10 Fall Rainy Day Hikes Near Portland

Why wait for perfect hiking weather?

If you know anything about the Pacific Northwest, you know that waiting for perfect weather to get outside can mean waiting most of the year. Fall is actually a great time to hike in and around Portland. Many lower-elevation trails remain accessible as temperatures cool, waterfalls pick up after the first significant rains, and the trails are generally less crowded. With the right layers and a little preparation, there’s no reason to let a little rain keep you from enjoying some of the best hiking Oregon has to offer.

Of course, not every trail is a good choice once the rain starts. Some become muddy and slippery, while others become hard to access as the weather changes. I’ve put together a list of ten within two hours of Portland that are worth considering on a rainy day, from easy forest walks to riverside trails and waterfalls. You’ll find distances, approximate drive times, trail conditions, and which hikes are suitable for kids and dogs, so you can spend less time researching and more time outside.

Near Portland

1. Sandy River Delta

🚗 Drive time: about 25 minutes (Troutdale)
📏 Distance: 1 to 4.4 miles round trip
🐾 Dog friendly: Yes, off-leash in designated areas
👨‍👩‍👧 Family friendly: Yes

Wide meadows, forest, and wetlands east of Troutdale, and the best bet for a dog who needs to run. Dogs must be leashed in the parking area and within 100 feet of the Confluence Trail. Expect mud after rain, and arrive early because parking fills fast.

2. Buxton Trestle

🚗 Drive time: about 45 minutes (near Banks)
📏 Distance: 1 to 3 miles round trip
🐾 Dog friendly: Yes, leashed
👨‍👩‍👧 Family friendly: Yes, stroller friendly

A paved rail trail leads to a curved trestle about 700 feet long and 80 feet above Mendenhall Creek. The pavement keeps mud out of the picture, and the Buxton Trailhead has a picnic area. Bikes and horses share the trail.

Mt. Hood

3. Old Salmon River Trail

🚗 Drive time: about 1 hour (near Welches)
📏 Distance: up to about 4.3 miles round trip
🐾 Dog friendly: Yes, leashed
👨‍👩‍👧 Family friendly: Yes

An easy, mostly level trail through old growth Douglas fir, cedar, and hemlock beside the Salmon River, with several places to start or turn around. The canopy takes the edge off light rain. Want more? The Salmon River Trail continues from the West Trailhead.

4. Little Zigzag Falls

🚗 Drive time: about 1 hour 10 minutes (off Highway 26)
📏 Distance: about 1 mile round trip
🐾 Dog friendly: Yes, leashed
👨‍👩‍👧 Family friendly: Yes, great for small kids

A half mile mossy walk along Little Zigzag Creek to a falls that splashes down a rock face in two drops. The trail is barrier-free, so strollers and wheelchairs work. A Northwest Forest Pass is required, and the creek is cold and swift, so keep little ones back.

Southwest Washington

5. Falls Creek Falls

🚗 Drive time: about 1 hour 50 minutes (near Carson, WA)
📏 Distance: 3.4 miles round trip, about 750 feet of gain
🐾 Dog friendly: Yes, keep leashed
👨‍👩‍👧 Family friendly: Yes, watch the cliff edges

The trail follows Falls Creek and crosses a suspension bridge on the way to a 335 foot, three tier waterfall. Parking is $5 or a Northwest Forest Pass, and the access road is gated starting December 1. At high water, you get sprayed and the rocks are slippery.

6. Moulton Falls

🚗 Drive time: about 1 hour (near Yacolt, WA)
📏 Distance: about 5 miles round trip, with shorter options
🐾 Dog friendly: Yes, leashed
👨‍👩‍👧 Family friendly: Yes, watch the drop-offs

A stone arch bridge more than three stories high, rapids on the East Fork Lewis River, and a 2.5 mile rail trail. Cooler months bring fewer visitors and more water over the falls. There are no lifeguards, and diving from the bridge is not allowed.

7. Lacamas Park

🚗 Drive time: about 30 minutes (Camas, WA)
📏 Distance: 1.9 to 2.6 miles round trip
🐾 Dog friendly: Yes, leashed
👨‍👩‍👧 Family friendly: Yes

Two lakes and three waterfalls: Pothole Falls, Lower Falls, and Woodburn Falls. The falls are strongest in the wet season, and side trails get muddy. The Potholes area has had serious injuries, so stay on the trail and keep kids and dogs back from the rocks.

Coast Range and North Coast

8. Wilson River Trail

🚗 Drive time: about 1 hour 20 minutes (Highway 6)
📏 Distance: about 4 miles round trip
🐾 Dog friendly: Yes, leashed
👨‍👩‍👧 Family friendly: Better for older kids

Start at the Tillamook Forest Center, cross the big footbridge over the Wilson River, and hike about 2 miles to Wilson Falls. The Forest Center is open March 1 to late November with limited hours. This corridor gets some of the heaviest rain in the state, and the trail stays open year round.

9. Netul River Trail

🚗 Drive time: about 1 hour 45 minutes (near Astoria)
📏 Distance: up to 2.5 miles round trip
🐾 Dog friendly: Yes, leashed (not inside the visitor center or fort buildings)
👨‍👩‍👧 Family friendly: Yes

A flat trail along the Lewis and Clark River with boardwalk, spruce, and interpretive signs. Look for herons and waterfowl. A small entrance fee applies, and sections can be slick.

10. Neahkahnie Mountain

🚗 Drive time: about 1 hour 45 minutes (Oswald West State Park)
📏 Distance: about 3 miles round trip, 840 feet of gain
🐾 Dog friendly: Yes, leashed
👨‍👩‍👧 Family friendly: Better for older kids

Switchbacks climb through forest to a ridge with views of Nehalem Bay and the Pacific. This is the hardest hike here, and it is crowded in summer, so fall weekdays are easier. Skip the final rocky scramble to the viewpoint when it is wet.

You don’t need perfect weather or an entire day to enjoy some of the great hiking around Portland. Pick a trail, check the conditions, grab your rain jacket, and get outside. And maybe keep a dry pair of shoes in the car. You’ll thank yourself later. And don't forget to check the latest conditions and closures before you head out.

By Cassidy Campanian | October 2026