What do you think?
Rate this book
50 Hikes in the Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests
50 Hikes in the Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests provides hikers the chance to explore and experience the ever-changing environments of these forests through the studied eyes of the Sierra Club. This updated edition contains current trail information, path descriptions, driving directions, and regional history on some of Oregon’s lushest yet unexplored trails. 50 Hikes includes a new introduction written by Daniel O'Neil, which details the history of this wondrous region; a foreword by Robert Kentta, cultural resources director of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians; original illustrations of its plant life; and photographs collected by Sierra Club members. Readers will be imbued with a full sense of wonder for these forests. From coastal plains to canopied forests, 50 Hikes celebrates the adventurous landscapes of Northwest Oregon by revisiting the Sierra Club’s iconic 2001 guidebook.
200 pages, Paperback
Published March 1, 2018
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
August 16, 2018
I didn't start hiking seriously until I moved to Portland, and have never had my own hiking guide. As someone with little experience, I was impressed by everything about 50 Hikes in the Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests from the level of detail used to describe the hikes to the obvious love and dedication to preserving and sharing these forests on the part of the writers. The book itself is perfectly travel sized, with beautiful illustrations and photographs from the various hikes. It is organized, concise, and every hike that I've done has been accurate to the expectations presented by the book. The instructions for how to get to the trailhead were clear, and I appreciated the brief breakdown of each of the hikes. Also, I'm just completely enamored with the plant list in the back, because I've been seeing Fairy Slippers everywhere and now I know what they're called! Seriously love this book, 10/10, would recommend!
March 19, 2018
A lovely little book that comprehensively covers hiking in the Tillamook and Clatsop State forests. One of my favorite thing about this hiking guide is the collaborative spirit brought by both the Sierra Club and Ooligan Press. Learning about the history of the forests in the introduction was lovely, and I can't wait to try the hikes out once it's a little warmer. This is a beautiful book written by a beautiful group, and I'm enjoying it so much.
March 17, 2019
This book is phenomenal. I recently moved to Oregon, so it was great to read about the surrounding forests and available hiking areas. I appreciated that the book also detailed the history of logging and forest fires in Oregon. It put into perspective how lucky we are to have so many beautiful spaces near us and how actively they need to be protected. I especially liked reading the details about each specific hike; every description is extremely detailed and made me feel much more prepared for the hikes I plan to go on in the coming months. I highly recommend this book!
March 18, 2019
“We want future generations to stand in awe of towering trees.”
50 HIKES is a great resource for hikers looking to traverse the coastal rainforests of Oregon. The guide is surprisingly more comprehensive than I expected and includes a whole introduction to the forests themselves as well as a brief history of the native tribes that have called the forest home. It does not gloss over the fact that White settlers came to these same forests, following in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark and spreading disease and other epidemics that decimated the tribal populations. There is also a history of logging and the multiple fires that have blazed through the forests, as well as descriptions of local organizations (and Portland-ers!) that fought for the protection of the trees and wildlife from more extensive logging operations. While logging is still a major business within these forests, the Sierra Club is dedicated to making the Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests accessible to future generations and easily traversed by both families and experienced hikers alike.
There is also an introductory chapter of hiking tips that range from general guidelines of what to bring with you, as well as regional tips that are specific to the Tillamook and Clatsop forests. I appreciated the thorough explanations of the climate and weather as well as the local logging practices and how to be a mindful hiker. There is even an afterword that describes common flora and fauna you might see along the trails with beautiful illustrations!
50 HIKES uses easy-to-decipher icons to determine whether a hike might be right for you, denoting whether the trail is biker or horse-friendly, if it’s appropriate for small children, or if logging operations are common near the trailhead. Hikes are categorized as easy, moderate, or strenuous, and each hike includes what physical map to bring along with you for easy navigation. Each hike describes how to drive to, park, and find the trailhead, as well as important markers, notable landmarks, and tips to use along the trail. I also really enjoyed that most descriptions of the hike include at least one or more photos as well as names of birds, plants, and edible berries or treats that you might find along the trail itself. There is also a good amount of variation between well-known trails and hikes that are more off-the-beaten-track, so there really IS a hike for everyone within the pages.
