Siouxon Creek Hike

The Siouxon Creek Trail is one of the best year-round hikes in the Portland area. During the rainy winter months this low-elevation getaway provides a splendid display of a temperate old-growth forest. Extensive stands of Douglas fir tower over the giant stumps of western red cedar that used to dominate the forest. During the intense heat of August and September, the creek provides a string of deep, crystal-clear swimming holes. Backcountry campsites make the trail an ideal place to overnight. The many falls along the trail are beautiful in any season, including the broad, 50-foot Chinook Falls and the 100-foot Wildcat Falls that plummets from a basalt cliff. For a longer hike, make the 10.4 mile, 2,100-foot climb up to Horseshoe Ridge. The 14.5 mile, 2,800-foot climb to Huffman or Siouxon Peak provides spectacular views of Mount St. Helens, Mount Hood, Mount Adams, and Mount Rainier.