Tuesday, August 11, 2026  |  Oregon's Outdoor Journal
Category

Backpacking

61 articles

Middle Santiam Wilderness: A Weekend Backpacking Loop Through Oregon's Ancient Lava Country

Middle Santiam Wilderness: A Weekend Backpacking Loop Through Oregon's Ancient Lava Country

The Middle Santiam Wilderness is one of Oregon's least-visited wilderness areas—old-growth Douglas fir, volcanic geology, and genuine solitude just 90 minutes from the Willamette Valley.

By HFR Staff  · July 3, 2026
Soda Mountain Wilderness: Backpacking Oregon's Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument

Soda Mountain Wilderness: Backpacking Oregon's Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument

The Soda Mountain Wilderness sits at the crossroads of the Cascades, Siskiyous, and Great Basin — 24,100 acres of roadless Oregon backcountry with no permit required, extraordinary biodiversity, and almost nobody else on the trail.

By HFR Staff  · July 1, 2026
Siskiyou Crest Trail: Backpacking Southern Oregon's Sky Island Wilderness from Pilot Rock to Grizzly Peak

Siskiyou Crest Trail: Backpacking Southern Oregon's Sky Island Wilderness from Pilot Rock to Grizzly Peak

Southern Oregon's Siskiyou Mountains offer one of the state's most botanically diverse and geologically wild backpacking routes—and almost nobody is out there.

By HFR Staff  · June 30, 2026
Broken Top and Green Lakes Loop: A 3-Day Backpacking Adventure Through Oregon's Central Cascades

Broken Top and Green Lakes Loop: A 3-Day Backpacking Adventure Through Oregon's Central Cascades

One of Oregon's most spectacular and accessible alpine loops combines the volcanic drama of Broken Top with the mirror-still waters of the Green Lakes basin. Here's how to do it right.

By HFR Staff  · June 29, 2026
Mount Thielsen Wilderness: Backpacking Oregon's Lightning Rod on the Pacific Crest Trail

Mount Thielsen Wilderness: Backpacking Oregon's Lightning Rod on the Pacific Crest Trail

Mount Thielsen's volcanic summit pinnacle is the most dramatic peak in southern Oregon — and the PCT corridor running below it is one of the finest multi-day backpacking routes in the state. Here's a complete 3-day itinerary for July and August.

By HFR Staff  · June 28, 2026
Columbia River Gorge Trail: A Multi-Day Backpacking Guide to Oregon's Most Iconic Canyon

Columbia River Gorge Trail: A Multi-Day Backpacking Guide to Oregon's Most Iconic Canyon

The Columbia River Gorge offers some of the most dramatic backpacking in the Pacific Northwest — waterfalls, basalt cliffs, wildflower meadows, and sweeping river views. Here's how to plan a 2–3 day traverse.

By HFR Staff  · June 26, 2026
Olallie Lake Scenic Area: A Weekend Backpacking Loop on the Pacific Crest Trail

Olallie Lake Scenic Area: A Weekend Backpacking Loop on the Pacific Crest Trail

The Olallie Lake Scenic Area north of Mount Jefferson packs over 50 alpine lakes into a compact high-country plateau crossed by the Pacific Crest Trail. Here's how to plan a two-day loop through one of Oregon's most accessible and rewarding wilderness destinations.

By HFR Staff  · June 24, 2026
Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness: Backpacking Portland’s Most Accessible Old-Growth Escape

Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness: Backpacking Portland’s Most Accessible Old-Growth Escape

Just an hour from Portland, the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness offers old-growth Douglas fir, rewarding ridge hikes, and genuine solitude — if you know where to look. Here’s how to plan a weekend trip.

By HFR Staff  · June 22, 2026
Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness: Backpacking Northeast Oregon's Most Remote High Country

Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness: Backpacking Northeast Oregon's Most Remote High Country

The Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness straddles the Oregon-Washington border in the Blue Mountains and sees a fraction of the foot traffic of the Eagle Cap or Wallowas. If you want solitude, elk country, and high meadows that feel genuinely remote, this is your place.

By HFR Staff  · June 20, 2026
Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness: A 3-Day Backpacking Loop Through Southern Oregon's Forgotten High Country

Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness: A 3-Day Backpacking Loop Through Southern Oregon's Forgotten High Country

The Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness sits between two of Oregon's most famous river drainages but sees a fraction of the traffic. Here is a complete 3-day loop through meadows, volcanic lakes, and old-growth forest in one of the state's most underrated wilderness areas.

By HFR Staff  · June 19, 2026
Leslie Gulch and the Owyhee Canyonlands: A Desert Backpacking Adventure in Southeast Oregon

Leslie Gulch and the Owyhee Canyonlands: A Desert Backpacking Adventure in Southeast Oregon

Leslie Gulch is one of Oregon's most dramatic and least-visited landscapes—a maze of towering rhyolite columns and slot canyons in the remote Owyhee Uplands. Here's how to explore it on foot.

By HFR Staff  · June 17, 2026
Oregon Desert Trail: Planning a Section Hike Through Hart Mountain and the Steens

Oregon Desert Trail: Planning a Section Hike Through Hart Mountain and the Steens

The Oregon Desert Trail's Hart Mountain to Steens Mountain section is 80-100 miles of remote high desert wilderness. A complete guide to timing, water planning, permits, wildlife, and what makes this route one of Oregon's finest backcountry experiences.

By HFR Staff  · June 15, 2026