Paradise Park: The Best Wildflower Trail on Mt. Hood

Paradise Park is without a doubt one of the most peaceful and beautiful places to backpack on Mount Hood. The area is surrounded by fields of wildflowers, water streams and endless views of Mt. Hood and the Cascade Range to the south. It is one of the most amazing spots to view a sunset if you ask me! In this post, I’ll be sharing the best route to Paradise Park and things you should know about backpacking/hiking here.

I have day hiked and backpacked this trail multiple times and both are really great options! I personally preferred backpacking it because it is a hard trail, so cutting it in half was helpful, but also because the views at sunrise and sunset are just beautiful.

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Things to Know About Paradise Park

• Always practice leave no trace, especially in a sensitive mountain terrain. This area is under snow most of the year and being respectful of the area and vegetation growing will help keep the plants alive for others to enjoy. Stay out of wildflower fields and never pick them. Pack out all trash, camp on existing campsites, dispose of waste properly and leave what you find.

• This area does have black bears, wolves (not common) and cougars. Know what to do if you encounter them, and always store you food properly. Using no-scent bags will help keep small critters and mice away from your food as well. I always carry bear spray as a worst-case safety measure.

• You can make the hike shorter by not doing the full loop as shown in the map below. You can make it a shorter loop trail or an out and back trail. I will explain the options below with the trail information.

• This trail does have a river crossing, but it is by far the easier river crossing I have done on Mt. Hood. The water levels are relatively low, ankle deep and you most likely won’t need to get your feet wet. I have never had to change my shoes because there are enough rocks and a large log you can cross.

Paradise Park Location

Paradise Park is located on the southwest side of Mt. Hood, outside of Portland, Oregon. It sits around 5,800 feet, just above the PCT trail. The best route to Paradise is from the Timberline Lodge PCT trail. YOu can park in the lower lots at Timberline and then take any of the trail options that meet up with the PCT.

Best Time of Year to Hike to Paradise Park

This trail is inaccessible from late fall to early/mid-summer depending on the snowfall each year. The only time you can hike to Paradise Park is during summer and fall months when the snow has melted, leaving the trail exposed again. Early summer will have a higher mosquito count than late summer/early fall.

Timberline Lodge to Paradise Loop Trail

As you can see from the map, there are multiple short trails from Timberline Lodge to connect to the PCT. You can take any of these trails. Be aware it is a heavily-used mountain bike area and they can come around the corner quickly. Once you hit the PCT and continue west, you won’t have an issue. Shortly into the hike, there will be a trail sign with maps of the area and a small wilderness permit box. You must fill out a permit whether you are day hiking or backpacking to help the forest service best maintain the trail in the future.

One thing to note about this hike is that it is extremely sandy from Timberline Lodge to the Zig Zag River. This sandy trail can make the hike more strenuous because your feet are always sinking into the sand or sliding backwards slightly. The trail is relatively easy terrain from the wilderness permit box until you reach the top of the Zig Zag canyon. At the top of the canyon, there is a sandy opening with amazing views of Mt. Hood and the canyon below.

The trail quickly begins a descent through switchbacks before popping you out at the river crossing. This river crossing has always been doable when I’ve done it. I have never needed to change to sandals or gotten my feet wet. There is a small log you can cross or some rocks depending on the level of the water. It’s maybe ankle deep, so even if you were to fall in, it wouldn’t be far.

Remember to always unstrap your backpack before crossing a river. This is a great spot to refill your water supply or take a nice break before the tough uphill grind begins. There is even a waterfall upstream that is visible and you can walk along the river bed to get a closer look.

From this point the trail is tough. It is an uphill climb to Paradise with no real leveling out until you reach the park’s edge. This is also the part where you can take multiple trail options. You can continue to follow the PCT as the map above indicates for the loop trail. This will take you just south of Paradise Park and then loop you into Paradise Park on the far west side. From there you will walk through Paradise Park and the beautiful flower meadows on your way back to Timberline. I personally have never opted to do this route just because it is longer.

If you look at the map above, there are two shorter options for this hike. Trail 757 and trail 778 both connect to Paradise on the east side where you can walk the trail through as far as you choose or even cut up one of the ridges towards Mt. Hood. I have done both trails as out and back and as a loop. I don’t feel like one is better than the other, so if it’s your first time, try doing it as a loop so you can hike them both.

Trail 757 does not have a trail sign stating it takes you to Paradise, but it is a visible trail on the right. Trail 778 does have a sign posted at the junction, so if you miss 757, you can take 778 up to Paradise. There will be another trail sign where 757 and 778 meet and from there the trail will level out slightly.

From the sign, you can continue into Paradise to explore the streams and wildflower fields or hike up the ridge, whose trail is located at the sign as well. If you are able to, try and reach Split Rock, marked with an “x” on the map. It is a large boulder, which is split in two, and the the views from it are amazing.

If you are backpacking to Paradise Park, you will notice tents all around. Make sure you find a durable surface, meaning you don’t camp on vegetation. Also be sure to find an existing campsite rather than creating a new one to lessen our footprint in the area. There are two main water sources in the area as well, one when you first come into the park at Lost Creek and one shortly after at Rushing Creek. Both are easy to reach no matter where you set up camp. Every time I’ve hiked through here, Lost Creek has been the stronger, more reliable stream of the two.

