Terry Richard/The Oregonian

Backpacking is a time-honored Pacific Northwest tradition, strapping a few days’ worth of supplies to our backs, and setting off to explore and camp out in the remote wilderness.

In Oregon, there is a vast wealth of backpacking opportunity, taking hikers high into the mountains, out into the arid desert and along the stunning coastline. These 12 trips (in no particular order) are mostly two to five-day excursions, but if you’re really prepared for a long haul, you can be out on the trail for weeks or even months at a time.

If you're new to backpacking, or if it's been a while, it would be wise to get well supplied – but not overburdened – with the basics. Any local outdoor store can help advise you and get the gear that you need. It's also important to leave no trace, and practice good outdoor ethics and etiquette. Safety is a big deal, too, so be sure to call the nearby U.S. Forest Service ranger station or local BLM office before you leave.



Backpacking requires a little more preparation and precaution than day hiking or car camping, but the extra efforts are well rewarded with a night under the stars in the thick of Oregon wilderness. Few experiences are as humbling, and as good for the soul, as rambling about our wild natural places.

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

1. Timberline Trail

Distance: 38.3 miles

Difficulty: Difficult

Season: Summer

Permit: Wilderness permit required between May 15 and Oct. 15, free at trailheads

One of Oregon's most iconic trails, the Timberline Trail circumnavigates Mount Hood along a beautiful loop hike nearly 40 miles long. A debris flow washed out a portion of the trail in 2006, but in 2016 it was finally reconnected. Expect to have company in the summer, which is the best and safest time to make the popular trek. Most hikers begin and end at Timberline Lodge, where the route follows the Pacific Crest Trail.

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

2. Pacific Crest Trail

Distance: 460 miles

Difficulty: Difficult

Season: Summer

Permit: Varies

The beautiful and beloved Pacific Crest Trail runs 460 miles through Oregon, and while plenty of thru-hikers tackle the challenge of completing the whole thing, it's easy enough to pop in and out for shorter excursions. Several backpacking trips on this list run along parts of the PCT, but there are lots of others, like the 26.6-mile out-and-back trek from Santiam Pass to Rockpile Lake, and the many lovely miles of trails throughout the Sky Lakes Wilderness in southern Oregon.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

3. Rogue River Trail

Distance: 40.6 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Season: Spring, summer, fall

Permit: None

The beautiful trek through the wild and scenic Rogue River canyon is a perfect backpacking trip for beginners, with enough challenge to keep things interesting for more advanced hikers. There are primitive campsites and developed campgrounds along the trail, as well as several lodges, which allow for a more luxurious lodge-to-lodge experience. Beware of bears, ticks and snakes as you hike, and hire a shuttle service instead of leaving your car at the heavily-prowled Grave Creek trailhead.

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Courtesy of Jeremy Fox/ONDA

4. Owyhee Canyonlands

Distance: Varies

Difficulty: Difficult

Season: Spring, summer, fall

Permit: None

One of the most rugged places in Oregon, the Owyhee Canyonlands is also a place of stark desert beauty. Adventure can be found rambling through the remote river canyons, past spectacular rock formations and ancient volcanic fields – but this is no easy trip. Roads to the trailheads are far from any town, and most require high-clearance vehicles. Once you're there, you may need to navigate by topographical map, and water can be scarce. You'll need to take every precaution if you venture into the Owyhee, but the reward will be well worth it.

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Jamie Francis/The Oregonian

5. Three Sisters Loop

Distance: 48.1 miles

Difficulty: Difficult

Season: Summer, early fall

Permit: Free wilderness permit at trailhead

Hiking around one mountain is nice, but how about three? The Three Sisters Loop offers just that – a stunning 48-mile hike around North, Middle and South Sisters, past turquoise alpine lakes and sweeping vistas in Oregon's central Cascades. The Lava Camp Lake Trailhead is a good place to start, though the Green Lakes or Pole Creek Trailheads works as well, shaving off a few miles. There are plenty of places to camp, though water can be hard to find, especially on the west side of the mountains.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

6. Eagle Cap Wilderness

Distance: Varies

Difficulty: Moderate to difficult

Season: Summer

Permit: Free wilderness permit at trailhead

There are a whopping 535 miles of trail in the Eagle Cap Wilderness of the Wallowa Mountains, allowing for days on end of hiking, climbing and exploring. Snow typically blocks higher elevation trails until late June and early July, usually returning in early fall. There are 15 trailheads to choose from, but the most popular is the Wallowa Lake Trailhead just south of Joseph, which gives access to hikes up to Ice Lake, Cusick Mountain and several other destinations.

