Top 10 Oregon Fall Hikes
​Most hikers would say that fall is the best season to hike in Oregon. Not only are the temperatures just about perfect, there are usually still plenty of sunny days until mid-November, there are no pesky bugs, the foliage is beautiful and there are far less people on the trails. Here is a list of some of the top hikes that you should not miss out on this autumn season!
1) Scott Mountain Loop
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Closest town: McKenzie Bridge to the west & Sisters to the east
Trail type: Out and back to lakes or summit or a large loop
Mileage: 2.6 miles out and back w/ about 350 ft. elevation gain (to Benson Lake)
5 miles out and back w/ about 640 ft. elevation gain (to Tenas Lakes)
7.7 miles out and back w/ 1,340 ft. elevation gain (up to Mount Scott summit)
9.7 mile loop w/ 2,420 ft. elevation gain (the entire loop)
Difficulty: Easy to difficult
Trail usage: High on summer weekends, low to medium on weekdays
Best autumn months to hike this trail: September & October
About the hike: This trail has a variety of things to offer, from an easy out and back lake hike, to a summit viewpoint hike, to a loop through a lava flow to a shelter. All of these options have glowing fall foliage and the longer trails offer lots of solitude in the autumn months.
(Click here for more information and directions)
Trail type: Out and back to lakes or summit or a large loop
Mileage: 2.6 miles out and back w/ about 350 ft. elevation gain (to Benson Lake)
5 miles out and back w/ about 640 ft. elevation gain (to Tenas Lakes)
7.7 miles out and back w/ 1,340 ft. elevation gain (up to Mount Scott summit)
9.7 mile loop w/ 2,420 ft. elevation gain (the entire loop)
Difficulty: Easy to difficult
Trail usage: High on summer weekends, low to medium on weekdays
Best autumn months to hike this trail: September & October
About the hike: This trail has a variety of things to offer, from an easy out and back lake hike, to a summit viewpoint hike, to a loop through a lava flow to a shelter. All of these options have glowing fall foliage and the longer trails offer lots of solitude in the autumn months.
(Click here for more information and directions)
2) Divide Lake
Closest town: Oakridge
Trail type: Out and back Mileage: 8 miles w/ 1,560 ft. elevation gain Difficulty: Moderate Trail usage: Low Best autumn months to hike this trail: September & October About the hike: Divide Lake is one of the most underrated fall hikes. Most people don't think of the Diamond Peak Wilderness as a great place to see fall colors, but what most people don't realize is that the forest here is littered with Huckleberry bushes which turn a bright yellow, orange and red in the fall time. When the autumn sun shines on these bushes that are lining the turquoise lake, it literally takes your breath away! (Click here for more information and directions) |
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3) Moon Point
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Closest town: Oakridge
Trail type: Out and back
Mileage: 11 miles w/ 3,350 ft. elevation gain
Difficulty: Difficult
Trail usage: Low
Best autumn months to hike this trail: September, October and early November
About the hike: This is one of the coolest hikes near Oakridge. The trail is stunning and lined with vine maples that turn gold, orange and bright red during the autumn months. The view from the top of Moon Point is one of the best in the area without having to summit a mountain like Diamond Peak. You can see all of the Southern Oregon peaks like Mt. Thielsen and Mount Bailey! If you want to take this trail at a faster pace, you can choose to do it on your mountain bike.
(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
Mileage: 11 miles w/ 3,350 ft. elevation gain
Difficulty: Difficult
Trail usage: Low
Best autumn months to hike this trail: September, October and early November
About the hike: This is one of the coolest hikes near Oakridge. The trail is stunning and lined with vine maples that turn gold, orange and bright red during the autumn months. The view from the top of Moon Point is one of the best in the area without having to summit a mountain like Diamond Peak. You can see all of the Southern Oregon peaks like Mt. Thielsen and Mount Bailey! If you want to take this trail at a faster pace, you can choose to do it on your mountain bike.
(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)
4) Watson Falls
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Closest town: Roseburg
Trail type: Loop
Mileage: 1mile w/ 425 ft. elevation gain
Difficulty: Easy
Trail usage: Medium to high on weekends, low on weekdays
Best autumn months to hike this trail: End of September & early October
About the hike: This short but sweet trail located in Southern Oregon is the perfect family friendly fall hike option. This little loop offers views, a huge waterfall with two different viewing areas, and lots of fall foliage!
(Click here for more information and directions)
Trail type: Loop
Mileage: 1mile w/ 425 ft. elevation gain
Difficulty: Easy
Trail usage: Medium to high on weekends, low on weekdays
Best autumn months to hike this trail: End of September & early October
About the hike: This short but sweet trail located in Southern Oregon is the perfect family friendly fall hike option. This little loop offers views, a huge waterfall with two different viewing areas, and lots of fall foliage!
(Click here for more information and directions)
5) Forest Park - Lower MacLeay
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Closest town: Portland
Trail type: Lollipop loop
Mileage: 4.8 miles out and back w/ 915 ft. elevation gain
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail usage: High on weekends, medium on weekdays
Best autumn months to hike this trail: October
About the hike: This hike is located in the heart of Portland but once you are on the trail you would never know that you are in a city. There is an incredible amount of fall foliage in Forest Park and even if it is a rainy day, this hike is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of your busy life.
(Click here for more information and directions)
Trail type: Lollipop loop
Mileage: 4.8 miles out and back w/ 915 ft. elevation gain
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail usage: High on weekends, medium on weekdays
Best autumn months to hike this trail: October
About the hike: This hike is located in the heart of Portland but once you are on the trail you would never know that you are in a city. There is an incredible amount of fall foliage in Forest Park and even if it is a rainy day, this hike is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of your busy life.
