17 Best Day Hikes in Oregon You Don’t Want to Miss (Dog & Family-Friendly)

This past summer we took a dream road trip to Oregon and it was absolutely jaw-dropping. Since we wanted to see it all and we were limited on time, we filled our days with shorter hikes. Our list of best day hikes in Oregon covers all kinds of terrain from beautiful waterfalls, panoramic views of the Oregon Coast, dense forests, stunning mountain views & the high desert of Oregon. There’s bound to be a hiking trail for everyone on this list, your pup included. Yep, that’s right, all of the trails on this list are dog-friendly. Just be sure to keep them on a leash.

Map of Best Day Hikes in Oregon

Tamolitch Blue Pool (via McKenzie River Trail)

Address- NF-730, Foster, OR 97345

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Length: 3.6 miles
• Trail Type: Out and Back
• Elevation Gain: 285 ft.
• Best Time of Year to Visit: Spring to see the waterfall, fall for fall foilage & less crowds, and summer if you want to swim. Summer is the most crowded time to visit.
• Cost: FREE
• Dog Friendly: Yes, on a leash.

Located in Willamette National Forest this hike is not to be missed. This natural beauty is one of our favorite places in Oregon. Tamolitch Blue Pool hike is great for all skill levels. Just be careful as you’ll need to watch where you walk. There are a lot of tripping hazards such as rocks, stumps, and at one point you’ll walk up and down old lava rocks.

This is one of the most popular hikes in the summer months. We arrived on a summer evening and we could tell that a ton of people had been there prior to us. While there was plenty of close parking when we arrived, we saw a lot of cars parked a ways away.

Secret Beach

Address- 21729 Oregon Coast Highway, Brookings, Oregon 97415
There is a very small unmarked parking lot on the west side of the road. It is about .7 miles south of Arch Rock.

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Length: 1.6 miles
• Trail Type: Out and Back
• Elevation Gain: 374 ft.
• Best Time of Year to Visit: Summer, you’ll want to swim.
• Cost: FREE
• Dog Friendly: Yes, on a leash.

Secret Beach is located in the Samuel H. Boardman area. It is everything you’d expect a secret beach would be. Magical & secluded. It also has a waterfall and multiple sandy beaches. Every time we went around a large rock formation, there was another beach area. It was really neat and allowed people to spread out. Sadly, my pictures don’t do it justice, but I promise Secret Beach won’t disappoint it’s such a beautiful place.

We weren’t sure we’d get parking because we had to visit on a summer weekend in the afternoon. To our surprise it wasn’t busy and half the parking lot was available. Granted, it is a small parking lot so when I say half, I mean there were like 3 spots available.

While we didn’t see tide pools, we did see living creatures stuck to the sides of some of the rocks.

The Oregon Coast is one of the 7 Wonders of Oregon!

Smith Rock State Park (Misery Ridge & River Trail)

Address- Terrebonne, OR 97760

• Difficulty: Hard
• Length: 3.5 miles (about 2 hours)
• Trail Type: Loop
• Elevation Gain: 948 ft.
• Best Time of Year to Visit: Spring & Fall. The hike is intense and parts of the trail are slick. Hiking in the rain or in extreme heat would be challenging.
• Cost: $5 parking fee
• Dog Friendly: Yes, on a leash.

Smith Rock State Park has my heart in a totally different way. The Misery Ridge & River Trail had me thinking I was at Zion National Park all over again and I loved every second of it. More specifically it reminded me of Scout Lookout Trail (up to Angels Landing). From the switchbacks to the river, the colors of the scenery, and rock formations – are just beautiful! This day hike is truly a stunner with some of the best views. Don’t be fooled though, the switchbacks aren’t for the faint of the heart making this a pretty strenuous hike. Feel free to take your time and take it all in. Smith Rock offers a variety of activities including mountain biking and rock climbing. It’s so much fun to watch the rock climbers, especially on Monkey Face Rock (a tall pillar rock with what resembles a monkey head on top). This is truly one of the best day hikes in Oregon.

