northwest.

The next time you head up the 101, be sure to check out these incredible budget-friendly campsites!

Discover the Best Free Camping Across the USA

To be honest with you,  we hate paying for camping . There are so many free campsites in America (with complete privacy).

You should give it a try!

As a matter of fact, these free campsites are yours.  Every time you pay federal taxes, you’re contributing to these lands.

Become a FREE CAMPING INSIDER and join the 100,000 campers who love to score the best site! 

We’ll send you the 50 Best Free Campsites in the USA (one per state).  Access the list by submitting your email below:

• 5 WA beginner backpacking trips for this summer

Backpacking can be intimidating. You have to haul all your food, water and shelter into the backcountry and sleep there — but you are self-sufficient! You are carrying everything you need on your back. How cool is that? Plus, being in the backcountry means more peace and quiet. 

Start small — a single night in a not-too-remote location with a manageable amount of miles and elevation gain. It’s important to remember that even if you’re used to long or grueling day treks, adding 25 to 35 pounds makes hiking a lot more challenging. 

Here are five great beginner backpacking trips that offer stunning scenery without venturing deep into the wilderness. As always, bring the right gear and research trail conditions before you go. 

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Shi Shi Beach  

Fish Hatchery Road, Neah Bay (Olympic Coast)

Round-trip distance : 8 miles 

Elevation gain : 200 feet

Pass : Makah Recreation Pass and Olympic National Park wilderness permit

Beach backpacks are great for beginners because the elevation gain is minimal. Shi Shi Beach is no exception. Just a 2-mile, relatively flat hike over bridges and boardwalks will lead you to the beach, though there are steep switchbacks right before reaching it. Set up your tent anywhere in the next 2 miles (both on the beach or in campsites in the trees) and make your way toward Point of Arches, a stunning set of sea stacks and the unofficial end of this hike. Spend your day exploring tide pools and your evening around a driftwood fire. Always be sure to have a waterproof layer — you might wake up to fog and mist — and you are required to bring a bear canister on this hike.

Lena Lake  

Forest Service Road 25, near Eldon (Olympic Peninsula)

Round-trip distance : 7.2 miles 

Elevation gain : 1,300 feet

Pass : Northwest Forest Pass

The hike to Lena Lake makes a great first backpacking trip for experienced day hikers; if the hike up to your campsite at the lake doesn’t wear you out, set up camp, leave your packs behind, and keep hiking! But first, to get to the lake, you will pass through second-growth and old-growth forest, over lovely bridges, and by lots of water. There are 28 campsites near the lake; stay 100 feet away from the shore. This is a beautiful final destination, but intrepid hikers can add 3 more miles (and 2,600 feet of elevation) to get to Upper Lena Lake. Surrounded by meadows and peaks, these lakes are an oasis. 

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Talapus and Olallie Lakes  

Forest Service Road 9030, near Snoqualmie Pass (Interstate 90) 

Round-trip distance : 6.2 miles 

Elevation gain : 1,220 feet

This is the perfect intro to backpacking for Seattleites, because in less than an hour, you will be able to reach the trailhead. The less-than-2-mile hike to the first lake, Talapus, is gently graded on a wide trail. You can stop here if you’ve had enough or press on to Olallie. The trail becomes a bit steeper but still comfortable. Spend the day and night leisurely at camp, and in the morning, the lakefront sites offer lovely views to wake up to (and a perfect jumping-off point if the weather is warm enough for a swim). 

Lake Valhalla  

Forest Service Road 6700, near Wellington (Highway 2)

Round-trip distance: 7 miles 

Elevation gain: 1,500 feet

Lake Valhalla offers a comfortable introduction to backpacking with the option to stretch your legs farther. The start of the hike features most of the elevation gain, as you switchback through trees, but the undulating grade of this trail is manageable. Make note of the trail leading up to Mount McCausland — if you have enough energy, it’s worth the extra mile or so to see sweeping views. At Lake Valhalla, you’ll find established campsites overlooking the water, making this a perfect spot for the night.

Anderson and Watson Lakes  

Forest Service Road 1107, Concrete (Highway 20)

Round-trip distance: 6 miles 

Elevation gain: 1,100 feet

Pass required: Northwest Forest Pass

Anderson and Watson Lakes lets you choose your own backpacking adventure. Feeling tired? Camp at Lower Anderson Lake. Want to press on? Head to Watson Lakes. Either way, you won’t be let down. At the beginning of this hike, you’ll walk on boardwalks through meadows as well as through old-growth. After a couple of miles, you’ll have the option of heading down to Lower Anderson Lake and settling there, or continuing on to Watson Lakes. Both are great options, and beautiful, too, surrounded by meadows and rocky walls.

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The opinions expressed in reader comments are those of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of The Seattle Times.

A first-timer’s guide to a one night bike packing trip: Peak Northwest podcast

• Updated: Jun. 06, 2024, 11:34 a.m. |
• Published: Jun. 06, 2024, 6:00 a.m.

Bike packers pedal through the Banks-Vernonia State Trail on Saturday, May 18, 2024. Vickie Connor/The Oregonian

• Vickie Connor | The Oregonian/OregonLive
• Jamie Hale | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Bike packing is the ultimate mix of cycling and camping. It’s also one of the best ways to explore Oregon, especially in the summer months, whether you’re biking through towns or traveling through the backcountry.

On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, co-host Vickie Connor recounts her first and recent bike packing trip and all the reasons she loves this new hobby.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

• What is needed to go bike packing?
• How you can pack for a one-nighter (spoiler alert: you can pack more on your bike than you might think).
• An example of an introductory trip within an hour of Portland.
• Why bike packing might be just a little bit more enjoyable than backpacking.

Here’s the full episode:

Subscribe to Peak Northwest on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts .

-- Vickie Connor and Jamie Hale

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