12 Easy and Scenic Hikes in Oregon (Short Trails With Big Views)

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Oregon has no shortage of beautiful hikes, but not everyone wants a long or difficult trail. This guide focuses on easy and scenic hikes in Oregon that are short, well-maintained, and offer big views without a lot of effort. These hikes are good for beginners, families, or anyone who wants to enjoy Oregon’s scenery without planning a full-day trek.

For each hike, you’ll find clear details on distance, what makes it worth doing, and useful tips so you know exactly what to expect before you go.

Location: Cannon Beach, Oregon Coast

This mostly flat beach walk is easy to customize and passes some of the most iconic scenery on the Oregon Coast, including Haystack Rock, tide pools, sea stacks, and headlands.

Low tide is the best time to hike, especially if you plan to go beyond Silver Point.

Distance options (from Cannon Beach main parking):

• Out and back to Haystack Rock: 2.2 miles
• Out and back to Silver Point: 6.4 miles
• Out and back to Humbug Point: 7.8 miles

To start the hike, head from the main Cannon Beach parking area west to Hemlock Street. Turn right for half a block, then left on 2nd Street to reach the beach. At the shoreline, Ecola Creek meets the ocean at Kramer Point, with Chapman Beach and Tillamook Head visible to the north.

Heading south, you’ll reach Haystack Rock, a 235-foot sea stack known for seabirds and tide pools at low tide.

Cannon Beach / Easy and Scenic Hikes in Oregon 

Continue past The Needles sea stacks, Tolovana Beach, and Silver Point.

Beyond Silver Point, the hike becomes more tide-dependent. Humbug Point can only be crossed safely at low tide. Farther south, Hug Point can be walked around at low tide using an old road carved into the headland.

Parking is available at Cannon Beach and Arcadia Beach. Both can fill up on weekends and in summer.

Location: Rowena Crest, near Mosier, along the Historic Columbia River Highway

The Rowena Plateau Trail is a short, easy loop of about 2.6 miles, with minimal elevation gain. It’s ideal for anyone looking for a scenic hike with panoramic views of the Columbia River Gorge and seasonal wildflowers.

The trail begins at the Rowena Crest parking area, which also serves as a viewpoint of the famous Rowena Loops on the highway.

Rowena Loops / Easy and Scenic Hikes in Oregon 

In spring, the plateau bursts with wildflowers, including lupine, balsamroot, wild onion, bachelor’s button, buckwheat, and popcorn flower.

Along the loop, you will pass by several short spurs that lead to Rowena Pond and several other smaller pools.

Parking is at the Rowena Crest Trailhead and does not require a reservation.

Rowena Crest / Easy and Scenic Hikes in Oregon 

Location: Mount Hood National Forest, near Government Camp

The Trillium Lake Loop is an easy 1.5–2-mile loop around the lake, mostly flat, on a mix of paved paths and boardwalks with iconic views of Mount Hood.

The trail begins at the day-use parking area near the picnic shelter at Trillium Lake. From there, the path follows the lake’s shoreline, passing through the forest and open meadows.

Trillium Lake / Easy and Scenic Hikes in Oregon 

On the west side of the lake, boardwalks lead into wetland areas, a quieter section where you can often see mallards, newts, and other small wildlife.

In summer, the lake and its shores are lined with wildflowers, making this a colorful, scenic walk.

Trillium Lake is popular for a variety of summer activities, including paddleboarding, canoeing, and kayaking. The loop provides great photo opportunities of Mount Hood reflected in the lake, especially from the floating dock and along open meadows.

Location: Silver Falls State Park, near Silverton

The Trail of Ten Falls is one of Oregon’s most iconic waterfall hikes, winding through old-growth forest and passing ten breathtaking waterfalls.

The full loop is 7.8 miles, making it moderate in difficulty—but you don’t have to commit to the entire loop to enjoy the beauty. If you want a shorter, easier hike, several out-and-back sections from the South Falls parking area allow you to visit multiple falls without committing to the full distance.

Most visitors start at the South Falls parking area, where there’s a lodge, restrooms, and a small cafeteria. From here, you can hike out to South Falls, which is the park’s most famous waterfall at 177 feet. The trail passes behind the waterfall through a grotto.

South Falls / Easy and Scenic Hikes in Oregon 

If you’re up for a bit more, heading north along the canyon allows you to reach Twin Falls, a smaller double-drop waterfall just a short walk from the main trail, and then North Falls, which is 136 feet high and also has a trail that passes behind the water.

If you want a longer hike but not the full loop, you can combine a few of these sections as out-and-back trips. South Falls alone is about a mile round-trip from the parking area. Adding Twin Falls adds roughly another half mile, and reaching North Falls makes for a 2.5- to 3-mile hike total.

Location: Columbia River Gorge, near Corbett

Latourell Falls is the closest major Columbia River Gorge waterfall to Portland and one of the easiest to visit. The lower falls can be reached on a very short walk from the parking area, making this an ideal stop if you want a dramatic waterfall without committing to a long hike.

The main waterfall is a single 224-foot plunge that spills over an amphitheater of columnar basalt. Bright yellow-green lichen clings to the dark rock walls, giving Latourell Falls a look that’s different from most other Gorge waterfalls.

You can see the falls almost immediately from the viewpoint just above the parking lot, then walk down to the base for a closer look.

Latourell Falls / Easy and Scenic Hikes in Oregon 

For those who want more than a quick stop, there is a loop trail of about 2.4 miles that follows Latourell Creek to Upper Latourell Falls, a quieter two-tiered waterfall tucked into the forest. The loop eventually circles back through Guy W. Talbot State Park and passes under the Historic Columbia River Highway bridge before returning to the trailhead.

Parking is at the Latourell Falls Trailhead along the Historic Columbia River Highway.

Location: Near Bend, Oregon

Benham Falls is a short, easy hike along the Deschutes River that brings you close to a beautiful waterfall experience with minimal effort. The trail begins at the Benham Falls East Day Use Area, where you’ll find picnic tables, restrooms, and parking (a small recreation pass is required).

From the trailhead, the path winds through a shady ponderosa pine forest, following the river’s edge. After about 0.7 miles, a spur leads to the falls overlook, where water tumbles over basalt rocks, forming a series of rapids and a small 25-foot cascade.

Benham Falls / Easy and Scenic Hikes in Oregon 

The trail is mostly flat, well-maintained, and ideal for anyone looking for a short nature escape.

If you want a longer hike, the trail continues south to Dillon Falls or north back toward Bend.

Location: Near Bend, Oregon

This easy, family-friendly trail leads to two stunning waterfalls along the Crooked River: Tumalo Falls and Double Falls. The hike is mostly flat and well-maintained, making it ideal for a short nature escape. The full out-and-back distance is 4.3 miles.

Starting at the Tumalo Falls trailhead, you’ll get an immediate view of Tumalo Falls, a 97-foot cascade that drops gracefully over basalt cliffs.

Tumalo Falls / Easy and Scenic Hikes in Oregon 

From there, the trail follows the river upstream through a forest of pines, firs, and cedars. A short spur takes you to Double Falls, tucked among mossy rocks and ferns.

Location: Hoyt Arboretum, Portland

The Wildwood and Redwood Trail Loop is an easy, family-friendly hike that lets you explore the beauty of Hoyt Arboretum without leaving the city. The trail weaves through towering Douglas-firs, western red cedars, and moss-draped maples, with plenty of shade to keep you cool on a sunny day.

Wildwood and Redwood Trail Loop / Easy and Scenic Hikes in Oregon 

This 2.6-mile loop has a gentle 354 feet of elevation gain and typically takes 1–1.5 hours to complete. The path is well-maintained, mostly hard-packed dirt, and easy to navigate. Along the way, interpretive signs highlight the park’s wide variety of plants and trees, while lookouts offer panoramic views of Portland and the surrounding area.

Start at the visitor center, where there’s ample parking, and enjoy a peaceful stroll through the forest.

Wildwood and Redwood Trail Loop / Easy and Scenic Hikes in Oregon 

Location: Willamette National Forest, near McKenzie River, Oregon

The Sahalie Falls and Koosah Falls Trail is an easy, scenic hike that rewards you with two stunning waterfalls along a single loop. The trail follows the McKenzie River, winding through forests of firs, maples, and moss-covered trees.

Along the trail, you’ll first come across Sahalie Falls, a 100-foot cascade. Continuing along the river, the trail leads to Koosah Falls, a wider waterfall that plunges into a deep pool framed by basalt cliffs.

Sahalie Falls / Easy and Scenic Falls in Oregon

The full loop is about 4.5 miles with 350 feet of elevation gain, taking roughly 2–2.5 hours to complete. The path is well-maintained, mostly dirt with some rocky sections.

Location: Columbia River Gorge, near Portland

Multnomah Falls is Oregon’s most iconic waterfall and the state’s tallest, plunging a total of 635 feet in three distinct tiers.

The hike begins at Multnomah Falls Lodge, a historic 1925 building, and immediately rewards with a head-on view of the lower and main falls alongside the picturesque Benson Bridge.

From there, a paved 0.2-mile trail leads across the bridge and gently slopes upward. Beyond the bridge, the trail begins a series of 11 switchbacks over roughly a mile, climbing to the Upper Viewpoint, a balcony overlooking the falls’ final tier and the lush gorge below.

Multnomah Falls Hike / Easy and Scenic Hikes in Oregon 

The trail is mostly paved and well-maintained, though the switchbacks make it moderately strenuous if you go all the way to the top.

For more adventurous hikers, the trail connects to the Larch Mountain Trail, which continues to Wiesendanger Falls and Ecola Falls, offering a longer exploration of the gorge.

Location: Oregon Coast, near Otter Rock

The Devils Punchbowl Hike is more of a scenic seaside stroll with dramatic coastal views.

From the trailhead, a steep paved path leads down about 0.1 miles to the beach. Once on the sand, head left along the shore to explore the jagged rock formations, small sea caves, and the main attraction: the Devils Punchbowl.

At low tide, you can safely enter the bowl and pass under the massive rock arch, while at high tide, the waves crash dangerously inside, so timing matters.

Devils Punchbowl / Easy and Scenic Hikes in Oregon

Along the beach, you’ll find three small waterfalls cascading down onto sandy and gravel beaches.

Heading back, the trail climbs toward the viewpoint and picnic area. Here, you can enjoy sweeping views south toward Beverly and Moolack Beaches.

Location: McKenzie River Trail, near Eugene

Tamolitch Blue Pool is a hidden gem along the McKenzie River, a crystal-clear pool fed by underground channels flowing through ancient lava from Belknap Crater. In the drier months, the falls above the pool are mostly dry, but after rain or snowmelt, Tamolitch Falls returns in all its glory, plunging into the icy water below.

Tamolitch Blue Pool / Easy and Scenic Hikes in Oregon 

The hike is about 3 miles round-trip with around 250 feet of elevation gain, making it an easy to moderate outing that takes roughly 1.5–2 hours. You’ll follow the McKenzie River National Recreation Trail through old-growth forest filled with towering Douglas-fir, western hemlock, and red cedar. Moss-covered rocks and lava outcroppings give the trail a rugged feel. There are a few footbridges and viewpoints along the way to enjoy the river, forest, and cliffs above the pool.

When you reach the Blue Pool, the water is deceptively shallow-looking but can reach 30 feet deep in the center. A short scramble takes you to the lip of the falls, and a small path leads down to the pool’s edge for a closer look. The water is icy cold — around 37–42 degrees, perfect for dipping your toes but definitely not for a long swim.