Bring plenty of water, good traction shoes and anything else you may need. Our son who is prone to bloody noses, got a bloody nose halfway through the hike and guess what we didn’t bring? Kleenex! Thankfully we had all dressed in layers that day so he was able to use an extra shirt. It wasn’t fun and there wasn’t anything we could do.

Smith Rock is one of the 7 Wonders of Oregon!

Blue Basin Overlook Trail (John Day Fossil Beds – Sheep Rock Unit)

Address- Dayville, OR 97825

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Length: 4 miles (about 2.5 hours)
• Trail Type: Loop
• Elevation Gain: 898 ft.
• Best Time of Year to Visit: Spring & Fall. There is not a lot of shade. Hiking this trail in cooler temps would be more comfortable.
• Cost: FREE
• Dog Friendly: Yes, on a leash.

The Blue Basin Overlook Trail is a moderate hike with the best panoramic views of the Blue Basin. Our dogs really enjoyed this hike. The trail was clear of obstacles making it easy for them to navigate. I wasn’t excited to do this trail because it was already really hot out and the thought of climbing the switchbacks in the hot sun didn’t thrill me. However, I really enjoyed this hike. It was nice to not have to watch every step I took and the view was beautiful and unique. The blue-green color of the stone is one of a kind.

Island in Time (John Day Fossil Beds – Sheep Rock Unit)

Address- Dayville, OR 97825

• Difficulty: Easy
• Length: 1.2 miles (about 40 minutes)
• Trail Type: Out and Back
• Elevation Gain: 252 ft.
• Best Time of Year to Visit: Spring & Fall. There is not a ton of shade so more comfortable, cooler temps would be best.
• Cost: FREE
• Dog Friendly: Yes, on a leash.

This easy hike located in Central Oregon is truly one of a kind. You’ll cross over multiple bridges before ending in a land like no other. This trail is also a great place to see some fossils that were found here.

The bridges here can be hard on dogs feet. Our dogs didn’t wear boots for this hike and we ended up carrying them over the bridges because it hurt their feet.

Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area

Address- Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area, Pacific City, OR 97135

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Length: 1.0 miles (about 30 minutes)
• Trail Type: Loop
• Elevation Gain: 187 ft.
• Best Time of Year to Visit: Summer (also the busiest), but the water temp is best for swimming.
• Cost: $10 parking fee
• Dog Friendly: Yes, on a leash.

Cape Kiwanda trail starts at the base of a sand dune. Once you’re on top you’ll make your way to the rugged coastline. Here you will have some of the best views of the Pacific Ocean. If you are there during high tide like we were, you will hear and see the thundering water smack against the rocks. It’s a magnificent sight to see. The Ocean can be a beast. Be careful.

We explored Cape Kiwanda on a weekend and the entire small town was really busy. The parking lot was pretty big so getting a parking spot wasn’t a problem. However, I’m sure that if we had been there around noon, we’d have a different story to share.

The Oregon Coast is one of the 7 Wonders of Oregon!

Crater Lake National Park (Godfrey Glen Trail)

Address- Oregon (No physical address)

• Difficulty: Easy
• Length: 1.1miles (about 30 minutes)
• Trail Type: Loop
• Elevation Gain: 65 ft.
• Best Time of Year to Visit: June to November. Park closes for winter.
• Cost: Fees vary, see Crater Lake National Park Fees
• Dog Friendly: Yes, on a leash and only in select areas.

Did you know that Crater Lake National Park is the only National Park in the entire state of Oregon? Did you also know that Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States? It’s all true! To be honest, we didn’t actually do this hike. We planned on it (it’s one of the few hikes that you can take dogs on in Crater Lake), but due to a series of unfortunate events, we had to change our plans. But hey, our unfortunate events led us to Crater Lake way earlier than we anticipated and we got to enjoy the most beautiful sky full of shooting stars and a magnificent sunrise. Then we were hit with the biggest swarm of mosquitos. The mosquitos were so thick, that they coated us and our car, we couldn’t handle it and decided to drive to the park instead of hiking it. So bring A LOT of mosquito repellant. And the good stuff. I don’t think the unscented stuff will cut it.

