Mt. Jefferson fills half the sky from the green alpine meadows and sparkling lakes of Jefferson Park. A heavily-used portion of the Pacific Crest Trail climbs across Park Ridge to this patch of paradise. For a less difficult hike, consider setting your goal as the spectacular viewpoint atop Park Ridge itself. An even easier alternative is a short loop on a meadow-lined section of the old Skyline Trail past Pyramid Butte. Be forewarned, however, that the trailhead can be reached only by high-clearance vehicles, and that Jefferson Park is often crowded on summer weekends.

From Interstate 205 near Oregon City, take exit . . .

Other Options

Two other routes reach Jefferson Park. The less crowded . . .

This chapter taken from the book 100 Hikes: Northwest Oregon