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Portland, Oregon

Looking for the best photography in Portland? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Portland. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Photography Spots in and near Portland

  • Cougar, Washington

    Mount St. Helens Summit via Worm Flows

    4.8
    10.53 mi / 5725 ft gain
    The Worm Flow Route, starting at Marble Mountain Sno Park, is the most direct winter route up to the summit. You'll start at around 2,700 feet and begin a steady walk along the trail for 2 miles. Although the trail is fairly well marked well above the snow, you'll want to pay attention to the arr...
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  • Government Camp, Oregon

    Trillium Lake

    4.9
    1.89 mi / 108 ft gain
    Trillium Lake is a popular camp spot at the base of Mount Hood. It's known for it's scenery, abundant recreational activities, and is family friendly. Boating, swimming and fishing are quite popular on the 63 acre lake. There is a small boat ramp within the campground and a larger ramp available ...
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  • Government Camp, Oregon

    Camp at Trillium Lake

    4.5
    The reflection of Mt. Hood on the lake makes this trip definitely worth the visit.Try to arrive during the day so you can watch the sunset. For photographers, the south side of the lake is an amazing spot to take photos, especially on a windless day. For those looking to kayak or fish, there is a...
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  • Government Camp, Oregon

    Snowshoe or Cross-Country Ski to Trillium Lake

    5.0
    3.6 mi
    Starting at the parking lot for Trillium Lake located right off of Highway 26, go past the locked gate and begin walking downhill. After about a mile, you will see a fork in the road. Either way will eventually take you to the lake, but going left will be much quicker and take you to the best spo...
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  • Cascade Locks, Oregon

    Mount Defiance

    3.7
    12.55 mi / 5167 ft gain
    This hike starts at the Starvation Creek Rest Area. After parking, head west back along the shoulder of the freeway, where you’ll see a wooden sign stating “Mt. Defiance Trail.” Continue heading west along the abandoned Columbia River Highway. Keep going west as you pass the junction with the Sta...
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  • Cascade Locks, Oregon

    Lower Starvation Ridge Loop

    3.7
    2.69 mi / 1001 ft gain
    Starvation Creek Falls is an impressive 190 ft. waterfall just a few feet from the parking lot. If you don't know it's there, you'll miss it. Keep walking past the restrooms, away from the trail head to see this beautiful two-tiered waterfall. There are a couple of picnic tables near the creek to...
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  • Cascade Locks, Oregon

    Starvation Creek Falls

    3.5
    The Starvation Creek Falls drops 141ft down into a naturally formed bowl, cascading past a wooded picnic area and onto the Columbia River. The falls are one of the easiest falls to access in the Columbia River Gorge along with Multnomah Falls, but are far less Crowded. The short 300ft walk from t...
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  • Cascade Locks, Oregon

    Warren and Lancaster Falls

    4.5
    1.89 mi / 571 ft gain
    The hike along Mt. Defiance Trail to Warren and Lancaster Falls is great if you want to get away from some of the more crowded destinations in the gorge, or just want to catch some shade during the summer. The trail is fairly easygoing, though the last 1/4th of a mile to Lancaster Falls is a bit ...
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  • Mount Hood, Oregon

    Kayak Laurance Lake

    5.0
    This lake is found about 25 miles south of Hood River, Or. $5 for day use and now other passes are accepted, just keep that in mind. There are camping sites all over the lake as well, so if you are thinking of making a weekend out of it.  It wasn't very crowded on a weekend during the summer so y...
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  • Cougar, Washington

    Loowit Trail Loop

    4.0
    32.46 mi / 7014 ft gain
    This is a very difficult hike. Camp sites are scarce and access to water is very limited. Overexposure is a concern so be sure to pack a hat and apply sunscreen frequently. There are sketchy sections of the trail where you will be forced to navigate steep washed out gullies that are unstable due ...
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  • Cougar, Washington

    Mount St. Helens Summit via Monitor Ridge

    4.4
    8.64 mi / 4652 ft gain
    Monitor Ridge is the "easiest" of the routes one can take in order to claim that they have stood on top of the sleeping giant better known as Mount St. Helens. This route is heavily favored over Worm Flows as the starting elevation is not only an additional 1,000 feet higher but the overall asce...
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  • Stayton, Oregon

    Shellburg Falls

    3.2
    3.7 mi / 520 ft gain
    This hike is currently closed due to fire damage. Please check the Oregon.gov website or the call the Oregon Department of Forestry (503-859-4344) for updates.  The hike, including the initial 1.25 mile gravel road to the trailhead, is easy to complete within 1-2 hours and only requires a modera...
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  • Nehalem, Oregon

    Hike the Salmonberry Train Track Trail

    4.0
    10 mi / 275 ft gain
    Beware, there is no actual trailhead! This trail (Lower Salmonberry River Hike) starts on Lower Nehalem Rd (Foss Rd) where the Salmonberry River and the Nehalem River meet. Before you cross the tracks, find parking there (but be aware of private property) and follow the train tracks into the fore...
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  • Lyons, Oregon

    Henline Falls Trail

    5.0
    1.71 mi / 312 ft gain
    The trail is a washed out, old mining road making its way through a lush forest with a mix of ferns, moss covered trees, and towering Douglas Firs with trees blown over from wind storms lining both sides of the trail. I call those Big Foot traps. The trail comes to a fork, stay to the left you ar...
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