Even though we didn’t end up doing this trail. We had planned on it and heard great things about it. I’m sure its far from the best hike in Crater Lake, but if you have dogs with you and want to hike, this is one of the only trails you can do with dogs in Crater Lake. Crater Lake is stunning and should not be missed.

Crater Lake is one of the 7 Wonders of Oregon!

Toketee Falls

Address- Idleyld Park, OR 97447

• Difficulty: Easy
• Length: 0.9 miles (about 30 minutes)
• Trail Type: Out and Back
• Elevation Gain: 167 ft.
• Best Time of Year to Visit: Spring & Fall but it’s open year-round
• Cost: FREE
• Dog Friendly: Yes, on a leash.

Toketee Falls in Umpqua National Forest is a very short hike. Don’t let the length fool you, this hike is beautiful and ends with a stunning waterfall. We went in late spring/early summer and the waterfall was rapidly flowing.

Tamanawas Falls Trail

Address- Mt. Hood National Forest

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Length: 5.5 miles (about 4 hours)
• Trail Type: Out and Back
• Elevation Gain: 580 ft.
• Best Time of Year to Visit: May-October
• Cost: FREE
• Dog Friendly: Yes, on a leash.

Tamanawas Falls Trail is the most popular trail in Mt. Hood National Forest. This hike was unfortunately another hiking trail that got cut out of our trip. Sadly, we overbooked ourselves and needed some downtime. This moderate trail sounds both challenging and fun. If you are like us and have a love for waterfalls that you can explore the base of, then I’m sure this hike won’t disappoint. Go prepared as you’ll have to rock scramble and pass by some very steep ledges. These ledges are pretty high up and sometimes have water at the base. Falling won’t be in your favor. So be careful and wear waterproof boots with good traction.

Trillium Lake Loop Trail

Address- 85200 US-26, Government Camp, OR 97028

• Difficulty: Easy
• Length: 1.9 miles (about 47 minutes)
• Trail Type: Loop
• Elevation Gain: 26 ft.
• Best Time of Year to Visit: May-October
• Cost: $5 parking fee
• Dog Friendly: Yes, on a leash.

On a clear day, this trail will give you some of the best views of Mt. Hood and on a perfect day, you’ll see a reflection of Mt. Hood in Trillium Lake. Mt. Hood is the highest peak in Oregon! It is a beauty, for sure. The Mount Hood National Forest area is so much fun. Give yourself time to enjoy the water. You can rent paddleboards, kayaks, and more.

Currently they are fixing a portion of the trail. At the time of writing this, the trail is out and back due to a portion of it being closed.

Mt. Hood is one of the 7 Wonders of Oregon!

Multnomah Falls Trail

Address- Oregon 97014

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Length: 2.4 miles (about 1.5 hours)
• Trail Type: Out and Back
• Elevation Gain: 810 ft.
• Best Time of Year to Visit: Spring should have the best water flow. Summer is peak season & crowded.
• Cost: FREE
• Dog Friendly: Yes, on a leash.

Multnomah Falls is located in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge. Multnomah Falls Trail is one of the best waterfall hikes in Oregon, falling just below the Trail of Ten Falls (no dogs allowed). This hike to see Oregon’s tallest waterfall is absolutely breathtaking. Did you know that it is the most visited natural recreation site in the Pacific Northwest bringing in over 2 million visitors every year? So plan wisely. We arrived right when they opened and were lucky enough to just beat the crowds from large buses. There isn’t much room on the bridges to view Multnomah Falls, so beating the crowds is a must if you want a good view from the bridge.

This hike is pretty cool as there are different options for all hiking levels.
No hike – You can see Multnomah Falls from the parking lot or ground level.
Half way – Hike up to the bridge and then turn back
All the way up – Hike the entire trail taking you to the very top of Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls is one of the 7 Wonders of Oregon!