Besides the information inside, this guide is the perfect size to fit within a small pack to take along with you! Having the right guide is just as important as bringing along the right map; although you can always find more photos and detailed information online from other hikers about the trail you want to visit, every hiker knows that you can’t put faith behind a cellphone or an internet connection when you’re in the middle of the forest. It’s nice to know this book contains important information about navigating each hike in the event a phone dies or a connection is lost.
As a transplant from California, I’m incredibly excited to use the new, beautiful spring weather to explore more of what Oregon has to offer – including hikes along creeks, rivers, and to other bodies of water. Before I moved here, I enjoyed a lot of easy to moderate hikes to waterfalls in Southern CA, so reading through 50 HIKES made me hopeful to not only enjoy a very different and new forest to what I’m used to but to also enjoy some waterfall hikes. I can’t wait to try a hike like University Falls, Nehalem Falls, or Bloom Lake and bringing along 50 HIKES as my guide :)
50 HIKES is a great resource for hikers looking to traverse the coastal rainforests of Oregon. The guide is surprisingly more comprehensive than I expected and includes a whole introduction to the forests themselves as well as a brief history of the native tribes that have called the forest home. It does not gloss over the fact that White settlers came to these same forests, following in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark and spreading disease and other epidemics that decimated the tribal populations. There is also a history of logging and the multiple fires that have blazed through the forests, as well as descriptions of local organizations (and Portland-ers!) that fought for the protection of the trees and wildlife from more extensive logging operations. While logging is still a major business within these forests, the Sierra Club is dedicated to making the Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests accessible to future generations and easily traversed by both families and experienced hikers alike.
There is also an introductory chapter of hiking tips that range from general guidelines of what to bring with you, as well as regional tips that are specific to the Tillamook and Clatsop forests. I appreciated the thorough explanations of the climate and weather as well as the local logging practices and how to be a mindful hiker. There is even an afterword that describes common flora and fauna you might see along the trails with beautiful illustrations!
50 HIKES uses easy-to-decipher icons to determine whether a hike might be right for you, denoting whether the trail is biker or horse-friendly, if it’s appropriate for small children, or if logging operations are common near the trailhead. Hikes are categorized as easy, moderate, or strenuous, and each hike includes what physical map to bring along with you for easy navigation. Each hike describes how to drive to, park, and find the trailhead, as well as important markers, notable landmarks, and tips to use along the trail. I also really enjoyed that most descriptions of the hike include at least one or more photos as well as names of birds, plants, and edible berries or treats that you might find along the trail itself. There is also a good amount of variation between well-known trails and hikes that are more off-the-beaten-track, so there really IS a hike for everyone within the pages.
Besides the information inside, this guide is the perfect size to fit within a small pack to take along with you! Having the right guide is just as important as bringing along the right map; although you can always find more photos and detailed information online from other hikers about the trail you want to visit, every hiker knows that you can’t put faith behind a cellphone or an internet connection when you’re in the middle of the forest. It’s nice to know this book contains important information about navigating each hike in the event a phone dies or a connection is lost.
As a transplant from California, I’m incredibly excited to use the new, beautiful spring weather to explore more of what Oregon has to offer – including hikes along creeks, rivers, and to other bodies of water. Before I moved here, I enjoyed a lot of easy to moderate hikes to waterfalls in Southern CA, so reading through 50 HIKES made me hopeful to not only enjoy a very different and new forest to what I’m used to but to also enjoy some waterfall hikes. I can’t wait to try a hike like University Falls, Nehalem Falls, or Bloom Lake and bringing along 50 HIKES as my guide :)
May 26, 2019
Seeing as this is a book of listed hikes, I thought it would make sense to make my review out of my own personal list of which hikes from the book I am most excited to take:
10. Lower Salmonberry Trail. This six-mile trek runs between historic railroad tracks and the Salmonberry river, but hiker beware: The trail was closed at time of publishing due to unsafe conditions. Recent renovations have occurred, but do not underestimate this route!
