Mount Defiance

Moderate (to Hole-in-the-Wall Falls)

2.5 mile loop

600 feet elevation gain

Open all year


Very Difficult (to summit)

12.1 mile loop

4800 feet elevation gain

Open mid-June through October

One of the most physically demanding paths in Oregon, the Mount Defiance Trail gains nearly 5000 feet of elevation on its way to the highest point in the Columbia Gorge. But the trail begins with an easier option—a short, steep loop that visits waterfalls, viewpoints, and creek valleys at the mountain’s base.

Take Interstate 84 . . .

Other Options

A shorter, 1.6-mile trail climbs to . . .

This chapter taken from the book 100 Hikes: Northwest Oregon