Hike of the Week: Kings Mountain, OR
Climb through Douglas firs and sword ferns to reach this 3,205-foot summit.
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Trail Facts
- Distance: 4.4 miles (out and back)
- Time: 3 hours
- Difficulty: 3 out of 5
Summary
While Mt. Hood is still shrouded in snow, head into the Tillamook State Forest for a leg-burning ascent up 3,205-foot Kings Mountain. (The trail should be snow-free by mid-April.) Begin just an hour west of Portland at the Kings Mountain trailhead (45.5969, -123.5063). Follow the steep, twisting trail past Douglas firs and sword ferns, covering more than 2,500 feet of elevation gain in 2.2 miles.
The view from the top is worth the punishing climb—with commanding vistas across the Lester Creek valley to the southwest. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Mts. Hood and Adams.Tip: Be sure to bring trekking poles to save your knees on the rocky descent.
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