Big Tree Loop Trail

The 3.3-mile Big Tree Loop Trail climbs from the center of Oregon Caves National Monument and passes the widest girthed Douglas fir tree known to exist in Oregon. The lengthiest and having the most elevation gain of any of the hikes that begin at the park visitor center, the Big Tree Trail sees very little foot traffic and offers hikers the opportunity to walk through old-growth forest and mountain meadow before descending past upper Cave Creek at it trickles through the forests lush green. With 1,125 feet in total elevation gain, hikers will spend much of the trail either climbing or descending, but during the right season, wildflowers line the trail, and wind hums through the tree canopy to cool hikers after the ascent. While well-marked, the trail can be covered in snow during the winter, and it is incredibly slick and muddy following wet weather, so hikers should be prepared given recent conditions. While hard, it's very possible that hikers will travel the entire loop and not see a single person beyond the intersections for the Old Growth Trail or Cliff Nature Trail nearer to the visitor center.