Backpacking Oregon

Douglas Lorain moved with his family to the Pacific Northwest in 1969, and he has been obsessively hitting the trails of his home region ever since. Spurred by an unquenchable thirst for new trails to explore and a great enthusiasm for backpacking, he has now hiked more than 30,000 miles through every corner of the American Northwest and many thousands more in other western states and Canadian provinces. Despite a history that includes being bitten by a rattlesnake, being shot at by a hunter, being charged by grizzly bears (twice!), and donating gallons of blood to mosquitoes, Lorain claims that he wouldn't trade one moment of it because he has also been blessed to see some of the most beautiful scenery on Earth. His other books for Wilderness Press include Afoot & Afield: Portland/Vancouver, Backpacking Idaho, Backpacking Washington, Backpacking Wyoming, One Best Hike: Mount Rainier's Wonderland Trail, One Night Wilderness: Portland, and Top Trails: Olympic National Park & Vicinity. Lorain is a photographer and recipient of the National Outdoor Book Award. His photographs have appeared in numerous magazines, calendars, and books. This third edition of Backpacking Oregon was updated and revised by Becky Ohlsen. Ohlsen has lived in the Pacific Northwest since 1995 and is the author of Walking Portland. She also writes travel guidebooks for Lonely Planet, covering Sweden, Oregon, and Washington, among other destinations.

Acknowledgments


Map Legend


Featured Trips Summary Chart


Preface





A Word About the Third Edition


INTRODUCTION





How to Use This Guide
Wild Areas of Oregon
Safety Notice
General Tips on Backpacking in Oregon
Overview Map of Featured Trips


FEATURED TRIPS





Klamath and Siskiyou Mountains


Rogue River Trail
Siskiyou-Boundary Trail



Western "Old" Cascades


Bull of the Woods Loop



High Cascades: North


Timberline Trail Loop
Mount Jefferson Wilderness Traverse
Three Sisters Loop
Separation Creek Loop
Mink Lake Area



High Cascades: South


Diamond Peak Loop
North Umpqua-Mount Thielsen Trails
North Umpqua Trail
Sky Lakes Traverse



Blue Mountains


Strawberry Mountains Traverse
Elkhorn Crest Trail



Wallowa Mountains


Minam River Loop
Bear Creek Loop
Lostine-Minam Loop
Wallowa River Loop
Southern Wallowas Traverse
East Eagle-Imnaha Loop



Hells Canyon


Hells Canyon Western Rim "Summit" Trail
Snake River Trail
Hells Canyon Bench "High" Trail



Southeast Oregon Mountains


Steens Mountain Gorges Loop
Desert Trail: Pueblo Mountains Section



Owyhee Country


Honeycombs Loop




Other Backpacking Options


Index


About the Authors