Molalla, Oregon
Looking for the best backpacking in Molalla? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Molalla. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.
Top Backpacking Spots in and near Molalla
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Lyons, Oregon
Cedar Flat and Kopetski Trail Loop
9.62 mi / 958 ft gainOn Saturday, I slid into the backseat alongside weekend belongings crammed in the car trunk. Backpacks with patches and streaks of dust. Bags of food that could be cooked over the flames of a fire. We drove south on the 5, leaving Portland and crossing through Salem, as Lake Street Dive albums p...Read more -
Clackamas County, Oregon
Tumala (Squaw) Mountain
4.74.51 mi / 1099 ft gainOn a clear day, this short, secluded hike offers breath-taking views of Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood, and Mt. Jefferson, as well as of downtown Portland, Coast Range, and the Roaring River Wilderness. Begin the hike from the Twin Springs Trailhead and immediately take your fi...Read more -
Detroit, Oregon
Battle Ax Mountain
5.05.09 mi / 1594 ft gainWith no officially marked trailhead, this hike begins slightly west of Elk Lake in Marion County. Take Highway 22 to Detroit, OR. East of the bridge over Breitenbush River, turn onto (FR) Forest Road 46, with signs pointing to Breitenbush River. After 4.5 miles turn left at a sign for Elk Lake, a...Read more -
Detroit, Oregon
Dome Rock via the Upper Trailhead
2.36 mi / 479 ft gainFrom Highway 22 at the Breitenbush River Bridge, in Detroit, turn north on to French Creek Rd. Drive up French Creek about 7.7 miles to the Upper TH #3379/3381 to Dome Rock and Tumble Lake. The trail can be found on the left side of the road and is easily seen after you pass it. It's best to pass...Read more -
Government Camp, Oregon
Veda Lake Trail
4.02.5 mi / 748 ft gainThis hike starts at the Fir Tree Trailhead and is an out and back 2.8 mile round trip. It's short, but there's 660 feet of elevation gain. To start, you climb steeply then it's an easy hike to a beautiful viewpoint overlooking the lake. The trail descends via switchbacks down to the lake for the ...Read more -
Rhododendron, Oregon
Burnt Lake and Zigzag Mountain
5.012.27 mi / 3225 ft gainAfter getting your back country permit from a park ranger, you can park your car and head up Zigzag Mountain. There's a tiny 'parking lot' (lot of dirt) where you park that's right by the trailhead. The hike up to the campsites is roughly 4 miles, and it is all uphill. Not only are you surrounde...Read more -
Government Camp, Oregon
Tom Dick and Harry Mountain
5.08.28 mi / 1726 ft gainLooking to score those iconic photos of Mt. Hood? Climb the well-graded trail to Tom Dick and Harry Mountain, one of the most accessible summit hikes to Portlanders, and see where they were all taken. Starting from the busy Mirror Lake Trailhead, climb roughly 900 feet and 1.5 miles to Mirror La...Read more -
Yacolt, Washington
Hike Silver Star Mountain via Grouse Vista
4.56 mi / 2000 ft gainThe Grouse Vista Trailhead is located through the town of Washougal off of highway 14 just past Camas. Once you leave the city, the road will turn to gravel and dirt though it is fairly well maintained until snow arrive and accessible by most cars so long as you're willing to get drive over loose...Read more -
Mount Hood, Oregon
McNeil Point via Top Spur Trailhead
4.97.17 mi / 2428 ft gainThe hike to McNeil Point begins at Top Spur Trailhead, in the Mt. Hood National Wilderness. Follow signs for McNeil Point along the Pacific Crest and Timberline Trails heading north. Though there are numerous camping opportunities along the way (most of the route follows the PCT), an old stone s...Read more -
Detroit, Oregon
Boca Cave & Triangulation Peak
4.04.75 mi / 1053 ft gainTriangulation Peak, Spire Rock and Boca Cave TH #3372 The trail starts on level ground where you travel east along the top of the ridge. There are multiple trees that have fallen across the trail making the hike quite adventurous. Some trees you'll go over and some you will need to go under. Dep...Read more -
Government Camp, Oregon
Climb the Mt. Hood Summit
4.87 mi / 5239 ft gainStarting at 6,000 ft of elevation at Timberline Lodge, start your climb up the south side of Mt. Hood. If you head out at noon, in 6 hours you can make it about an hour past the last ski lift, called Palmer, where you can set up camp for the night. You may need to dig out a flat spot for your ten...Read more -
North Bonneville, Washington
Table Mountain via Aldrich Butte Trailhead
4.716 mi / 3350 ft gainHike up into the forest (take the right path, not the one going left), and follow it all the way until you get to "Carpenter Lake" (which always seems to be just an empty, marshy field). Keep going and do not take the right path at the first Y split off. Instead, stay left, until you come to anot...Read more -
Linn County, Oregon
Coffin Mountain Fire Lookout
5.02.67 mi / 873 ft gainCoffin Mountain Fire Lookout is a beautiful day hike that takes you to its summit at 5771 feet elevation, covering roughly 1070 feet elevation gain. To get to the Coffin Mt. trailhead from Detroit OR, travel east on Highway 22 for approximately 19.5 miles to Forest Road 11 (Straight Creek Road)....Read more -
Detroit, Oregon
Russell Lake via Whitewater Creek Trailhead
4.811.4 mi / 1926 ft gainThis hike begins 7.5 miles down Whitewater Road at the Whitewater Trailhead, about 10 miles east of Detroit Lake. The road is bumpy, but can be navigated at slow speeds, even without four-wheel drive. Make sure to fill out a wilderness pass once you arrive at the trailhead. The trail is very wel...Read more -
Cascade Locks, Oregon
Backpack the Mark. O Hatfield Wilderness Via Eagle Creek
1.026 mi / 2300 ft gainThis is a somewhat incomplete report because we did not venture too far into the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness. The sky had been threatening us with rain for the duration of our hike along Eagle Creek and we did not want to push our luck too far since we were hoping for an early start on our drive ...Read more -
Cascade Locks, Oregon
Ruckel Ridge Loop
5.08.08 mi / 3730 ft gainThis ridge is one of the lesser known paths from the Eagle Creek Trailhead. Instead of taking Ruckel Creek Trail, find the trail leading up Ruckel Ridge. It is a far more difficult hike of about 7 miles leading up to Benson Plateau. Along the way there are beautiful lookout points for Mount Hood,...Read more