PARADISE PARK VIA LOWER TRAIL

Mount Hood and Paradise Park from just above the intersection with the Paradise Park Loop Trail, July 2016

Hike Stats:

  • Distance: 13.6 miles out and back to the Paradise Loop Trail junction

  • Elevation Gain: 3,200 feet

  • Trailhead Elevation: 2,820 feet

  • Trail High Point: 5,858 feet

  • Seasons: July – October

  • Best: late July – August

  • Pass: NW Forest Pass

  • GPS Track: July 2016

  • On the traditional lands of: the Cascades people

Directions:

  • Drive to Sandy from wherever you are.

  • From Joe’s Donuts in Sandy, drive 25.6 miles to a junction on the left with Kiwanis Road. This junction is 7.2 miles beyond the stoplight in Zigzag.

  • Turn left and drive this road 1 mile to a turnoff on the left signed for the Paradise Park Trail #778.

  • Park here.

  • The hike begins on the east end of the trailhead. Follow it to the old road over the Zigzag River. Follow this road across the bridge to the old trailhead, now decommissioned.

  • Drivetime from Portland: 70 minutes

The Paradise Park Trail, not far from the trailhead.

A butterfly in Paradise Park.

Hike: This is a longer, lesser-used approach to Paradise Park. While far less spectacular, the trail is quite pleasant, shaded, and almost a half-hour closer to Portland.

Begin at the trailhead with a short stretch of level trail through cool, mossy woods. Soon you will begin switchbacking uphill at a steady but never steep grade. There are few highlights; the one view is of the Zigzag River and out to US 26, which you can hear across the valley. Continue uphill through nice woods until you meet the East Zigzag Trail at 5.5 miles. Continue on the Paradise Park Trail another half-mile to a junction with the Timberline Trail / Pacific Crest Trail (they are the same trail here) at 6 miles. Continue straight on the Paradise Park Trail.

You will soon reach meadows as you continue ascending the Paradise Park Trail. This is the good stuff! After another half-mile of climbing through increasingly beautiful meadows, you will reach a four-way junction with the Paradise Loop Trail at 6.5 miles. From here, you can continue straight for excellent views of Mount Hood over beargrass-covered meadows or turn left on the Paradise Loop Trail to more excellent meadows and campsites. The day is yours!

Return the way you came.