Portland, OR: Ramona Falls & Bald Mountain Loop

Start with an easy climb up the half-mile Top Spur trail. At the first junction, turn right on the Pacific Crest Trail, pass a small camp site, then come to a larger junction with the Timberline Trail. At this point, fill out a self-registered wilderness permit at the box near the map board. This is the beginning of the loop, so head south on the PCT, following signs for Ramona Falls. The next mile is a gently pleasant descent amid stately forest, sprinkled with summer bunchberry, queen’s cup, and wild strawberry. Following that, the incline increases as the trail starts switchbacking down to the Muddy Fork river crossing. Near the crossing, look for stalks of cow parsnip and bright yellow monkeyflower.

At a signed fork, follow the well-marked hiker’s detour to a new bridge crossing the Muddy Fork. Shortly beyond, the trail merges back with the PCT, and comes to a junction with Ramona Falls Trail #797. This is where you’ll start getting company on the trail. To avoid falling into rank with everyone coming up from the Ramona trailhead, turn left instead, continuing on the PCT for another half-mile to a stock gate, and a very confusing intersection. Take the leftmost fork, heading southeast, still on the PCT, up the Sandy River canyon. The wide, steep-walled riverbed is mostly filled with debris, with a thin ribbon of river snaking through.

After 1.5 miles along the Sandy River, veer left at a fork with the Timberline Trail #600, back under shady forest for the final half-mile to Ramona Falls. Arguably one of the prettiest waterfalls in Oregon, Ramona Falls spills 120′ over an exposed basalt outcrop, creating a wide veil of water cascading over numerous rocky steps. Set your cameras to capture long exposures of the falling water, creating that lacy, veiled effect. Several logs and rocks around the falls create fine benches to sit and ponder the beauty of water, rock and forest.

When ready to move on, cross the bridge below the falls toward the Ramona Trail #797, but instead, veer uphill to the right, continuing on the Timberline Trail #600 for a steady 0.75-mile climb to a junction with the Yocum Ridge trail #771. Fork left, staying on the Timberline for the next two miles along the north slope of Yocum Ridge. Several short portions of trail have been washed out along this stretch over the last few years, but passing is easy enough; just watch your footing on the soft, narrow slopes.

Now at the head of the Muddy Fork canyon, you are faced with three river crossings. During high runoff periods, crossing can be challenging. The first crossing is inconsequential, an easy hop across rocks. The trail then opens into the canyon, offering stunning views up to Mt. Hood’s glacier-covered slopes. Follow rock cairns through old sections of riverbed to the next crossing. Note the trail continuing directly across from you, then turn right and follow more cairns upriver to a safer crossing area, then double back down to continue. Next, follow taped posts and more cairns to the final crossing, an easy hop across narrow cascades. The trail then turns left, re-enters forest cover, and begins the gradual, two-mile climb to Bald Mountain.

Suddenly, find yourself amid Bald Mountain’s steeply-sloped meadows, carpeted with summer wildflowers – paintbrush, lupine, agoseris, etc. Cast your gaze down over the Muddy Fork canyon, to the huge cascading waterfalls near the head, and on up to Mt. Hood. This is your grand-prize view for your preceding effort. Pause for a moment or two to soak in the panorama. After tearing yourself away from the scene, complete the final half-mile of your loop; back to the junction with the permit box, then to your finish by descending the Top Spur trail to your starting point.

Mapped by Eli Boschetto Bosco Mountain Photo

Trail Facts

• Distance: 18.3

Waypoints

RAM001

Location: 45.40764, -121.785759

Start the Ramona Falls/Bald Mountain loop at the Top Spur Trailhead.

RAM002

Location: 45.405689, -121.77885

PCT junction; turn right (SE).

RAM003

Location: 45.405565, -121.778571

Small trailside camp site.

RAM004

Location: 45.405309, -121.77855

Trail junction; Fill out self-registration permit, then take rightmost fork (S) on PCT, following sign for Timberline Lodge.

RAM005

Location: 45.395708, -121.802223

Trailside camp.

RAM006

Location: 45.396223, -121.800603

Trail fork; veer left (NE), following taped route to hiker bridge.

RAM007

Location: 45.395791, -121.797888

Lower crossing of Muddy Fork on log bridge.