Pro tip: if you are backpacking and your tent isn’t already located in a clearing or by one of the meadows, venture out towards Split Rock for the best sunset views.

What to Bring to Paradise Park

Durable shoes are a must on a longer hike with rocky, sandy and steep terrain. Wearing proper hiking boots or a good pair of trail runners will save your feet and ankles. If you’re worried about the river crossing, you can always carry a pair of strap-on sandals, but I’ve never needed to change my shoes for the Zig Zag River.

If you’re backpacking, you will want whatever gear you enjoy to be comfortable. I even packed my hammock on this one to enjoy a nice nap at camp. There aren’t a ton of trees, but our tent was next to a few. If you’re newer to backpacking, you can learn more about my gear here.

Hiking Poles are a backpacking must. I like having them to help me feel stable with a heavy pack on and I also prefer using them when the trail has a lot of elevation gain and loss. They will save your knees on the descents with the extra weight on your back and help you climb the ascents. Another thing hiking poles will be great for on this hike is helping you cross the log over the Zig Zag, especially if you are worried about your balance and falling off. Using poles will help you stay upright and feel comfortable crossing the log.

Whether you are backpacking or day hiking, packing plenty of layers is extremely important on this hike. Be sure to check the weather forecast prior for possible rain or thunderstorms as well. Because it is a longer hike, you will want warm layers in case it gets cold or it takes longer than expected as well as light layers to protect you from the sun on hot days. One time, I day hiked this trail and was in shorts and a tank top with blue sunny skies. With about a mile left to the car, heavy clouds rolled in and it was freezing cold and raining by the time we reached the car.

Always carry the 10 essentials on any hike you do, but especially on a longer, strenuous hike like this one. Having a headlamp and gear with you in case you get stuck and have to spend the night on trail will make all the difference between surviving the night and freezing. Learn more about these items in my “The 10 Essentials” guide.

To learn more about what I hike with go here to see my must-have gear, trail clothes and more!

Backpacking Responsibly in Paradise Park

What does this mean? It means follow the Leave No Trace Principles and limit your impact on the trail. Below are the principles explained.

• Plan ahead and prepare. This means researching the area ahead of time, knowing the weather forecast and packing accordingly. Planning and preparing for a trip is important to keep you safe and allow you to enjoy your trip stress free.

• Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces. This means finding a campsite where you can tell others have camp prior rather than finding a new campsite. Do not put your tent on vegetation or in meadows, causing harm to the plants. Be responsible in choosing a site and limit your footprint in the backcountry. Stay on trail and do not walk through sensitive environments like meadows.

• Leave What You Find. Nature is amazing but belongs in nature. Do not pick wildflowers or bring home rocks or other items you may find. Do not mark on rocks or vandalize nature.

• Dispose of Waste Properly. All garbage should be packed back out with you and disposed of properly at home. Bring a ziplock bag for toilet paper. Use a shovel to dig a cat hole and bury any human waste 6-8 inches underground or pack it out with you if that is not an option. Food items such as peels and nut shells should also be disposed of properly in a bag and taken back off trail with you.

• Respect Wildlife. Do not feed or approach any wildlife. Minimize your noise by not playing music outdoors. Know the wildlife for the area so you are prepared for encounters. Do not leave food or garbage accessible (bear bag hangs are best).

• Minimize Campfire Impacts. Always know the local guidelines for your area before starting a fire. Many locations do seasonal bans depending on the season. Use an existing fire ring whenever possible. If you must create a new ring, clear the ground of all debris and use a location with minimal impact to the vegetation. Make sure your fire is completely out by dousing it in water multiple times and never throw garbage into the fire.

• Be Considerate of Other Visitors. Be aware of your noise levels and be sure to kindly share the trail. Know proper trail etiquette so everyone can enjoy their time outside in nature. Remember, others may be afraid of dogs or have allergies so keep you dog on leash or safely away from others.

Reminders

• Do not walk in the wildflower fields. Walking in them damages the flowers and ruins them for others to enjoy. Stay on maintained trails and rocks to help the vegetation grow.

• Stay hydrated with water and electrolytes. You do not need a full 2-3 liters to start with on this hike if you carry a water filter to filter at the river crossing. If it’s hot or you know you need to drink a lot, pack more for yourself. My recommendation would be to use your water filter at the Zig Zag River crossing to resupply whether you’re day hiking or backpacking. Water weighs a lot and being able to resupply will help keep your pack lighter. You can then resupply again when you get to Paradise.

• If you do not have a water filter, you will need to plan to carry 1 liter of water for every hour minimum. Because this hike has a lot of elevation, plan an extra .5 liters or more an hour and increase that amount again if it’s hot out. That is a lot of water and I will always recommend purchasing a water filter, even if you don’t backpack. If you get stuck on trail overnight, you will need water to stay hydrated. My preferred water filter is the Katadyn filter, because it has the fastest flow.

If you have the gear and ability, I would highly recommend making this trek a backpacking one. I have done both and you honestly can’t go wrong, but it was just magical being able to sleep under the stars and take in the area more while backpacking. Another option would be to add it to a Timberline Trail hike, since the Timberline Trail goes along the PCT, just below Paradise Park. It would be easy to cut up and spend a night here.

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