The Ramona Falls hike is the one we send every guest at Wildwood Basecamp to do at least once. It's about seven miles round trip, the grade is gentle, and the payoff is a 120-foot waterfall that fans out over a wall of columnar basalt like lace. It's also the hike with the river crossing that people worry about, so let's cover that honestly and then get you there.
The trailhead and getting to it
From Mt. Hood Village, drive east on Highway 26 to Zigzag and turn north on Lolo Pass Road. About four miles up, turn right on Forest Road 1825 (signed for Ramona Falls), then follow signs to the trailhead at the end of a gravel spur. Total drive from our cabin is about 30 minutes. The last stretch is gravel with potholes; any car can do it if you go slow.
- Parking: a Northwest Forest Pass or a day fee is required. The lot fills by 9am on summer weekends, and overflow parks along the road.
- Permits: the trail enters the Mt. Hood Wilderness. Fill out the free self-issue wilderness permit at the trailhead kiosk. It takes thirty seconds.
- Facilities: a vault toilet at the trailhead. Nothing after that.
- Cell service: none. Download the map before you leave the cabin.
The Sandy River crossing
About 1.2 miles in, the trail reaches the Sandy River. There used to be a seasonal bridge. After a fatality in 2014, the Forest Service stopped installing it, so you cross on logs that other hikers have placed, or you ford. This is the part that matters:
- The Sandy is glacial. It runs highest and fastest in the afternoon on hot days as snow melts upstream. Cross early, cross back early.
- Look for the log crossings upstream and downstream of where the trail meets the river; they shift year to year. Take your time and use poles if you have them.
- If the water is high and brown and you can't find a stable log, turn around. The falls will be there next time. This is not a hike to force.
- Late summer and early fall usually offer the easiest crossings. Early season, after rain, or during a heat wave are the trickiest.
The loop
Past the river, the trail splits. Most people go counterclockwise: right at the junction, following the Sandy through open lodgepole forest with occasional views of Mt. Hood's west face. This half is sunnier and drier. The falls arrive at about 3.5 miles. Then return along Ramona Creek, which is the prettier half by a mile: mossy cliffs, shaded old growth, the creek chattering beside you the whole way. Total elevation gain is around 1,000 feet, spread out so gently you barely notice.
At the falls
Ramona Falls doesn't plunge; it spreads. The water comes over a basalt wall and breaks into hundreds of small streams across the columns, so it looks more like a curtain than a chute. There's a footbridge below it and plenty of rocks and logs to sit on. Eat lunch here. Let the dog cool off in the creek (leashed; this is wilderness). Camping isn't allowed within 500 feet of the falls, but it's a fine place to linger for an hour before heading back.
When to go
- July and August: best conditions, biggest crowds. Start by 8am on weekends.
- September and October: our favorite. Cooler, quieter, lower river. Our fall on Mt. Hood post explains why we love this stretch.
- May and June: possible, but the crossing is at its worst and the road may still have snow in early May.
- Winter: the road usually isn't plowed. Snowshoers do it, but that's a different trip.
What to bring
Water, more than you think; there's none you'd want to drink. Trekking poles for the crossing. Shoes you don't mind getting wet, or sandals to switch into. A layer for the shaded return leg. Bug spray in early summer. Snacks for the falls. And a plan for after: the drive back to Basecamp is short, and the hot tub under the trees is exactly what your legs will want. Dogs are welcome on the trail on leash and welcome at our cabin, so nobody gets left behind.
Making a day of it
Pair Ramona with a stop in Zigzag or Welches for lunch on the way back, or drive up to Timberline Lodge afterward if the sky is clear; the west-side view of the mountain you got on the trail looks different from 6,000 feet. Then let the evening happen. Check our Mt. Hood things-to-do page for what to do the next day when your legs are sore and you're feeling smug about it.