9. Nehalem Falls Loop. Doubles as a base camp area for multi-day hiking adventures, this old-growth grove of spruce and cedar provides a short and picturesque walking circuit.
8. Feldshaw Ridge. If you're not to tired from climbing Cedar Butte, feel free to add this jaunt to your day hike. Short, steep and to the point!
7. Cedar Butte. This moderate trail begins on level terrain then slopes sharply towards a bench resting at its peak. Rest your butt at the top of the butte!
6. Steampot Creek. The charming name of this trail belies a moderate uphill hike of about five miles. Lining this path are alders, swordhead ferns, and of course the winding creek for which the whimsical name derives.
5. Triangulation Point. On clear aftertoonoons from the southern slopes, you can see the spectre of Mt. Hood peeking over the treetops from this trail. There's also the Kilchis falls in the last two miles of the trek.
4. Little North Fork of the Wilson. Big name for a short and pleasant hike. A perfect place to bring a date or get in some summer swimming.
3. King's Mountain. Those who brave this uphill climb will be rewarded with beauty in every direction: Pacific Ocean to the west, Cascade Peaks to the east, and the Tillamook Forest to the north and south. It's a royal challenge worth considering!
2. University Falls. There's not a better place for a scholar to take their lunch. Biologists will love to birdwatch or study the wildflowers. Arts majors may be tempted to sketch the waterfalls or forest clearings. Philosophy majors can indulge the virtuous qualities of appreciating nature's intrinsic value.
1. Wildcat Mountain. This trail's got everything: bridges over babbling brooks, roadside wildflowers, sweeping vistas of conifer rainforest. What's not to love?
But hey, don't take my word for it. Crack open 50 hikes and make a hiking wishlist for yourself today!
10. Lower Salmonberry Trail. This six-mile trek runs between historic railroad tracks and the Salmonberry river, but hiker beware: The trail was closed at time of publishing due to unsafe conditions. Recent renovations have occurred, but do not underestimate this route!
9. Nehalem Falls Loop. Doubles as a base camp area for multi-day hiking adventures, this old-growth grove of spruce and cedar provides a short and picturesque walking circuit.
8. Feldshaw Ridge. If you're not to tired from climbing Cedar Butte, feel free to add this jaunt to your day hike. Short, steep and to the point!
7. Cedar Butte. This moderate trail begins on level terrain then slopes sharply towards a bench resting at its peak. Rest your butt at the top of the butte!
6. Steampot Creek. The charming name of this trail belies a moderate uphill hike of about five miles. Lining this path are alders, swordhead ferns, and of course the winding creek for which the whimsical name derives.
5. Triangulation Point. On clear aftertoonoons from the southern slopes, you can see the spectre of Mt. Hood peeking over the treetops from this trail. There's also the Kilchis falls in the last two miles of the trek.
4. Little North Fork of the Wilson. Big name for a short and pleasant hike. A perfect place to bring a date or get in some summer swimming.
3. King's Mountain. Those who brave this uphill climb will be rewarded with beauty in every direction: Pacific Ocean to the west, Cascade Peaks to the east, and the Tillamook Forest to the north and south. It's a royal challenge worth considering!
2. University Falls. There's not a better place for a scholar to take their lunch. Biologists will love to birdwatch or study the wildflowers. Arts majors may be tempted to sketch the waterfalls or forest clearings. Philosophy majors can indulge the virtuous qualities of appreciating nature's intrinsic value.
1. Wildcat Mountain. This trail's got everything: bridges over babbling brooks, roadside wildflowers, sweeping vistas of conifer rainforest. What's not to love?
But hey, don't take my word for it. Crack open 50 hikes and make a hiking wishlist for yourself today!
May 13, 2019
Headline: Get out of the car on the way to the Coast: hike the trails in the Coastal Range
When I first visited Oregon, in 2008, we stayed in Portland but did the obligatory drive out to the Coast. As we rose up into the Coastal Range, I was so breathless from the Green of all the trees that I had to stop and gaze out over the trees trees trees… “The Word for World was Forest” and my heart was captured. It was Tillamook. Later, we visited the Tillamook Forest Center (TFC) many times, even planting seedlings in a reforesting program. But the mountains were clearly wilderness, and not a place to “pull over and wander for an hour.” Despite the sheer amount of humanity moving through daily, we were all vehicularly contained, barred from the Forest.
50 Hikes is my way to change from a driver to a hiker. It’s such a specific guide to the Tillamook and Clatsop National Forest areas, I feel more confident about tackling those mysterious trailheads that blur past the car. Like any good hiking guide, it has maps and an index and descriptions of specific trails with guides on elevation and distance. It also has lovely line drawings of the most common flora!
Since it is by the Sierra Club, it also has a straightforward agenda explained in the history chapters: to promote recreational use of the Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests. From my visits to the TFC, I knew much of the burn history, but not all. This book laid it out clearly, and it’s put in further context with a wonderful foreword. You can’t get much more historical than the take from those who have been living with this land for thousands of years.
If you drive through the Tillamook, grab a copy of this book to read the next time you head to the Oregon Coast. Your trip may take longer, but you will be able to stop and hike through these amazing Green spaces.
Keywords:
tillamook, clatsop, sierra club, oregon, pacific northwest, PNW wonderland, hiking, hikes, route 26, forest, tillamook burn, forest fires, logging, easy hikes, trailheads, wilson river corridor, wilson river hikes, trask-tualatin drainage, henry hagg lake, salmonberry river, kilchis river, gales creek, elk creek, state forest, woods, coastal range hikes, nehalem river, miami river, day trips portland
When I first visited Oregon, in 2008, we stayed in Portland but did the obligatory drive out to the Coast. As we rose up into the Coastal Range, I was so breathless from the Green of all the trees that I had to stop and gaze out over the trees trees trees… “The Word for World was Forest” and my heart was captured. It was Tillamook. Later, we visited the Tillamook Forest Center (TFC) many times, even planting seedlings in a reforesting program. But the mountains were clearly wilderness, and not a place to “pull over and wander for an hour.” Despite the sheer amount of humanity moving through daily, we were all vehicularly contained, barred from the Forest.
50 Hikes is my way to change from a driver to a hiker. It’s such a specific guide to the Tillamook and Clatsop National Forest areas, I feel more confident about tackling those mysterious trailheads that blur past the car. Like any good hiking guide, it has maps and an index and descriptions of specific trails with guides on elevation and distance. It also has lovely line drawings of the most common flora!
Since it is by the Sierra Club, it also has a straightforward agenda explained in the history chapters: to promote recreational use of the Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests. From my visits to the TFC, I knew much of the burn history, but not all. This book laid it out clearly, and it’s put in further context with a wonderful foreword. You can’t get much more historical than the take from those who have been living with this land for thousands of years.
If you drive through the Tillamook, grab a copy of this book to read the next time you head to the Oregon Coast. Your trip may take longer, but you will be able to stop and hike through these amazing Green spaces.
Keywords:
tillamook, clatsop, sierra club, oregon, pacific northwest, PNW wonderland, hiking, hikes, route 26, forest, tillamook burn, forest fires, logging, easy hikes, trailheads, wilson river corridor, wilson river hikes, trask-tualatin drainage, henry hagg lake, salmonberry river, kilchis river, gales creek, elk creek, state forest, woods, coastal range hikes, nehalem river, miami river, day trips portland
March 15, 2020
What a wonderful book! Hiking is one of my favorite pastimes, and I’m always on the lookout for a handbook with insider info on the best spots to do it. 50 Hikes hits the nail on the head for me for a number of reasons, the first of which being that it has trail options for hikers of all skill levels and abilities. Hiking and spending time in nature is such a wonderful experience, so it’s always great to see a book with options for just about everyone who wants to get out there.
A unique aspect of this book that sets it apart from other hiking manuals or handbooks is the incorporation of the history of the land, from an account of white settlement and colonization to descriptions of the various native peoples who have lived there over time. Though not everyone wants their hiking guides to be so comprehensive, I really enjoyed how this book contextualized the forests with their histories, both the good parts and the bad.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the mix of text and maps/diagrams. Seeing a detailed map of a trail coupled with a beautifully written description of what it’s like significantly helps me understand what I’m in for if I choose to hike it. The more text-heavy sections hold some really wonderful information, but I find that I’m less likely to read those while I’m actually on a hike. They’re better suited for at-home reading and hiking prep. That being said, it’s still the perfect size to throw in your pack with you and take on a day trip through Oregon’s forests, and the trail maps make it a great hiking companion, especially if you lose cell service and need to find your way back. I’d recommend it to anyone looking to get outdoorsy in the Oregon wilderness this summer!
A unique aspect of this book that sets it apart from other hiking manuals or handbooks is the incorporation of the history of the land, from an account of white settlement and colonization to descriptions of the various native peoples who have lived there over time. Though not everyone wants their hiking guides to be so comprehensive, I really enjoyed how this book contextualized the forests with their histories, both the good parts and the bad.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the mix of text and maps/diagrams. Seeing a detailed map of a trail coupled with a beautifully written description of what it’s like significantly helps me understand what I’m in for if I choose to hike it. The more text-heavy sections hold some really wonderful information, but I find that I’m less likely to read those while I’m actually on a hike. They’re better suited for at-home reading and hiking prep. That being said, it’s still the perfect size to throw in your pack with you and take on a day trip through Oregon’s forests, and the trail maps make it a great hiking companion, especially if you lose cell service and need to find your way back. I’d recommend it to anyone looking to get outdoorsy in the Oregon wilderness this summer!
June 6, 2018
I’ve lived my entire life just south of Portland, but I am ashamed to admit that I haven’t been to either the Tillamook or Clatsop State Forests for many years. But this year, I decided to change all that and get out of my comfortable routine and into these beautiful Oregon forests.
I started out by looking up hiking trail ideas online, but I saw this little book and thought it might be useful. It contains fifty hikes in a range of lengths and difficulties and some basic history of the two parks. I was thrilled to see that it included markings for hikes that were appropriate for taking children, and I’ve already planned to go on a few of them with my nieces and nephews. The guide is also great because in addition to detailed directions for the hikes, it has directions for how to get to the trails themselves. As the book mentions, many of the trails in the Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests are not labeled and it can be confusing to find things. But so far, the instructions have been very easy to follow and the suggested maps to take along have been perfect.
If anyone is interested in getting out this summer and planning some day hikes near Portland, this little hiking guide for the beautiful Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests is perfect. It’s a great resource for both families with kids and avid hiking enthusiasts.
I started out by looking up hiking trail ideas online, but I saw this little book and thought it might be useful. It contains fifty hikes in a range of lengths and difficulties and some basic history of the two parks. I was thrilled to see that it included markings for hikes that were appropriate for taking children, and I’ve already planned to go on a few of them with my nieces and nephews. The guide is also great because in addition to detailed directions for the hikes, it has directions for how to get to the trails themselves. As the book mentions, many of the trails in the Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests are not labeled and it can be confusing to find things. But so far, the instructions have been very easy to follow and the suggested maps to take along have been perfect.
If anyone is interested in getting out this summer and planning some day hikes near Portland, this little hiking guide for the beautiful Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests is perfect. It’s a great resource for both families with kids and avid hiking enthusiasts.
December 12, 2019
On the positive side, this book gives a good summary of history of the area, and good safety suggestions. Sadly, in spite of the implication that it has been updated from the 2001 version, I'm afraid I see no evidence of that in the part describing the trails I am familiar with. For example, it describes the Wilson River Trail as being only 22.6 miles long. That is no longer true since the construction of the section east of Elk Creek Camp. Worse, the description of the hike to University Falls is horribly outdated and makes that hike look more complicated than it is. It also implies a 2 mile round trip from the parking lot to the falls, while in reality that would be less than a mile. And it claims there is a gate on what is now the Gravelle Brothers Trail but no such gate exists today, nor does that trail share a trail with OHV traffic as the book claims. In fact this book fails to mention that the Falls are often reached by the Historic Hiking Loop consisting of Nels Rogers Trail, part of Wilson River Wagon Road Trail, and Gravelle Brothers Trail, none of those trails being mentioned by name in the trail description. I would not trust this book to give accurate information.
March 18, 2019
If you are looking for an easy-to-read and compactable book that gives way to a variety of hikes in the Pacific Northwest then 50 Hikes is the book for you! Reading this book has given me so many new day hikes to plan, detailing out a variety of difficulty ranging hikes in the Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests.
As an avid hiker, I found this book to be an easy read packed with details about the trails. Each trail description provides a brief summary of the trail experience, the difficulty, distance, trailhead coordinates, and elevation. Along with these details, there is a great "suggested maps" feature that helps guide any hiker (new and experienced) towards gaining the best possible outdoor experience with ease. The layout of the book itself was easy to read and discover a wide range of hiking trails, with photos included!
If you are looking for a great book to keep in your hiking backpack for a number of great day hike options, then 50 Hikes in the Tillamook and Claptop State Forests is a must have!
As an avid hiker, I found this book to be an easy read packed with details about the trails. Each trail description provides a brief summary of the trail experience, the difficulty, distance, trailhead coordinates, and elevation. Along with these details, there is a great "suggested maps" feature that helps guide any hiker (new and experienced) towards gaining the best possible outdoor experience with ease. The layout of the book itself was easy to read and discover a wide range of hiking trails, with photos included!
If you are looking for a great book to keep in your hiking backpack for a number of great day hike options, then 50 Hikes in the Tillamook and Claptop State Forests is a must have!
June 9, 2020
I grew up hiking in Oregon, and can confirm that this part of the state in particular holds many hidden gems I've been pleased to stumble upon. 50 Hikes, however, introduced me to hikes and natural areas that I had never even heard of. The thorough explanation of of the history of the area gives helpful context to the information to follow on each individual hike. I also appreciated the environmental audit of resources and tribute to Indigenous history in the Foreword. The practical hiking advice was helpful. It was a good reminder to carry the 12 essentials. I do wish that, rather than grouping most of the information on the hikes into the "Getting There" section, there was more information about interesting features and the history of that particular trail, rather than just directions to get to the trailhead and options as you go along the trail. Overall, I think this is a helpful book to have around if you plan on hiking in the area, as you'll probably find facts and trails inside that won't show up in a quick Google search.
June 10, 2018
50 Hikes in the Tillamook and Clatsop Forests is the perfect hiking book for the Oregon local wishing to explore nearby excursions or for the avid hiker that's looking for hidden trails. The book is small, easy to carry, and breaks the Tillamook and Clatsop forest into 5 easily accessible sections. This is not a book filled with beautiful, glossy pictures of paradise. The small black and white pictures are the least interesting part of this book. However, each hike is clearly described including: difficulty level, distance, elevation, and trailhead coordinates. The book also gives clear and easy-to-follow directions to the hike, as well as directions while on the hike. It opens with a fairly comprehensive history of the area and has a handy sketched plant list in the back. This is your go-to hiking book.
March 17, 2019
People who either live in Portland or visited Portland always end up saying either of these two things – the place itself is beautiful, with lush greenery everywhere and that the people are environmentally conscious. It used to make me wonder what must have brought this on. I found the answer in the first couple of chapters in 50 Hikes. The book explains the history and gives a timeline of events that led to the present.
The organization of information for all the hikes is the best thing about this book. You don't have to open over 15 tabs on your computer trying to find the information that you need. It tells you which of the hikes are kid-friendly, what kind of precautions you need to take on which hikes, and which flora you could find in which season. The illustrations in the book are adorable!
The organization of information for all the hikes is the best thing about this book. You don't have to open over 15 tabs on your computer trying to find the information that you need. It tells you which of the hikes are kid-friendly, what kind of precautions you need to take on which hikes, and which flora you could find in which season. The illustrations in the book are adorable!
April 27, 2019
As someone with a hobby-grade love of hiking in Oregon, I found this book very useful, and full of great ideas about where to hike next that I haven't seen yet, as well as many useful tips such as what the terrain of the trail is going to be like, how to get there from the main road (especially when encountering spots that a normal GPS would likely not pick up on), if there are seasonal closures due to weather and other conditions on the trail, as well as if there are rest and picnic spots along the way, which is always nice to know ahead of time. The web is my go-to when it comes to searching for places to hike, but I found the comprehensiveness of this book interesting and refreshing. The Sierra Club and the press did a god job of making this book easy to use, and including some interesting information and perspectives on the history of the area, besides.
December 2, 2019
An excellent book that gives a brief native history of Oregon trails.This would make a great gift for anyone who is a hiker or adventure-seeker. Each hike listed is noted with varying levels of difficulty, and each level is explained in the beginning so you know exactly what to expect. There's a helpful list of illustrated icons that easily identify what type of trail it is (such as whether it's horse-friendly, if there are bathrooms, and if the road may be blocked due to snow). In addition, the hikes also come with photos so you know what to expect should you choose to hike the trail.
The language is easy to follow and overall sets the perfect mood for anyone who is excited to hike the beautiful trails of Oregon.
The language is easy to follow and overall sets the perfect mood for anyone who is excited to hike the beautiful trails of Oregon.
March 16, 2020
What a great collection of local hikes: lesser known and less frequented than stops along the Columbia Gorge. If you're relatively new to the Pacific Northwest, fear not! This guide will take you to amazing locations just outside of the Portland Metro area and will expose you to beautiful scenery and an understanding of the region that is more in depth and help any hiker find the right route unencumbered by large crowds or packed parking lots. What sets this book apart, aside from the beautifully functional design, is the history that's included in addition to facts about the trails and their difficulty level. This is a definite must have if you love nature and appreciate the rich history of our beautiful state.
August 8, 2024
An essential hiking guidebook for anyone looking to explore the Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests! I live in Portland and enjoy hiking with my husband and our dog, but we tend to do the same tried-and-true hikes over and over rather than seeking out new ones. This bite-sized book allowed me to learn about and explore an area within driving distance of the city that I previously didn't have much experience with. I especially enjoyed the book's forward and intro sections because they gave me interesting history and environmental context about the area. I also loved Lori LaBissionere's beautiful illustrations throughout. I started with the Wilson River Corridor hike, and I can't wait to check out more of the trails detailed in this book soon!
December 1, 2018
This handy little guide was an entirely helpful companion to have during my summer-time excursions. As someone who’s not originally from Oregon, this book not only helped me find new hikes, it helped me better understand the things surrounding me. The introduction prepared me for the things I came to witness, and I became more appreciative after reading about the history of the forests. The incorporation of both illustrations and photographs made it a more unique guidebook than many. I appreciated the plant list included towards the end of the book—those illustrations were particularly lovely (I’m a sucker for a good plant sketch).
December 1, 2018
This book introduced me to a whole new world of hiking in Oregon! Like many Oregonians, I love being outside experiencing the beauty of pacific northwest nature. And like many Portlanders, I typically hike in either Forest Park or in the Columbia River Gorge. But many of the trails featured in 50 Hikes are just as close to Portland as trails in the gorge. In addition to featuring specific trails, this book provides a brief natural history of the area and an illustrated plant list. Plus, the book itself is small and lightweight and can be easily carried along on a hike. A great guide to some lesser known trails in Oregon!
March 9, 2020
I am an inexperienced hiker, especially when it comes to hiking in Oregon. However, one of my best friends has informed me that I must take her on a hike when she comes to visit me. I picked up this book to get some insight into possible trails and was very pleasantly surprised but what I found. The difficulty levels and iconography made it really simple to peruse the trails for ones that fit my level of experience and what I wanted out of a potential trail. It was very easy to read and follow and I walked away with a couple of trails in mind that sound perfect for me. I'm excited to share it with my friend so we can decide on one to hike!
August 5, 2025
I really enjoyed 50 Hikes in the Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests and found many interesting new trails to try. I like that this book gives you details for the safety, length, accessibility, and intensity of each individual trail, while also providing branch-off trail options for each one. I particularly enjoyed the trails surrounding Henry Hagg Lake as they offer a great view of the water and ample swimming spots. I also found the chapters on the history of the Clatsop and Tillamook areas very informational and respectful to the indigenous groups that originate in those areas. I will be trying the University Falls trail next!
March 19, 2018
As someone who's spent the past six years living west of Portland, this book is everything I've ever needed for a day of exploration. 50 Hikes in the Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests is an inclusive guide to the nature a hop, skip, and a jump away from Portland.
It's the perfect hiking guide to pick up and go for a day, down to its shape. 50 Hikes is about half as big as a standard book and is easy to slip into a backpack or even a coat pocket. It's so small and lightweight that it barely takes up any room at all. Highly recommended for someone who's looking for fifty days of fun.
It's the perfect hiking guide to pick up and go for a day, down to its shape. 50 Hikes is about half as big as a standard book and is easy to slip into a backpack or even a coat pocket. It's so small and lightweight that it barely takes up any room at all. Highly recommended for someone who's looking for fifty days of fun.
May 19, 2020
I'm so glad I read this book. Recently, it has given me a lot of great ideas of what I want to do next in Oregon and where some hikes thats are my speed are located. It's also been a sort of escape or fantasy for me to read through this book while dreaming of times when we can all go outside and hike without anxiety again. It confirms what those of us who live in Oregon already know, this state is gorgeous at every turn. Absolutely recommend for the hiker, nature writer, or casual weekend adventurer in you.
June 6, 2018
This is a really well-designed hiking guide that leads you on some lovely hikes. A lot of them are really easy to get to if you live in Portland Metro, or are perfect for daylong or weekend trips. It has everything you'd expect from a hiking guide--directions, descriptions, photos, difficulty levels, and the distance. This book goes above and beyond, though, and I specifically love the plant list in the back that includes illustrations of flora you might encounter on this hikes.
March 17, 2019
This book is a must have for anyone planning on taking in the natural wonders these great forests have to offer. The book is loaded with everything a budding hiker could want, difficulty ratings for the various trails, natural features of note, recommendations and warnings for all 50 hikes and trails. The book is easy to navigate and incredibly user friendly, and should definitely have a place in your backpack.
June 2, 2021
I started reading this book expecting another book with directions and descriptions of the scenery of the hikes. However, this book is a bit more narrative in nature, offering not only the great travel and hike information you would expect, but also information about the local indigenous tribes, their crafts and customs, who the land these hikes belonged to, and a narrative format of the scenery. I felt like I was a part of the forest there even before my hikes began.
August 16, 2023
As a Portlander/Oregonian, I definitely felt I needed some education on the hiking trails in the area. This was such a great solution for my curiosity. As a complete newbie, the breakdowns of the hikes, photos, illustrations, and breakdowns on where to find everything were so helpful. I can't wait to pick my first trail and take this along. I also love whenever I can get a bit of history/insight about where I call home.
August 12, 2024
I’ve lived in the PNW most of my life and haven’t done nearly as much hiking as I should. This guide was so helpful and informative, especially for someone like me who doesn’t really know where to start when it comes to hiking. I enjoyed the historical overview about the areas and to remind others to be mindful of the land. Each hike described provided detailed information like distance, difficulty, elevation, directions, and what each hike was appropriate for (children, bikes, horses, picnic areas etc). Great companion new and experienced hikers!
August 12, 2021
This is a really good guide book. It is easy to read, has clear and explained symbols but it also really brings the hike to you and you can start to envision what it will be like to hike each of the hikes in this book. While I initially bought this in it's e-book form. I have every intention of buying a second copy for my car. I plan on many good hikes thanks to this book.
July 18, 2024
As a non-Oregonian, I have been wanting to explore this area more with some manageable hiking. I think this book is a fantastic place to start looking for trails, and I thought the difficulty rating was really helpful. I bookmarked all the trails I was interested in trying, and I am excited to give them a try this summer!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews