Friday, June 26, 2026  |  Oregon's Outdoor Journal
Category

Backpacking

32 articles

Drift Creek Wilderness: A Weekend Backpacking Trip Through Oregon's Old-Growth Coast Range

Drift Creek Wilderness: A Weekend Backpacking Trip Through Oregon's Old-Growth Coast Range

The Drift Creek Wilderness in Lincoln County protects one of the largest remaining stands of old-growth temperate rainforest on Oregon's Coast Range. Here's everything you need for a weekend trip.

By HFR Staff  · June 6, 2026
North Fork John Day Wilderness: A 3-Day Backpacking Loop Through Northeast Oregon's Remote Gold Country

North Fork John Day Wilderness: A 3-Day Backpacking Loop Through Northeast Oregon's Remote Gold Country

The North Fork John Day Wilderness in Oregon's Blue Mountains offers solitude, pristine trout streams, and gold rush history. Here's a complete 3-day backpacking route guide for this undervisited gem.

By HFR Staff  · June 5, 2026
Gearhart Mountain Wilderness: A Summer Backpacking Loop Through Southern Oregon's Forgotten High Country

Gearhart Mountain Wilderness: A Summer Backpacking Loop Through Southern Oregon's Forgotten High Country

Gearhart Mountain Wilderness in Southern Oregon's Fremont National Forest is one of the state's least-visited designated wilderness areas — and one of its most rewarding summer destinations.

By HFR Staff  · June 4, 2026
Bull of the Woods Wilderness: A Weekend Backpacking Loop Through Oregon’s Northern Cascades Old Growth

Bull of the Woods Wilderness: A Weekend Backpacking Loop Through Oregon’s Northern Cascades Old Growth

Just an hour from Portland, Bull of the Woods Wilderness offers dense old growth, alpine meadows, and solitude that most Oregon hikers have never found. Here’s the best weekend loop.

By HFR Staff  · June 3, 2026
Diamond Peak Wilderness: A 2-Day Summer Backpacking Loop in Oregon's High Cascades

Diamond Peak Wilderness: A 2-Day Summer Backpacking Loop in Oregon's High Cascades

One of Oregon's most rewarding yet undervisited wilderness destinations — Diamond Peak rises to 8,744 feet above subalpine lakes, wildflower meadows, and old-growth forest. Here is the full route guide for a 2-day loop.

By HFR Staff  · June 1, 2026
Crater Lake Rim Backpacking: Oregon's Most Scenic High-Route Overnight

Crater Lake Rim Backpacking: Oregon's Most Scenic High-Route Overnight

The 33-mile Crater Lake Rim provides one of Oregon's most dramatic and underrated backpacking experiences. Here's how to plan a 2-3 day rim route above North America's deepest lake.

By HFR Staff  · May 31, 2026
Lookout Mountain Loop: A Weekend Backpacking Trip in Oregon's Ochoco National Forest

Lookout Mountain Loop: A Weekend Backpacking Trip in Oregon's Ochoco National Forest

The Lookout Mountain Loop in Oregon's Ochoco National Forest offers one of the most rewarding and uncrowded weekend backpacking routes in Central Oregon. Here's a complete guide to the 19-mile circuit.

By HFR Staff  · May 29, 2026
Kalmiopsis Wilderness: Backpacking Oregon's Wildest and Most Remote Botanical Hotspot

Kalmiopsis Wilderness: Backpacking Oregon's Wildest and Most Remote Botanical Hotspot

Oregon's Kalmiopsis Wilderness in the Klamath Mountains is one of the most geologically and botanically unique places on Earth. It's also brutally rugged, poorly signed, and almost entirely empty of other hikers. Here's how to plan a trip.

By HFR Staff  · May 28, 2026
Hells Canyon Wilderness: A 4-Day Rim-to-River Backpacking Route on the Oregon Side

Hells Canyon Wilderness: A 4-Day Rim-to-River Backpacking Route on the Oregon Side

Hells Canyon is the deepest river gorge in North America, and its Oregon side offers some of the most dramatic and seldom-traveled backpacking in the Pacific Northwest. Here's a practical guide to the Hat Point to Dug Bar route.

By HFR Staff  · May 27, 2026
Waldo Lake Wilderness: A 3-Day Backpacking Loop Through Oregon's Highest Natural Lake

Waldo Lake Wilderness: A 3-Day Backpacking Loop Through Oregon's Highest Natural Lake

Waldo Lake sits at 5,414 feet in the Oregon Cascades and is one of the clearest, purest lakes in the world. Here's how to plan a 3-day loop through the surrounding wilderness.

By HFR Staff  · May 26, 2026
Opal Creek Wilderness: A Weekend Backpacking Route Through Oregon's Ancient Forest

Opal Creek Wilderness: A Weekend Backpacking Route Through Oregon's Ancient Forest

Just 60 miles from Portland, the Opal Creek Wilderness protects some of the largest remaining old-growth lowland forest in the Pacific Northwest. Here's a weekend route that takes you through massive Douglas fir stands, past jewel-colored pools, and deep into the kind of forest that takes your breath away.

By HFR Staff  · May 25, 2026
Sky Lakes Wilderness: A Backpacking Guide to Southern Oregon's Premier Alpine Lake Country

Sky Lakes Wilderness: A Backpacking Guide to Southern Oregon's Premier Alpine Lake Country

Tucked between Crater Lake National Park and the Sky Lakes Wilderness boundary, this 116,000-acre haven holds more than 200 lakes and ponds across a volcanic landscape unlike anywhere else in Oregon. Here's your complete guide to planning a summer trip.

By HFR Staff  · May 24, 2026