Photo by Adam Sawyer
Don’t look now, but some of the vine maples around town are already starting to turn colors. Like it or not autumn is descending upon the City of Roses. Let’s not mourn the passing of summer, but celebrate the beginning of one of the Pacific Northwest’s finest seasons.
The air will soon be brisk, colors are changing, the trails are still dry (mostly), and the tourists have gone home. Actually, this is a fine time of year to get the family out onto the trails in and around Portland. With that in mind, here is a list of some area hiking trails that showcase the best the season has to offer.
Ramona Falls: A world-class 7-mile loop in the Mt Hood Wilderness. The trees along Ramona Creek will be on fire with color in October.
Wahkeena-Multnomah Loop: Perhaps the best time to do this 5.4-mile loop is late October. Any hike in the Gorge is amazing in fall, but now you can enjoy the 2nd tallest year-round waterfall in the U.S. sans busloads of tourists.
Opal Creek: This hike features the best old growth forest in the area, unbelievably colored pools of water, and relative solitude. Frame all that with autumn color change and you have as a fine an outdoor experience as you can line up in an afternoon.
Siouxon Creek: This 8-mile out and back Washington version of Opal Creek is a great alternative for folk north of the Columbia River. Siouxon Creek has plenty of old growth, pristine water, and is more than likely a shorter drive.
Falls Creek Falls: The 3.5-mile out and back hike to Falls Creek Falls delivers jaw-dropping color change along with one of the best waterfalls within a day’s drive from Portland.
Photo by Adam Sawyer
Horsetail-Triple Falls: Another Gorge classic. This 4.5-mile semi-loop will make you feel as if you’ve died and gone to bigleaf maple (and waterfall) heaven.
Hoyt Arboretum: If you’re looking for something close-in, look no further than the Hoyt Arboretum. This place also lets you see what fall looks like in different parts of the world, thanks to the extensive collection of non-native trees.
Lacamas Creek Park: The best-kept secret in the area is also one of the best spots to hike in fall.
As always, make sure the family is prepared for drastic changes in the weather. This time of year is known for making liars out of even the most reliable meteorologists.
-Adam Sawyer
Photo by Adam Sawyer
Photo by Adam Sawyer