(Click here for more information and directions)
6) Peter Skene Ogden Trail
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Closest town: LaPine
Trail type: Out and back
Mileage: 18 miles out and back w/ 2,440 ft. elevation gain (or you can park a car at both ends of the trail and have it be a 9 mile hike downhill if you start at Paulina Falls).
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail usage: Low in the fall time
Best autumn months to hike this trail: End of September & October
About the hike: This trail is the most underrated autumn gem of Central Oregon! This trail offers a total of 9 large waterfalls, most of them unnamed and not marked on most maps. This hike also provides amazing fall foliage from vine maples to Larch trees. You can do this hike on horseback, mountain bike or you can hike it in a few shorter sections.
(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
Mileage: 18 miles out and back w/ 2,440 ft. elevation gain (or you can park a car at both ends of the trail and have it be a 9 mile hike downhill if you start at Paulina Falls).
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail usage: Low in the fall time
Best autumn months to hike this trail: End of September & October
About the hike: This trail is the most underrated autumn gem of Central Oregon! This trail offers a total of 9 large waterfalls, most of them unnamed and not marked on most maps. This hike also provides amazing fall foliage from vine maples to Larch trees. You can do this hike on horseback, mountain bike or you can hike it in a few shorter sections.
(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)
7) Clear Lake
Closest town: McKenzie Bridge
Trail type: Loop Mileage: 5.5 mile loop w/ 570 ft. elevation gain Terrain difficulty: Easy (trails are very well maintained due to this also being a mountain bike area). Trail usage: Medium to high on the weekends About the hike: Clear Lake is a wonderful loop to take your whole family on, and it is one of the best places to take fall foliage pictures. The entire lake shore is overgrown with vine maple which change colors beautifully in the fall. The bright colors in contrast with the evergreen trees and the crystal clear water of the lake, make for some stunning pictures! (Click here for more information and directions) |
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8) Painted Cove
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Closest town: Mitchell
Trail type: Loop
Mileage: 0.25 miles out and back w/ 50 ft. elevation gain
Difficulty: Easy
Trail usage: Medium on weekends in the fall, low on weekdays
Best autumn months to hike this trail: September, October, November, early December
About the hike: There is nothing better than Eastern Oregon's vast blue sky in October! The colors of the Painted Hills against a bright blue sky is just an incredible sight to see and Painted Cove is the perfect place to visit this time of year when it is not too hot. Take the whole family as well as the dog, and make sure to stop in the cutest little town of Mitchell on the way.
(Click here for more information and directions)
Trail type: Loop
Mileage: 0.25 miles out and back w/ 50 ft. elevation gain
Difficulty: Easy
Trail usage: Medium on weekends in the fall, low on weekdays
Best autumn months to hike this trail: September, October, November, early December
About the hike: There is nothing better than Eastern Oregon's vast blue sky in October! The colors of the Painted Hills against a bright blue sky is just an incredible sight to see and Painted Cove is the perfect place to visit this time of year when it is not too hot. Take the whole family as well as the dog, and make sure to stop in the cutest little town of Mitchell on the way.
(Click here for more information and directions)
9) Mount McLoughlin
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Closest town: Medford & Klamath Falls
Trail type: Out and back
Mileage: 9.7 miles out and back w/ 3,650 ft. elevation gain
Difficulty: Very difficult
Trail usage: High on weekends, medium on weekdays
Best autumn months to hike this trail: September, October and early November (depending on weather & early season snowfall)
About the hike: This difficult summit hike located in Southern Oregon takes you up to the top of Mt. McLoughlin. During the autumn season, the smoke from summer wildfires has dissipated and the views from the summit are 360 degrees from Mt. Shasta up to Mt. Thielsen and all of the peaks, buttes, hills and lakes in between!
(Click here for more information and directions)
Trail type: Out and back
Mileage: 9.7 miles out and back w/ 3,650 ft. elevation gain
Difficulty: Very difficult
Trail usage: High on weekends, medium on weekdays
Best autumn months to hike this trail: September, October and early November (depending on weather & early season snowfall)
About the hike: This difficult summit hike located in Southern Oregon takes you up to the top of Mt. McLoughlin. During the autumn season, the smoke from summer wildfires has dissipated and the views from the summit are 360 degrees from Mt. Shasta up to Mt. Thielsen and all of the peaks, buttes, hills and lakes in between!
(Click here for more information and directions)
10) Muskrat Lake
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Closest town: Crescent
Trail type: Out and back
Mileage: 10.2 miles out and back w/ 885 ft. elevation gain
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail usage: Low
Best autumn months to hike this trail: End of September & October
About the hike: This secluded lake hike is where you will find true solitude during the fall season. As you meander through a lodgepole pine forest you will pass by some beautiful lakes and you will arrive at the old trapper cabin by Muskrat Lake. This is also the perfect place for a short shoulder season backpacking trip.
(Click here for more information and directions)
Trail type: Out and back
Mileage: 10.2 miles out and back w/ 885 ft. elevation gain
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail usage: Low
Best autumn months to hike this trail: End of September & October
About the hike: This secluded lake hike is where you will find true solitude during the fall season. As you meander through a lodgepole pine forest you will pass by some beautiful lakes and you will arrive at the old trapper cabin by Muskrat Lake. This is also the perfect place for a short shoulder season backpacking trip.
(Click here for more information and 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.