Oregon · Hiking · Near Mount Hood Villages

Salmon River

Salmon RiverPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
21.7 mi
round trip
4,063 ft
climb
2,943 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Salmon River open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Zigzag Ranger District.

As of · Source: USFS · Zigzag Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

The Salmon River hike is a hard out-and-back trail in the Zigzag Ranger District of Mt. Hood National Forest in Oregon, managed by the Forest Service. The route is about 21.7 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 4,063 feet, and it starts at roughly 1,731 feet, rising to a high point of about 2,943 feet. The trail is natural-surfaced, and the steepest stretch comes at about 2.9 miles in, where the grade reaches 25%. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Government Camp weather station show July and August highs around 69 to 70°F with only about four wet days a month, while winter months bring highs in the mid-30s and rain on most days. That station sits about 1,000 feet higher than the trail, so temperatures on the route run a little warmer. Green Canyon Campground is just 0.4 miles away, and the Old Salmon River and Salmon Butte hikes are both within a mile. Climbers can head to Salmon River Slab, about a mile off.

Around this trail

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

    Green Canyon Cg

    Campground

    Campground · 0.4 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Subway

    Fast food

    Open after 6
  • If it rainsIan Poellet, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Philip Foster Farm

    Museum

    Museum · 21 mi from Mount Hood Villages

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Ian Poellet, CC BY-SA 3.0 (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 Salmon River

    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

      37° / 26°

      20 wet

    2. Feb

      38° / 26°

      17 wet

    3. Mar

      41° / 28°

      20 wet

    4. Apr

      45° / 31°

      18 wet

    5. May

      54° / 36°

      15 wet

    6. Jun

      59° / 41°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      69° / 48°

      4 wet

    8. Aug

      70° / 48°

      4 wet

    9. Sep

      64° / 45°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      53° / 37°

      13 wet

    11. Nov

      42° / 30°

      18 wet

    12. Dec

      35° / 26°

      21 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Government Camp, OR, 9.7 mi away at 3,980 ft. The station sits about 1,000 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

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

Old Salmon River

~1 min drive

3.80-mile out-and-back trail on the Salmon River in Oregon.

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

Salmon Butte

~1 min drive

10.20-mile out-and-back trail to Salmon Butte in Oregon with 3,399 ft gain.

Bonanza Trail #786Photo: Sam Beebe/Ecotrust, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Bonanza Trail #786

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Wetlands TrailPhoto: Sheila Sund from Salem, United States, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Wetlands Trail

~10 min drive

Accessible out-and-back wetlands walk with excellent birdwatching and wildlife viewing.

Salmon MountainPhoto: OregonDOT, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Salmon Mountain

~5 min drive

3.20-mile out-and-back trail at Salmon Mountain, Oregon

Green Canyon Way #793APhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Green Canyon Way #793A

~3 min drive

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Hunchback Trail #793Photo: niiicedave, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Hunchback Trail #793

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Cascade Streamwatch TrailPhoto: niiicedave, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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~10 min drive

Out-and-back streamside hike through Oregon's Cascade forests.

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

Flag Mountain

~6 min drive

3.80-mile out-and-back trail to Flag Mountain summit in Oregon.

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

COOL CREEK

~5 min drive

6.16-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 4,082 ft elevation gain and loss.