Ramona Falls Trail, Mt. Hood National Forest- Review
Overview
Ramona Falls Trail Head Address is located here
Ramona falls is located in the Mt. Hood National Forest near Rhododendron, Oregon. The main draw of this hike is Ramona Falls, beautiful cascading waterfalls about 3.5 miles up the trail. We ventured out hoping to make it the entire 7 mile round trip but ran out of water just after the Sandy River and had to turn back ( about 1.7 miles out).
We saw a lot of families who made it to the river and turned back, which is a gorgeous section of the trail in itself. I didn't see too many other families ( especially with littler kids who were walking) past the river. Though I think a lot of that had to do with the fact it was a 95 degree day when we hiked this ( which was not our best idea!)
Ramona Falls River Crossing:
The Sandy River crossing is the biggest CON of this adventure. In fact, Oregon Hikers does not recommend this as a family friend hike and I am sure it's because of the Sandy River crossing. Even in summer, the river was moving really fast and it looked pretty deep. There was a bridge several years ago but it washed away and they haven't built a new one. If you want to make it all the way to Ramona Falls, you'll need to cross the river on fallen trees which can obviously be really dangerous, especially for kids.
I don't recommend crossing this river unless you are really comfortable river crossing and can watch your kids really closely AND it's mid to late summer. We stood at the banks of the Sandy River and watched a lot of people cross and I had a few heart attacks watching folks attempt to cross it.
Check out the video below to see us crossing the river. Despite being an experienced hiker and an experienced hiking family, I was quite nervous helping my kids across the fallen logs and there isn't a lot of room for error.
Pros
Gorgeous views of Mt. Hood
Lots of families on the trail
Really fun boulders, perfect for kids who are interested in a little climbing too.
Lots of parking, which is always a concern at Mt. Hood in peak season.
Cons
Sandy River crossing was not ideal for kids. The water was really fast and there is no bridge. Hikers must cross fallen tress.
Sections of the trail are quite hot and exposed.
Lots of dog poop bags on the trail.
Heavily trafficked trail, not ideal if you're looking for solitude.
Resources
Oregon Hikers Guide to Ramona Falls
Ramona Falls-US Forest Service Guide
NW Hiker Guide to Ramona Falls
The Outdoor Project's Guide to Ramona Falls
FAQ About Ramona Falls
1) Is Ramona Falls Dog Friendly?
Yes, Ramona Falls is dog friendly. There were tons of dogs on the trail, including our dachshund. That being said, there was a lot of dog poop on the trail and dog poop in bags that people left.
2) Do you need a National Recreation Pass? And how much is it?
Yes you do and its $5.00 and can bought at any of the little stores on the way to Mt. Hood.
Have you been to Ramona Falls? What are your favorite spots and things to do there? Add your thoughts on this adventure to help our community of adventurous PNW families! Let us know in the comments below!⠀⠀⠀
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