5 Weekend Backpacking Trips in Oregon
Do you have time to do a two week backpacking trip or a long distance trail thru-hike? Probably not. Most of us don't have time for a month long backpacking trip and most folks really just prefer to go on weekend backpacking trips and keep our excursions to 2-4 nights. Finding these routes and loops can be difficult, annoying and just plain time consuming. So here are 5 awesome weekend backpacking trips ranging from 20-60 miles!
1) Three Fingered Jack Loop with camping at Canyon Creek Meadows
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Closest town: Sisters
Trail type: Loop
Mileage: 25 miles w/ 3,000 ft. elevation gain
Terrain difficulty: Moderate to difficult
Trail usage: Medium to heavy
Camping options: Primitive dispersed camping
Permits required: Central Cascades Wilderness Permit must be pre purchased at recreation.gov
About the hike: This 25-mile loop around Three Fingered Jack offers incredible mountain views of Three Fingered Jack, Mount Jefferson, Mount Washington and the Three Sisters, as well as many wildflowers in the mid-summer season. There are a few places to spend the night along the loop like Wasco Lake and Booth Lake, but the most scenic spot is Canyon Creek Meadows.
(Click here to read more about this hike and to get directions)
Trail type: Loop
Mileage: 25 miles w/ 3,000 ft. elevation gain
Terrain difficulty: Moderate to difficult
Trail usage: Medium to heavy
Camping options: Primitive dispersed camping
Permits required: Central Cascades Wilderness Permit must be pre purchased at recreation.gov
About the hike: This 25-mile loop around Three Fingered Jack offers incredible mountain views of Three Fingered Jack, Mount Jefferson, Mount Washington and the Three Sisters, as well as many wildflowers in the mid-summer season. There are a few places to spend the night along the loop like Wasco Lake and Booth Lake, but the most scenic spot is Canyon Creek Meadows.
(Click here to read more about this hike and to get directions)
2) Waldo Lake Loop with Rigdon Lakes side trail
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Closest town: Oakridge
Trail type: Loop
Mileage: 20.5 miles w/ 1,830 ft. elevation gain
Terrain difficulty: Moderate
Trail usage: Medium
Camping options: Primitive dispersed camping available as well as a shelter
Permits required: Wilderness permit available at the trailhead/entry to the Waldo Lake Wilderness
About the hike: This 20 mile loop around Waldo Lake can easily be done in two days and one night, as the trail offers easy terrain and not much elevation gain. There are some beautiful camping spots on the west side of Waldo Lake, as well as a camping option at the shelter on the southeast side.
(Click here to read more about this hike and to get directions)
Trail type: Loop
Mileage: 20.5 miles w/ 1,830 ft. elevation gain
Terrain difficulty: Moderate
Trail usage: Medium
Camping options: Primitive dispersed camping available as well as a shelter
Permits required: Wilderness permit available at the trailhead/entry to the Waldo Lake Wilderness
About the hike: This 20 mile loop around Waldo Lake can easily be done in two days and one night, as the trail offers easy terrain and not much elevation gain. There are some beautiful camping spots on the west side of Waldo Lake, as well as a camping option at the shelter on the southeast side.
(Click here to read more about this hike and to get directions)
3) Three Sisters Loop
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Closest town: Sisters or Bend
Trail type: Loop
Mileage: 50-60 miles w/ up to 9,090 ft. elevation gain
Terrain difficulty: Moderate to difficult
Trail usage: Medium to high
Camping options: Primitive dispersed camping near lakes
Permits required: Central Cascades Wilderness Permit must be pre purchased at recreation.gov
About the hike: This loop ranges in mileage depending on which trailhead you start from and which side attractions you go see while on the loop. This hike has so much to offer, it is best done as a 3-4 day excursion. You can camp at a lake or stream every night which means you don't have to worry about water, and if you go in late July or early August, you will witness the splendor of all the wildflowers blooming! Some of the side-trips from this loop include a stop at Camp Lake, Golden Lake, South Sister summit, and North Matthieu Lake.