RAM008

Location: 45.39439, -121.799359

Trail junction; turn right (N), staying on PCT.

RAM009

Location: 45.395415, -121.800656

Pass thru stock gate to confusing trail junction; turn left (SW) on PCT to Ramona Falls.

RAM010

Location: 45.391101, -121.807694

Trail junction; turn left (S), continuing on PCT up Sandy River canyon. Right leads to Ramona Falls trailhead.

RAM011

Location: 45.379862, -121.784161

Trail fork; veer left (E) onto Timberline Trail 600 to Ramona Falls.

RAM012

Location: 45.37957, -121.777408

Pass thru stock gate

RAM013

Location: 45.379771, -121.776656

Ramona Falls; find a seat on nearby rocks and logs, and just enjoy.

RAM014

Location: 45.380171, -121.776795

Trail fork; veer right (N), continuing on Timberline Trail 600 to Muddy Fork.

RAM015

Location: 45.387827, -121.782739

Trail fork; veer left (E), continuing on Timberline Trail 600. Right fork climbs 4 miles up Yocum Ridge.

RAM016

Location: 45.388715, -121.768354

Traverse several narrow, washed out sections of trail.

RAM017

Location: 45.388916, -121.767075

Large log across trail; climb over.

RAM018

Location: 45.389048, -121.763443

Large clump of blowdown across trail; easiest to crawl under.

RAM019

Location: 45.388697, -121.759851

Open view across Muddy Fork Canyon to Bald Mountain.

RAM020

Location: 45.389872, -121.749453

Small camp site.

RAM021

Location: 45.390091, -121.748776

First-and easiest-crossing of Muddy Fork river.

RAM022

Location: 45.390415, -121.748562

Follow cairns across old river channels.

RAM023

Location: 45.390652, -121.747382

Second crossing of Muddy Fork. Difficult crossing at high water; note continuation of trail directly across river, but turn right upriver, following cairns to safer crossing, then double back.

RAM024

Location: 45.390539, -121.746975

Safer crossing; follow cairns downstream to continue trail.

RAM025

Location: 45.391713, -121.746603

Follow more cairns and taped posts across old river channels to third crossing.

RAM026

Location: 45.392121, -121.746551

Third crossing of Muddy Fork; turn left (NW) to continue to Bald Mountain.

RAM027

Location: 45.402671, -121.769839

Pass thru stock gate.

RAM028

Location: 45.401765, -121.777348

Spectacular viewpoint of Mt. Hood and Muddy Fork Canyon, amid wildflower slopes on Bald Mountain. Continue west, back to original PCT/Timberline junction, then return to starting point via Top Spur trail.

Top Spur

Location: 45.407527, -121.785636

The Ramona Falls/Bald Mountain loop starts at the Top Spur trailhead, on gravel road 118.

Pacific Crest Trail

Location: 45.405034, -121.778888

From Top Spur, the trail to Ramona Falls descends 2.25 miles on a pleasantly wooded PCT.

Mt. Hood Wilderness

Location: 45.403693, -121.78629

The PCT passes thru the pretty woods of the Mt. Hood Wilderness.

Crossing

Location: 45.395708, -121.797813

A short detour leads to a log crossing of the lower Muddy Fork river.

Ramona Falls

Location: 45.379997, -121.776474

This spectacular 120′ waterfall cascades over an outcrop of stepped columnar basalt. Bring a tripod to catch lacy photos.

Bald Mountain

Location: 45.388693, -121.759694

From the Timberline Trail, view across the Muddy Fork Canyon to Bald Mountain.

Muddy Fork Canyon

Location: 45.390306, -121.748621

Cairns mark the route across the Muddy Fork Canyon’s multiple river crossings, with views up to Mt. Hood.

Muddy Crossing

Location: 45.392024, -121.746519

Summer brings several challenging crossings of the Muddy Fork river.

Mt. Hood

Location: 45.402013, -121.770798

Mt. Hood and the Muddy Fork Canyon, as seen from Bald Mountain.

Bald Mountain

Location: 45.401863, -121.777107

Summer wildflowers carpet the meadows of Bald Mountain, with Mt. Hood and the Muddy Fork Canyon seen beyond.