[Popinmerf]

Hi! Any good trip ideas for Southern Wa or Northern Oregon? We're new the area, and love hiking. We did Packwood Lake last weekend and enjoyed it. We're looking to camp where it's snow free approx. 4-5 miles in. It would also be nice to have some escape from the forest and into the sunshine. We don't mind a little snow for hiking either. Ideas?

[Treehugger5]

See my TR in the forum for Hell's Canyon right now.

[payslee]

The Deschutes River trail just east of the Dalles is easy, sunny, and loaded with spots. Openings on the West side of the mountain are all mostly way up high and still snowed in. You might call the Mt St Helens rangers about the Loowit trail or a permit for the Mt Margaret Back Country. Many spots should be melted out and if you're new to the area and haven't been there yet, it's a really special place. Avoid a route crossing the Toutle this time of year. Have fun. -payslee

[drm]

In the Columbia River Gorge Eagle Creek and Herman Creek are standards - crowded on sunny weekends. Badger Creek is accessible on the east side via Tygh Valley and Wamic and largely melted out, possibly even to Badger Lake. The lower parts of Trapper Creek in the wilderness of the same name (north of Carson) should be melted out. And of course there is the Lewis River Trail, which I posted a trip report on recently. Escaping the forest into sunshine is not easy now, but the Lewis River Trail gets decent sunshine as you are facing east or southeast and occasionally south across the river. If you can get to Badger Lake (probably still some snow for a while at the end) that would have plenty of sun. Indian Heaven and Mts Adams and Hood are all still under deep snow.

[Trail Angel]

if you can get your hands on the red Sullivan guide, that should help you out. Or any guide book for that region.