Gresham is located on the edge of the classic Oregonian wilderness. It offers access to dozens of stunning hikes and some of the most impressive waterfalls.
If you are passionate about the outdoors and pursuing an active lifestyle, this list will help you with ideas and reveal the best locations in the area.
Trails near Gresham:
- Latourell Falls Loop
- Gresham (Hogan) Butte Saddle Trail
- Oxbow Regional Park
- Powell Butte Nature Park
- Bridal Veil Falls
- Trickle Creek Trail
- Angel’s Rest Trail
- Wahkeena Falls Loop
- Eagle Creek Trail to Twister Falls
- Larch Mountain Crater Loop
1. Latourell Falls Loop
- Highlight: Free and easy hike with spectacular waterfalls.
- Type: Loop
- Trail Length: 3.3 miles
- Elevation Gain: 731 feet
- Time to Complete: 1.5 hours
- Difficulty: Easy
- Parking: Free Latourell Falls Trailhead parking lot (Google maps)
- Distance from Gresham: 19 miles (30 min)
- Dog Friendly: Yes
The breathtaking Lower Latourell cascade will leave you speechless. The water drops straight down from 249 feet, making it the third tallest waterfall in Columbia Gorge.
The trail itself is relatively easy, with a gentle ascent at the start. However, it gets pretty muddy during the wet season, so bring good hiking shoes.
Also, Latourell Falls Loop is one of the most popular trails in the Gresham area; hence it can get quite busy during the weekends or public holidays.
Free to visit, dog-friendly, nearby, and with spectacular waterfalls, there are no reasons to dislike this location. Give it a whirl!
2. Gresham (Hogan) Butte Saddle Trail
- Highlight: Neighborhood trail. Perfect for a lunch break walk, running, or an evening stroll.
- Type: Lollipop Loop
- Trail Length: 3 miles
- Elevation Gain: 685 feet
- Time to Complete: 1.5 hours
- Difficulty: Easy
- Parking: SW 19th Dr or SE 19th Drive
- Distance from Gresham: 2 miles (5 min)
- Dog Friendly: Yes
Gresham Butte is a charming neighborhood park located just 5 minutes from Gresham Downton.
The area offers a lollipop-style loop which can be completed in an hour and a half, but you can extend or cut it short depending on your circumstances.
One of the highlights of the trail is the view of Mt Hood. The photogenic giant volcano dwarfs everything else around; it is the perfect picture opportunity.
Although Gresham Butte Saddle trail won’t win hiking awards, it’s a vital woodland that provides space for an active gateway.
3. Oxbow Regional Park
- Highlight: Tranquil forested park just 25 minutes from Gresham
- Type: Varies
- Trail Length: up to 8 miles
- Elevation Gain: Varies
- Time to Complete: Varies
- Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
- Parking: SE Oxbow Park Road
- Distance from Gresham: 10 miles (25 min)
- Dog Friendly: No
Oxbow Regional Park is the Gresham area’s best-kept secret. It offers quiet, tranquil escapes from the busy city, yet it is only 25 minutes away.
There are many trails in the park that crisscross each other, and you can easily adjust the length of your hike.
The park doesn’t have any prominent landmarks, but it is a wonder of its own. It is rich in wild and plant life and provides a classic Oregonian forest vibe with moss, fern, and towering firs.
A few complaints are the entrance fee, mud, and the fact that you can’t bring a dog, which is a small price to pay for what the area offers.
4. Powell Butte Nature Park
- Highlight: Fantastic views and easy to get to.
- Type: Varies
- Trail Length: up to 8 miles
- Elevation Gain: Varies
- Time to Complete: Varies
- Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
- Parking: Main parking lot at SE 162nd Ave (Google maps)
- Distance from Gresham: 4 miles (7 min)
- Dog Friendly: Yes
Powell Butte Nature Park is another slice of paradise in Gresham’s urban jungle. The area is popular with cyclists, dog walkers, and hikers alike.
The park offers a selection of interconnecting paths, so you don’t have to follow a particular trail. Instead, you can just explore and let your feet guide you.
But if you wish to follow one, there are plenty of designated trails in the park, and some loops are as long as 8 miles.
Because of its location, the park is rather popular; you will definitely meet other people here. So if the presence of others makes you comfortable when in the wild, this is a good choice for you.
5. Bridal Veil Falls
- Highlight: Stunning multi-level Bridal Veil Waterfall.
- Type: Out and Back
- Trail Length: 0.7 mile
- Elevation Gain: 78 feet
- Time to Complete: 20 min
- Difficulty: Easy
- Parking: Bridal Veil Parking Lot (Google maps)
- Distance from Gresham: 17 miles (25 min)
- Dog Friendly: Yes
Bridal Veil is the easiest to access waterfall in Columbia Gorge, yet it is stunning and definitely worth the visit.
It is a quick stopover off Interstate 84. You can see the waterfall from the viewpoint near the parking lot or hike down to get a closer look.
The trail is steep and rocky in places but very short; most people can handle it easily.
6. Trickle Creek Trail
- Highlight: Pleasant neighborhood trail, suitable for running and strollers
- Type: Out and Back
- Trail Length: 3.5 miles
- Elevation Gain: 175 feet
- Time to Complete: 1.5 hours
- Difficulty: Easy
- Parking: Chinook Street
- Distance from Gresham: 12 miles (20 min)
- Dog Friendly: Yes
Trickle Creek Trail is another beautiful hike amid the urban jungle.
