| Governor Kulongoski's Recommended Hikes |
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| Mt. Hood Area |
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RamonaFalls
 Directions: Take Highway 26 from Portland until you reach Zigzag. Here take a left onto Hwy 18 (Lolo pass). Follow this 4.5 miles until you reach a turn for Muddy Fork road. There is a sign that indicates trailheads and campgrounds. Follow this road to its end at the Ramona Falls Trail Head.
Length: 4.4 mile loop
The Hike: The trail wanders along Ramona Creek before coming to the wall-like Ramona Falls. The hike is long, but quite easy, and is suitable for all ages and skill-levels.
Old Salmon River Trail
Directions: Take U.S. 26 to Welches. Take a right on Salmon River Road and follow for  approximately 3 miles, entering the Mt. Hood National Forest. The trailhead is on the right and is well marked.
Length: 2.6 miles
The Hike: This great hike allows you to enjoy the beauty of the Salmon River without much strain. Getting from the parking area to the trail is steep, but the trail is relatively flat the whole way, and there are plenty of places to rest, or even camp. You'll end at the bridge where the Upper Salmon trail picks up. You could park one vehicle up the trail if you wanted to do a point to point, but the trail is so mild that the walk back is no trouble at all.
CastleCanyon
Directions: Take U.S. 26 east. At Zig Zag, turn north onto Lolo Pass Road (Road 18) and drive about 0.4 miles. Turn right onto gravel East Mountain Road and continue to the trailhead (about 1.6 miles).
Length: 1.8 miles round trip
The Hike: This trail is more difficult and requires the hikers to be sure-footed. At the end of the trail, you reach a giant moss-covered rock and there is a gorgeous view of the valley below.
Little Zigzag Falls
Directions: Take Highway 26 six miles east of the Zigzag Ranger Station. Turn left onto Road 2639 (Kiwanis Camp Road) and continue to the end of the road and a large parking area.
Length: 1 mile
The Hike: A perfect hike for children of all ages. It is short, flat, and ends in a beautiful falls with a pool for wading at the base.
Mirror Lake
Directions: Take Highway 26 to just shy of Government Camp. Between mileposts 51 and 52, you'll see a turnout on the right.
Length: 3.2 mile loop
The Hike: Mirror Lake is a fairly easy hike ending with a very nice lake, and if you plan ahead kids can wade in the lake when you get there. When you get to a point just below the lake you can take the loop trail in either direction. Taking the trail to the right connects you to another trail up Tom, Dick and Harry Mountain, which would give you a view of Mt. Hood.
Umbrella Falls—Sahalie Falls Loop
Directions: Drive south from the Hood River Ranger Station on Highway 35 approximately 17 miles. Turn right at the Hood River Meadows nordic ski area sign (Road 3545) and drive to the trailhead parking lot on the right.
Length: 4.1 mile loop
The Hike: The trail, which is covered in huckleberries in late summer, starts at Sahalie Falls and runs along Hood River until it reaches beautiful Umbrella Falls. If you want to make this hike shorter, the lower Mt. Hood Meadows parking lot can be reached quite easily from an asphalt path above Umbrella Falls and, in the off-season, offers a place to leave the car or arrange a pick-up.
TamanawasFalls
Directions: From I-84, take the Highway 35/Hood River exit. Travel south on Hwy 35 for approx. 25 miles to the Tamanawas Falls trailhead parking area on the west side of the highway. The trailhead is 1/4 mile north of Sherwood Campground.
Length: 4.2 miles
The Hike: The hike runs alongside Cold Springs Creek for most of the way and contains several quaint footbridges along the way. The trail is very steep all and all, but the hike is made easy for everyone by a series of zig zags.
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