Best Mount Hood Waterfall Hikes
Oregon is well known for its beautiful waterfalls and some of the best can be found in Mount Hood National Forest! The two most iconic waterfalls in Mount Hood are Ramona Falls and Tamanawas Falls, but there are a few others on the mountain as well! Read below for the best waterfalls on Mount Hood to hike!
How to Get to Mount Hood National Forest
Mount Hood from Portland
To get to Mount Hood from Portland take I-84E towards the Columbia River Gorge. Take Exit 16 and head up through the town of Sandy. Continue on US-26 for the remainder of the way to Mount Hood.
Alternatively, take I-84E all the way through the Gorge before turning South towards the mountain at Hood River.
Parking on Mount Hood
All of the waterfalls on Mount Hood require a Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass to be displayed at the parking lots.
- Northwest Forest Pass– All Forest Service Recreation Sites in Oregon and Washington. $30 annually or $5 for one day. Buy here
- America the Beautiful Pass– Also commonly called the National Parks Pass, covers all National Parks and many other day-use areas. $80 annually. Buy here
If you hike a lot and live nearby, I recommend buying the America the Beautiful Pass. This gives you access to everything covered by the Northwest Forest Pass, as well as all National Parks. If you don’t spend much time in the National Parks, it may benefit you to only buy the Northwest Forest Pass.
Regardless of what you pick always display your pass in your car at required trailheads. The fines for not having a pass are steep, and the money only benefits the lands you are visiting!
Where to Stay Near Mount Hood
If you are visiting Mount Hood, I would plan on staying in a cabin on the mountain, or in the nearby town of Hood River to maximize your time at Mount Hood. If you are visiting Portland, you can also make an easy drive out to Mount Hood for a day trip
Stays Near Mount Hood
Stays in Hood River
Read More: Best Hikes Near Hood River
Waterfall Hike Packing List
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
- Raincoat- You don’t want to visit a waterfall without a rain jacket! This also works as a windbreaker- My Favorite Rain Jacket
- Fleece- A fleece or mid-layer is great to have when hiking so you can easily take it off to cool down- Soft REI Fleece
- Warm Jacket– In cooler months bring a warm down or synthetic jacket. Remember Mount Hood will always be colder than Portland.- My Favorite Packable Jacket
- Day Pack– Always bring a pack on any hike no matter the length to carry water and essentials- Recommended Osprey Day Pack
- Beanie or Hat- If you are hiking in colder weather bring something to keep your head warm. If it’s warmer, consider a cap to keep ticks off your head- Warm Beanie, Baseball hat
- Waterproof Boots– Waterfall trails are often muddy. Make sure to bring waterproof boots- My Favorite Hiking Boots, Men’s Version
- Hiking Socks– Wear good hiking socks to avoid blisters, no matter the hike length!-Women’s Hiking Socks, Men’s Hiking Socks
- Moisture-Wicking Shirt- A quick dry active tee makes for a much more comfortable hike- Women’s Hiking Shirts, Men’s Hiking Shirts
- Moisture-Wicking Pants– While they do not need to be waterproof, you will likely want either moisture-wicking or quick-drying pants if the forecast calls for rain- Comfortable Women’s Hiking Pants, Women’s Hiking Shorts
- Water Bottle– When hiking, bring a water bottle to hydrate- Water Bottle
- Sunscreen– Make sure to wear sunscreen outdoors- SPF 50 Sunscreen
- First Aid Kit- Always bring a first aid kit in the outdoors- First Aid Kit
- Parking Pass- A National Forest Pass or Annual National Parks Pass (also called America the Beautiful Pass) is needed to park on Mount Hood- Annual Northwest Forest Pass, America the Beautiful Pass
- Camera- Bring a camera to capture your memories!- Beginner Travel Camera
Read More: Pacific Northwest Packing List
Waterfall Hikes on Mount Hood
Ramona Falls Loop Trail
- Length: 7.1 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1066 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Dogs: Dogs are allowed on a leash
- Trailhead Location: Muddy Fork Road, Off US Hwy 26
Ramona Falls Trail is one of the best waterfall hikes in Oregon. This trail loops around the PCT and Ramona Falls trail, catching up with the Timberline Trail for a section. The beginning of this trail has a stream crossing that can be quite dangerous for much of the year. Make sure you are prepared before attempting this trail.
On a clear day, Mount Hood may even be visible from this section of the trail! When you reach Ramona Falls, be prepared for one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Oregon. The water cascades down in front of a bridge which makes for the perfect spot to stop and see the waterfall.
Tamanawas Falls Trail
- Length: 3.4 miles
- Elevation Gain: 580 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Dogs: Dogs are allowed on a leash
- Trailhead Location: Mount Hood National Forest, off OR-35
Tamanawas Falls Trail is one of the best waterfall hikes in Mount Hood National Forest. It is a 1 hour and 30-minute drive from Portland to the trailhead. The trail is a little over 3 miles to the waterfall.
This is a great hike any time of year. You will hike over several bridges and through a boulder field to get to the massive waterfall. In the winter icicles form around the falls, and you can snowshoe or hike with crampons or microspikes to get to the waterfall.
Read More: Snowshoeing Tamanawas Falls
Umbrella Falls
- Length: 0.5 miles
- Elevation Gain: 95 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Dogs: Dogs are allowed on a leash
- Trailhead Location: Mount Hood Meadows Parking Lot
Umbrella Falls is a quick 0.5-mile round-trip hike, perfect if you are short on time, and looking for a waterfall around Mount Hood! There is a bridge that passes over East Fork Hood River right in front of the falls!
Sahalie Falls
- Length: 3.4 miles
- Elevation Gain: 711 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Dogs: Dogs are allowed on a leash
- Trailhead Location: Mount Hood Meadows Parking Lot
If you hike further past Umbrella Falls you will reach Sahalie Falls! This is not too difficult of a trail until the very end where it is a very steep climb down to the bottom of the falls. This felt more like a scramble than a hike to me and would be difficult and dangerous for some people.
You can also hike up the Sahalie Falls from Elk Meadows Trailhead for a 1.2-mile round-trip hike. The end of the trail is the same difficult climb down though!
Other Waterfalls Near Mount Hood
If you have more time and want to see even more waterfalls, head on down to the Columbia River Gorge for even more waterfall hikes near Mount Hood!
- Wahclella Falls- 1.9 miles, 229 feet, Easy– This is an easy 2-mile round trip hike to one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge!
- Multnomah Falls- 2.4 miles, 810 feet, Moderate– You can’t visit Oregon without seeing Multnomah Falls, the tallest waterfall in Oregon.
- Latourell Falls- 3 miles, 728 miles, Easy-Moderate– Latourell Falls is a great hike close to Multnomah. You can see the Lower Latourell Falls by only walking a few feet from the parking lot, or you can do the full 3-mile loop and see an additional waterfall.
Read More: Waterfall Hikes Near Portland
When to Visit Mount Hood
The best time to see waterfalls on Mount Hood is early Summer or late Spring. Usually, by June or early July, most of the trails should be snow free but the waterfalls should still be flowing well! In late Summer the waterfalls will not be flowing quite as well.
Always read recent trail reviews to see if the trail is snow free or if there are any other conditions to know about.
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