Classic Oregonian woods never fail to impress and consistently deliver a unique atmosphere, and this trail doesn’t disappoint either.
It is also very tidy as locals seem to take pride in the area.
Because the route is pretty flat, the trail is excellent for hiking with young kids; it is also dog and stroller-approved – a perfect green gateway.
7. Angel’s Rest Trail
- Highlight: Panoramic views from Angel’s Rest lookout. Challenging hilly hike.
- Type: Out and Back
- Trail Length: 4.7 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1,500 feet
- Time to Complete: 2.5 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Parking: At the trailhead (Google maps)
- Distance from Gresham: 16 miles (25 min)
- Dog Friendly: Yes
Angel’s Rest is a popular trail in the Columbia River Gorge that leads to several striking lookouts.
Many hikers describe it as one of the most memorable routes in the area. And it’s not hard to see why. The trail has so much to offer.
The parking is easy and well-maintained, the ascent is challenging but not too strenuous. Along the way, you will pass a series of small waterfalls, cross creeks and rise above the clouds to enjoy the remarkable scenery.
On a clear day, you can even see Mount St. Helens and Mount Baker from the top.
Because the trail is always open, you can enhance your experience by catching a sunrise or a sunset. It’s when the views are at their best.
8. Wahkeena Falls Loop
- Highlight: 8 spectacular landmark waterfalls in 7 miles. How about that!
- Type: Loop
- Trail Length: 7 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1,751 feet
- Time to Complete: 3 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Parking: Wakheena Falls Trailhead (Google maps)
- Distance from Gresham: 19 miles (30 min)
- Dog Friendly: Yes
Wahkeena Falls Loop is by far the best waterfalls hike near Portland, hands down. You just can’t beat eight in one.
For the most part, the trail runs along the creeks, which produces a unique ambiance as the water burbles down the hill.
The hike is on the steep terrain; there are practically no flat sections. Also, it gets muddy in places. Hence, sturdy hiking shoes will make this hike more enjoyable.
Along the way, you get to see eight gorgeous water cascades, including Wahkeena Falls, Fairy Falls, and Wiesedanger Falls.
And if that’s not spectacular enough, the route ends with Multnomah Falls – the highest waterfall in Columbia Gorge (620 feet).
The only complaint about the trail is that it gets busy with tourists, the best places usually are. This means that parking spaces become hard to find after about 10.00 am.
Hence, to secure a place and have a more tranquil experience, arrive early and avoid weekends and public holidays.
If you are looking for the best waterfall hike in Columbia Gorge, look no further, Wahkeena Falls Loop is the one.
9. Eagle Creek Trail to Twister Falls
- Highlight: Twister Falls and many other cascades along the Eagle Creek
- Type: Out and Back
- Trail Length: 13 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1,778 feet
- Time to Complete: 6 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Parking: Past Cascade Salmon Hatchery (Google maps)
- Distance from Gresham: 30 miles (40 min)
- Dog Friendly: Yes
Eagle Creek Trail is one of the most loved trails in the area. And just like Wahkeena Falls Loop (above), it has plenty of waterfalls along the way, although they are less famous.
If you are looking for a calmer alternative to Wahkeena Falls Loop, this trail is a good option. Although it is popular and you will meet many people along the way, it is not as crowded as the Wahkeena area.
Also, this route is out and back, so you can easily adjust the length of your hike, just turn around at any point.
The trail’s highlight is gorgeous Twister Falls – a 140 feet cascade that has two streams that appear to intersect.
The trail itself is pretty rocky with slippery patches but generally is in good condition after recent repairs.
10. Larch Mountain Crater Loop
- Highlight: Exciting hike through the woods and the views of 5 Cascade Volcanoes from Sherrard Point
- Type: Loop
- Trail Length: 6.5 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1,320 feet
- Time to Complete: 3 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Parking: at Larch Mountain Trailhead (Google maps)
- Distance from Gresham: 25 miles (50 min)
- Dog Friendly: Yes
Larch Mountain Crater loop is a combination of trails that take you around the 4,061 feet extinct volcano.
Most of the hike runs through the thick fir woods providing for a tranquil atmosphere. If you enjoy the peace and quiet of a forest, you will like this trail.
In the end, the hike culminates at Sherrard Point – an outlook from which you can see five Cascade Volcanoes but only on a clear day. Many people visit this area just to see these views.
To complete this loop, you should first backtrack 400 yards and take Oneonta Trail #424 on your left. Then, turn left on Multnomah Creek Way Trail #444 and left again on Larch Mountain Trail #441. Basically, keep the Larch Mountain on your left at all times. Easy.
Final Thoughts
Gresham area offers many outstanding hiking opportunities. It is crazy how stunning and accessible some of these trails are. Definitely not to be missed!
Hopefully, the list helped you find the perfect trail, and you are looking forward to your next adventure now. Enjoy!
Hiking Motivation: Funny and Inspirational Hiking Quotes.
More Trails in Oregon:
Lakes in Oregon:
Parks in Oregon:
