#oregon

Oregon Water Fall Hike: Ramona Falls in Mt Hood National Forest

hiking, Oregon, Pacific North West, Waterfalls

Ramona Falls in Oregon is a Hidden little gem found in Mt. Hood National Forrest! My friend from Texas found it on the AllTrails app and we went for it! This hike made you feel like you are walking through a tropical rainforest, it was insanely green and lush! 

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The Trail Head

It’s not too far from Zig Zag, Oregon (yes that’s the towns real name haha, probably due to the windy mountain roads everywhere). If you type it into the AllTrails App it should pop up!

Luckily, when you get to the trailhead, there’s a nice big parking lot! We went later in the day right when we got into town, there was only one other car there. It said you needed a certain parking pass. It’s in a National Forrest, so I put my National Park Pass up in the dash! I would check online to see if you can get a day pass or something cheaper if you don’t have a National Park pass! 

The Adventure Up!

This hike didn’t have a ton of elevation gain, it would be suitable for most skill levels! It was about 7 miles long. 

For the first large section of the hike you are walking through the lush forest. It’s green everywhere! You could hardly see the ground aside from the trail because it was all covered in moss and other various plants. 

It almost looked fake in some areas! 

You follow along the river, which you can also see from the top of Mount hood, on McNeil Point Hike. It’s awesome to hike from ground level on it, and from seeing it up above (you can also see Ramona falls from up above on that hike). 

Mt. Hood breaks through the trees in some areas, it’s such a beautiful site to see. 

As you get closer to the falls, you start to hear the rushing water. It’s super exciting (at least for a nature junkie like me)!

The falls are absolutely BREATHTAKING!!

Ramona Falls Oregon

There are signs that say not to go off the trail near it, you can damage the surrounding area. It’s covered in moss and other plants. 

Ramona Falls

It was bigger in person than I thought it would be! 

We started this hike late in the day so we decided to go back the way we came, rather than do the full look just to be safe! We got to catch an amazing sunset as well!

Make sure to always bring your bear spray when hiking in the mountains! You never know what’s going to happen. Bear spray can be used on various animals and humans for self-defense! I usually hike alone, I just happened to have a friend this go around! 

Bear Spray on Amazon

Stay safe and stay groovy!

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Hiking Mt Hood, Oregon: MnNeil Point Summit

hiking
McNeil Point, Mt Hood

This was hands-down one of the most breathtaking hikes I have ever done in my life! And I have done a lot of hiking in my days. My friend has hiked around America, Europe and South America and he said the same!

Mount Hood is Located just outside of Portland Oregon. You can see it’s peak while you sip on a patio beer down town. 

Every turn on this was a new and stunning view!

I’ll be going over the trailhead, parking, the hike, safety, and nearby accommodations (aka the most cozy Air BnB ever).

Getting to the Trail Head

You spend a good while driving up the side of Mount Hood up a windy, gravel road. There are no guardrails, some of the sides are a long drop! Be careful. There’s no phone service so make sure to start your GPS before you start heading up the hill.

Mt Hood, Oregon

Apple Maps and Google both work without service if you start them while you have service! You can get the exact directions to the trailhead on the AllTrails app, by Typing in McNeil Point, Mt Hood. 

I always screen shot the details before too, just incase. And bring an extra portable battery pack to charge my phone. I also bought a solar charger that folds up and fits in your backpack, it works amazingly! I was personally recommended this brand by a fellow outdoorsy friend, click here. It can directly charge your phone, or you can charge power banks. It can also hook to the outside of your backpack so that you can charge it while you hike!

There is no parking lot, you park along the side of the gravel road. It did appear that you needed a parking pass. Mt. Hood is part of a National Forrest, so my National Park Service pass worked! (the fine print on the back says it works for any federal land parking). 

The Adventure Up!

Even within the first short bit of the hike the views are stunning! You could see multiple waterfalls, a river and the peak of Mt Hood at the first tree break. 

Almost the entire hike is lined with wildflowers. I was in heaven! I took so many photos on it because every turn was something new and amazing. 

Even in the tree covering areas you can see so much beauty! Oregon is extremely lush and has areas of rainforest. You can find mossy waterfalls all over. We had to cross them many times, and each time we were taken aback by their beauty.

Eventually you reach an open part of the trail again where you’re looking out to the other side of the mountain. From this side, you can see Mount Rainier, which is insane! We hiked until we found a spot we could put the hammock. One side we had a view of Mount Rainier, the other was Mt. Hood. It was heavenly! I drew, while my friend Reese read! We chilled for over an hour before starting the rest of the trek to the top.

This hike gets you so high up on Mount Hood, without needing any crazy mountaineering gear, that you think you’re at the end like 20 times (that’s not an exaggeration) before you actually get to the end. It just keeps going and keeps getting more amazing. 

It’s a super hard hike. My legs felt like complete jello. There were so many times where I wanted to turn around, but them I would see the view and keep pushing. 

When we got really close to the top, there were a bunch of people camping. It was beautiful to see all of the tents right by the peak of Mt. Hood! We snapped a pic there.

We continued again and found more amazing viewpoints. It gets kind of chilly at the top, make sure to pack some warm clothes, even on a hot day!

We found a “climbers trail” to go back down on. This is not for the faint of heart. It was very sketchy and dangerous. We are both experienced hikers and athletes so we felt comfortable. I would go the long way down if you aren’t. We only went this way because we didn’t think we had time to go the long way before it got dark.

Make sure to leave super early for this hike!

Tips and Safety

Bring A LOT of water. We were idiots… we thought the hike was half as long as it actually was so we did not bring enough water, don’t make this mistake. The hike is long and hard! 

Ever since this experience, I always bring my 40 oz Hydroflask and my 70oz Camel Back so that I have plenty, and make sure that my friends bring a lot too if they join. You can always put the bladder in your regular backpack and pull the hose through the zipper too!

Bring food. This hike is long and strenuous. I would recommend bringing a full on backpacking meal (which are actually quite good!) and making it with a Jetboil. Both are extremely lightweight and easy to bring on your hike!

Mossy Waterfall on Mt Hood

If you don’t have those, bring some high calorie bars and some fruit to have some extra sugar! I like to bring Cliff Bars, apples and bananas. They all provide a lot of energy. 

This hike is hard and long! Give yourself plenty of time. I would leave at first light.

Bring bear spray! I always have mine with me as back up. You never know in the mountains. Black bears are pretty harmless for the most part unless you startle them or get in the way of them and their babies.  There have been more and more grizzly bear siting’s in the Pacific North West, so just be cautious! 

Bear Spray on Amazon

Accommodations Close By

My friend and I rented a quite and quaint tent Air BnB right on a riverbed. It was about 30 minutes from the trailhead.

The tent was propped up on a platform. It had lighting, seating area and a hammock right on the water! It was so peaceful.

We woke up to nothing but the sound of the river!

Stay safe and Stay groovy!! Email me if you want the link to this Air Bnb (No Spam).