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

7. Snowshoe the Crater Lake rim

Distance: 33 miles

Difficulty: Moderately difficult

Season: Spring, winter

Permit: Free backcountry permit at ranger station



Oregon's only full-fledged national park is plenty busy in the summer, but go when there's still snow on the ground and you can practically have the place to yourself. Spring and winter hiking requires either snowshoes or skis, which will give you access to spectacular views of the deep, blue-hued lake set against white fields of snow. Start at Rim Village and be careful as you go – the snowy perches above Crater Lake have to fall apart some time.

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

8. Broken Top Loop

Distance: 20.3 miles

Difficulty: Difficult

Season: Summer, early fall

Permit: Free wilderness permit at trailhead

One of the shorter backpacking trips in the Cascades, the Broken Top Loop circles the jagged peak nestled into the Broken Top Wilderness. You can start at the Tam McArthur Rim Trailhead at Three Creek Lake, and find camping at Golden Lake and on the southeastern flank of the mountain. Water is sparse, but available throughout. Fast hikers could do the trip in one day, but most people will want to take two or three.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

9. Oregon Coast Trail

Distance: 382 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Season: All

Permit: None

The 382-mile Oregon Coast Trail is one of the most gorgeous thru-hikes in the Pacific Northwest, but it can also be traversed on several shorter backpacking trips. You can hike through forested headlands and along sandy beaches, but much of the trail will also guide you along the shoulder of Highway 101. Finding campgrounds can be tricky – especially in the busier summer months – as beach camping is restricted to areas outside state parks and most city limits.

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

10. Elkhorn Crest Trail

Distance: 23 miles

Difficulty: Difficult

Season: Summer, early fall

Permit: None

Running along the spine of the Elkhorn Mountains, past granite spires and alpine lakes, the Elkhorn Crest Trail is a full 23 miles long (one way), though there are a few different ways to tackle it. You can start at the main trailhead found within the Anthony Lakes Recreation Area, or the southern Marble Pass terminus at the end of a rough, high-clearance road. Either way, Twin Lakes is a great place to stop for the night. Note that water is very scarce in the Elkhorns, and any water you do find is likely unsafe to drink without treatment.

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

11. Steens Mountain

Distance: Varies

Difficulty: Difficult

Season: Summer, early fall

Permit: None

The big, fault-block mountain in southeast Oregon is a great place for a drive or a day hike, but backpackers can enjoy an off-trail trek through the many gorges of Steens Mountain, too. You can do a roughly 7-mile loop centered around Wildhorse Lake, or try a longer 26-mile trip through Big Indian and Little Blitzen Canyons. Either way, bear in mind that few established trails run through the Steens Mountain Wilderness, requiring off-trail navigation through a rugged and dry desert landscape, and occasional scrambling up rocky canyon walls.

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

12. Strawberry Mountain Wilderness Loop

Distance: 21 miles

Difficulty: Difficult

Season: Summer, early fall

Permit: None

The lovely and ecologically diverse Strawberry Mountain Wilderness is a great destination in eastern Oregon. Found just southeast of John Day, the area is best explored on a multi-day loop hike. Start out at the Strawberry Basin Trailhead and make your way south past Strawberry Lake, to the top of Strawberry Mountain, and by High and Slide Lakes before circling back. The hike is about 21 miles with the mountain summit, and 17 without.

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Ian Malkasian/The Oregonian

BONUS: Jefferson Park

Normally, any list of beautiful backpacking trips in Oregon would have to include a trek through Jefferson Park – the sprawling wilderness area around Mount Jefferson. But after the Whitewater fire burned 11,500 acres in the park in 2017, the area is temporarily closed to the public. Once it's open, prepare to fight for one of the overnight permits – a small price to pay (literally, they're $6 to $9) to visit one of the most popular wilderness areas in the state.

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Photo courtesy of Recreation.gov

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--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB