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Hike Yourself Into Shape: 10 Conditioning Hikes Near Portland

Paul Gerald makes a great list of hikes designed to get you back in shape. I agree with this list whole-heartedly, but they do ramp up in difficulty very quickly. You might want to do some of these hikes (or find one of similar distance/elevation gain) more than once before moving up to the next level of difficulty. Also, hikes like the Elk-King traverse and Table mountain can be technically difficult and have exposure/very real falling dangers. So, definitely do your homework before going.

Here’s the abbreviated list:

1. Angel’s Rest – Distance: 4.6 miles. Elevation Gain: 1,600’
2. Hamilton Mountain – Distance: 7.6 miles. Elevation Gain: 2,100’
3. Devil’s Rest via Wahkeena – Distance: 7.4 miles. Elevation Gain: 2,400’
4. Nick Eaton Way – Distance: 8 miles Elevation Gain: 2,600’
5. Dog Mountain – Distance: 7.2 miles. Elevation Gain: 2,900’
6. Trapper Creek Loop – Distance: 13.3 miles. Elevation Gain: 3,200’
7. Table Mountain – Distance: 10 miles. Elevation Gain: 3,650’
8. Elk-King Traverse – Distance: 11 miles. Elevation Gain: 4,600’
9. Tanner Butte – Distance: 18 miles. Elevation Gain: 4,450’
10. Mount Defiance – Distance: 11.9 miles. Elevation Gain: 4,800’

Outdoor Project’s list of Oregon’s 75 Best Day Hikes.

This is a good list of the hikes in Oregon. Having done a number of these, I agree with many of these. While the Columbia Gorge list does not include the Washington side hikes like Dog Mountain, Hamilton Mountain, or Table Mountain, Coyote Wall, etc, at very least it makes a great starting point for Oregon-side trails.

Note that a number of these hikes are not for beginners or novices. Be sure to google the details before you go.

Oregon Coast + Coast Range

1. Cape Lookout Hike
2. Cape Falcon Hike
3. Tillamook Head Hike
4. Drift Creek Falls Hike
5. Neahkahnie Mountain
6. Cascade Head
7. Saddle Mountain
8. Kentucky Falls Hike
9. Port Orford Heads Trails
10. Golden + Silver Falls

Columbia River Gorge

1. Multnomah Falls/Wahkeena Falls Loop
2. Oneonta Gorge
3. Horsetail + Ponytail Falls Hike
4. Eagle Creek Hike
5. Munra Point
6. Tom McCall Point
7. Indian Point Hike
8. Deschutes River, Ferry Springs Hike
9. Chinidere Mountain + Wahtum Lake Hike
10. Elowah Falls Hike

Mount Hood/Clackamas River Area

1. McNeil Point Hike
2. Paradise Park, Mount Hood
3. Clackamas + Memaloose Falls Hike
4. Tamanawas Falls
5. Salmon River, Old Trail
6. Bald Butte
7. Ramona Falls Hike
8. Clackamas River Trail
9. Gnarl Ridge Hike
10. Cooper Spur + Cloud Cap Hike

Mount Jefferson + Metolius River Area

1. Jefferson Park
2. Canyon Creek Meadows
3. Pamelia Lake + Grizzly Peak
4. Metolius River Trail
5. Black Butte Trail

Willamette Valley + Foothills

1. Opal Creek Hike
2. Abiqua Falls Hike
3. Silver Falls, Trail of 10 Falls
4. Butte Creek Falls Hike
5. Spencer Butte Hike
6. Proxy Falls Hike
7. Diamond Creek Falls
8. Triangulation Peak + Boca Cave
9. McKenzie River Trail
10. Brice Creek Trail

Central Oregon

1. Green Lakes Hike
2. Tumalo Falls + Creek Hike
3. Arnold Ice Cave
4. Broken Top Crater
5. Lava River Cave
6. Paulina Lake Loop Trail + Hot Springs
7. Deschutes River Trail, Upper Reach
8. Tam McArthur Rim
9. Steelhead Falls
10. Waldo Lake + Rigdon Lakes Hike
11. Paulina Peak
12. Smith Rock Misery Ridge
13. Sparks Lake, Ray Adkeson Memorial Trail

Southern Oregon

1. Diamond Peak, Marie + Rockpile Lakes
2. Rogue River Trail
3. Moon Falls
4. Crater Lake, Mount Scott
5. Crater Lake, Garfield Peak
6. Crater Lake Plaikni Falls Trail
7. Indigo Lake Trail
8. Grizzly Peak
9. Mount McLoughlin
10. Lower Table Rock

Eastern Oregon

1. Lookout Mountain + Mother Lode Mine
2. Strawberry Mountain via Strawberry Lake
3. Slide Lake via High Lake
4. Little Strawberry Hike
5. Pike Creek Mine Hike
6. Borax Lake + Borax Lake Hot Springs
7. Aneroid Lake