Worth Noting – Awesome Short Hikes (0.5 miles or less), View Points & Drives

Painted Hills

The Painted Hills are located in John Day Fossil Bed National Monument. They literally look like painted hills. I highly recommend doing Painted Hills Overlook and the Painted Cove Trail. Both are very short hikes. They are also very different from each other.

Painted Hills are one of the 7 Wonders of Oregon!

Wallowa Lake State Park

Wallowa Lake State Park is stunning. There are hikes that you can do here but most of them are long multi-day hikes. We had so much fun walking around and exploring this picturesque State Park. It was too cold for us to enjoy the lake in mid-June. If you plan on swimming, I would recommend going late summer when temps are warmer.

The Wallowas are one of the 7 Wonders of Oregon!

Cannon Beach

Cannon Beach is known for its famous Haystack Rock. It’s a perfect place to catch a sunset or explore at low tide and get up close to Haystack Rock.

Devil’s Punch Bowl

Devil’s Punch Bowl fills with water during high tide, but during low tide, you can walk through it. Exploring Devil’s Punch Bowl at low tide was high on our bucket list but unfortunately, we were not able to. We just couldn’t get our road trip to align with low tide here.

The wind was brutal here. We watched people struggle to keep control of their car doors, the wind won every time. If you explore Devil’s Punch Bowl on a windy day, I recomend that you try to park away from other cars.

Thor’s Well

Thor’s Well is most impressive at high tide. The well fills with water and then shoots out. It is so much fun to watch, not to mention the whole area looks like another world. It’s jaw-dropping.

Hell’s Canyon

I have to admit I was not excited when my husband added this to our trip. I kept saying there has to be something else we can see. He was determined to see Hell’s Canyon. We drove the entire canyon and stopped at overlooks. We were all blown away. It was stunning and I am so happy that he got his way.

You can tour the Great Snake River in Hell’s Canyon via whitewater rafting or jet boats! We were limited on time so we didn’t do it but it looked like so much fun.

Keep your eyes peeled for cattle along the side of the road.

Oregon Day Hike Tips & Advice

• Cell service was spotty for us. Make sure that you know where you are going by downloading directions while you have a signal.
• Bring plenty of water (for your dog too). Don’t forget a portable dog bowl for your pup to drink out of. Here are some on Amazon or Chewy if you need one.
• Hike early or just before dark. Oregon can get hot!
• Be prepared for whatever type of landscape you are hiking. The Forest and Desert are very different and require different gear.
• Bring dog shoes! I mention it below as well, but the ground can get very hot. We also walked through various terrains (small sharp rocks, burrs…) that can be harmful to your dog.

Weather & Best Time to Hike Oregon

Temperatures in Oregon can range from 36 degrees to 96 degrees throughout the year. Late spring and early summer are the best times to hike in Oregon as the temps should be most bearable then. Also, winter should be over allowing the trails to be more accessible and less slippery. Summer can get hot! We went in June and got hit with an unexpected heatwave. The temperatures were well over 100 degrees. Being on a road trip and constantly driving from point to point made it difficult for us to do all our hikes before the sun came up. No matter how hard we tried, we always got stuck doing a mid-day hike. Surprisingly, there wasn’t always shade on the trails and it got hot.

Things to Pack for a Day Hike in Oregon

Helpful Resources We Can’t Live Without

Accommodations- We love and swear by HiltonHonors, but when we want to stay someplace different, we use Hotels.com. You can search for deals on hotels, cabins, houses & more.

Getting There- Roadtripping with our car is how we prefer to travel. That being said, Skyscanner has great deals on flights and RVShare has deals on RV rentals.

Other Favorites-
Save money on gas- Upside
Find pit stops on your route- RoadTrippers
Deals on local food & attractions- Living Social
Explore top city attractions at a fraction of the price- CityPASS

Looking for gear? See the best deals on clothing & gear here, & best travel essentials here.
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There you have it. Our list of best day hikes in Oregon with dogs. What hike are you most excited about?

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