Oregon · Hiking · Near Mount Hood Villages

Gorge

GorgePhoto: John Murphy, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
22.0 mi
round trip
6,881 ft
climb
1,853 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Gorge open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists an alert for Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.

As of · Source: USFS · Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Gorge is a hard hike in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area in Oregon, managed by the Forest Service. The route is an out-and-back of about 22 miles, with a total climb of roughly 6,881 feet. The trail starts at about 200 feet and reaches a high point of 1,853 feet, and the steepest stretch comes at about 4.8 miles in, where the grade reaches nearly 60 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July and August highs around 79 to 80°F with only five or six wet days a month, while winter brings highs in the mid-40s and rain on most days. Angels Rest sits just 0.1 mile away, and the Angel's Rest Trail and Red Shorts Cut Route are both about a mile off. Climbers can find the (9) East End Formation across the river in Washington, about 1.7 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Camp Melacoma

    Campground

    Campground · 4.6 mi from the trail
  • If it rainsIan Poellet, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Harlow House Museum

    Museum

    Museum · 10 mi from Mount Hood Villages

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Ian Poellet, CC BY-SA 4.0 (commons)

More in Mount Hood Villages

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Gorge

    Best months: June–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      44° / 33°

      20 wet · 1 snow

    2. Feb

      48° / 33°

      17 wet · 1 snow

    3. Mar

      54° / 35°

      20 wet · 1 snow

    4. Apr

      59° / 38°

      19 wet

    5. May

      67° / 43°

      15 wet

    6. Jun

      71° / 47°

      11 wet

    7. Jul

      79° / 50°

      6 wet

    8. Aug

      80° / 50°

      5 wet

    9. Sep

      74° / 46°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      62° / 41°

      15 wet

    11. Nov

      51° / 37°

      19 wet

    12. Dec

      44° / 33°

      21 wet · 1 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Skamania Fish Hatchery, WA, 4.8 mi away at 435 ft. The station sits about 1,400 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Angel's Rest TrailPhoto: Jason McHuff — CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Angel's Rest Trail

~2 min drive

4.61-mile point-to-point trail in Oregon with 1,288 ft gain

Loop TrailPhoto: brx0 from Portland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Loop Trail

~2 min drive

4.04-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,455 ft elevation gain/loss

Larch Mountain TrailPhoto: loggedout, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Larch Mountain Trail

~5 min drive

6.55-mile point-to-point trail in Oregon with 4,187 ft elevation gain

Red Shorts Cut RoutePhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Red Shorts Cut Route

~2 min drive

1.55-mile point-to-point trail in Oregon with 790 ft gain

Return Trail #442Photo: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Return Trail #442

~4 min drive

0.88-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon with 1,176 ft gain/loss.

Oneonta TrailPhoto: Šarūnas Burdulis from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Oneonta Trail

~8 min drive

Scenic point-to-point gorge trail through forest and creek terrain.

Donahue Creek TrailPhoto: LukeDetwiler, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Donahue Creek Trail

~3 min drive

1.66-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon with 299 ft elevation gain and loss.

WahkeenaPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Wahkeena

~4 min drive

3.00-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,075 ft gain.

HIKE

Cape Horn

~4 min drive

A moderate 8-mile out-and-back hike in Washington featuring rocky terrain and a satisfying day-trip experience.

Devil's ForkPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Devil's Fork

~3 min drive

0.59-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 391 ft elevation gain.