Oregon Redwoods Loop Hike - Hiking in Portland, Oregon and Washington (2024)

FAQs

Oregon Redwoods Loop Hike - Hiking in Portland, Oregon and Washington? ›

Experience this 1.8-mile loop trail near Portland, Oregon. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 46 min to complete. This is a very popular area for birding, hiking, and running, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime.

Oregon Redwoods Trail: Hike Through the Majestic Forest

One of the most popular trails in the region, this trail offers a short hike (1.6 miles) which loops back to the beginning through a mixed-species of redwoods.

Visitors are invited to hike in from the Redwood Creek trailhead, located just north of Orick, CA, on the Bald Hills Road. The 8-mile, one-way hike to the Tall Trees Grove is best accessed during the summer months when footbridges are in place to cross the creek. Permit is required for the Tall Trees Grove.

Remote and wild, the Elk Lake Trail follows Elk Lake Creek through the Bull of the Woods Wilderness Area 8.9 miles to Elk Lake. While a 17.8 mile round trip hike is too much for most hikers to cover in one day, the Elk Lake Trail is excellent for backpackers.

How far is it from Portland to Redwood National Park? The distance between Portland and Redwood National Park is 371 miles. The road distance is 364.6 miles.

While most people stop at the Redwoods National and State Parks in northern California, the trees continue growing across the border, planting their roots into the forests of southwest Oregon. Admittedly, the trees in Oregon are much smaller and far less impressive than the famous stands in California.

It can get pretty wet and muddy in the Redwoods, so you're probably best to bring a pair of waterproof hiking boots. The Columbia Newton Ridge Plus Waterproof Hiking Boots are a great choice.

While you could easily spend multiple days in the Redwoods, you can also get a good feel for all the Redwoods have to offer in one adventure-filled day! If you only have one day, make the most of it and see the variety available in this National Park.

Redwood National Park is home to black bears only, which are rarely aggressive. Although it's not illegal to bring bear spray, you probably won't need it.

Do you need a permit to hike in Oregon? ›

You can go to just about any trailhead in Oregon and start hiking. However, there are a few exceptions to that rule. Most are simply a matter of filling out a free wilderness area registration form at a trailhead. A few areas require you to obtain a wilderness access or camping permit.

Round up the kiddos to explore Columbia's largest lake! Lake Elkhorn features a 1.9 mile main lake loop (just follow the blue) with a playground and plenty of shady resting spots. Great for fishing, bird-watching, biking, or just taking a good old-fashioned stroll.

It is a remote, rugged, challenging trek through central and southeastern Oregon's high desert natural and cultural highlights. The Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA) established the ODT within the last ten years to highlight the Oregon High Desert. Only a few dozen people a year attempt to thru-hike the ODT.

Redwood Forest Walk

Description: Approximately 2.8 km of a steep grade, the walk begins at the Bridge Street entrance and meets with the Grass Tree trail on the southern end of the park.

While you could easily spend multiple days in the Redwoods, you can also get a good feel for all the Redwoods have to offer in one adventure-filled day! If you only have one day, make the most of it and see the variety available in this National Park.

How Difficult Is the Long Trail? It's generally considered quite challenging, but the southernmost 100 miles of the trail are easier than the remaining 173. Those miles coincide with the Appalachian Trail. After that, the trail becomes rugged, muddy, mountainous, and remote.

Perhaps some 300,000 to 400,000 people used it during its heyday from the mid-1840s to the late 1860s, and possibly a half million traversed it overall, covering an average of 15 to 20 miles (24 to 32 km) per day; most completed their journeys in four to five months.