(Click here to make your very own personalized itinerary for this amazing loop)
Trail type: Loop
Mileage: 50-60 miles w/ up to 9,090 ft. elevation gain
Terrain difficulty: Moderate to difficult
Trail usage: Medium to high
Camping options: Primitive dispersed camping near lakes
Permits required: Central Cascades Wilderness Permit must be pre purchased at recreation.gov
About the hike: This loop ranges in mileage depending on which trailhead you start from and which side attractions you go see while on the loop. This hike has so much to offer, it is best done as a 3-4 day excursion. You can camp at a lake or stream every night which means you don't have to worry about water, and if you go in late July or early August, you will witness the splendor of all the wildflowers blooming! Some of the side-trips from this loop include a stop at Camp Lake, Golden Lake, South Sister summit, and North Matthieu Lake.
(Click here to make your very own personalized itinerary for this amazing loop)
4) Middle Fork Willamette Trail
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Closest town: Oakridge
Trail type: Out and back so carpool is needed
Mileage: 31.7 miles w/ 4,000 ft. elevation gain one way
Terrain difficulty: Moderate
Trail usage: Low
Camping options: Primitive dispersed camping
Permits required: None
About the hike: This trail is perfect for those looking for solitude in the wilderness. There are rarely other hikers here, but you will see some mountain bikers enjoying a shuttled ride down this almost 32 miles of beautiful trail. There is no shortage of spots to camp along the river, so you can make this trip last 2 or 3 days, depending on how many miles you want to do each day. The best time to visit this area is in late summer and early fall.
(Click here to read more about this hike and to get directions- this post is for members only, you can purchase the seasonal membership for $9.99)
Trail type: Out and back so carpool is needed
Mileage: 31.7 miles w/ 4,000 ft. elevation gain one way
Terrain difficulty: Moderate
Trail usage: Low
Camping options: Primitive dispersed camping
Permits required: None
About the hike: This trail is perfect for those looking for solitude in the wilderness. There are rarely other hikers here, but you will see some mountain bikers enjoying a shuttled ride down this almost 32 miles of beautiful trail. There is no shortage of spots to camp along the river, so you can make this trip last 2 or 3 days, depending on how many miles you want to do each day. The best time to visit this area is in late summer and early fall.
(Click here to read more about this hike and to get directions- this post is for members only, you can purchase the seasonal membership for $9.99)
5) PCT: Highway 58 to Charlton Lake w/ side trail up to The Twins
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Closest town: Oakridge
Trail type: Out and back so carpool is needed
Mileage: 17.1 miles w/ 3,250 ft. elevation gain one way (or 20.1 miles if you summit The Twins)
Terrain difficulty: Moderate
Trail usage: Medium
Camping options: Primitive dispersed camping is available as well as a shelter
Permits required: None
About the hike: This is also a hike that your group will need to take two cars on since it is 22.4 miles one way. This section of the Pacific Crest Trail offers many beautiful blue-green lakes, views to the south of Diamond Peak, Odell Lake, Crescent Lake and Summit Lake, as well as a really neat shelter with a sleeping loft. There are plenty of camping spots to choose from at either the shelter or the many lakes. Do try to avoid this area from mid-June to early to mid July, as the mosquitoes are really bad and could put a serious damper on your trip.
(Click here to read more about this hike and to get directions)
Trail type: Out and back so carpool is needed
Mileage: 17.1 miles w/ 3,250 ft. elevation gain one way (or 20.1 miles if you summit The Twins)
Terrain difficulty: Moderate
Trail usage: Medium
Camping options: Primitive dispersed camping is available as well as a shelter
Permits required: None
About the hike: This is also a hike that your group will need to take two cars on since it is 22.4 miles one way. This section of the Pacific Crest Trail offers many beautiful blue-green lakes, views to the south of Diamond Peak, Odell Lake, Crescent Lake and Summit Lake, as well as a really neat shelter with a sleeping loft. There are plenty of camping spots to choose from at either the shelter or the many lakes. Do try to avoid this area from mid-June to early to mid July, as the mosquitoes are really bad and could put a serious damper on your trip.
(Click here to read more about this hike and to get directions)
*All pictures are taken by Franziska Weinheimer
*Disclaimer: the trail descriptions, mileage, GPS tracks and difficulty ratings depicted on this website are never 100% accurate. Always hike at your own risk, using your own knowledge, equipment and common sense. Franziska Weinheimer/Hike Oregon are not responsible if you or anyone in your party gets injured or lost while attempting one of these or any other hikes.