Little Zigzag Falls offers a peaceful walk through a forested canyon alongside a clear mountain creek
Want an easy hike to a waterfall near Portland that doesn't take all day? Little Zigzag Falls is an impressive waterfall just a short walk from the trailhead.
The falls drop 41 feet in two cascading tiers over a dark, sloping rock face. White water rushes between moss-covered rocks and fallen logs before reaching a clear, blue-green pool below.
The contrast between the white cascades, blue-green water, and deep green forest creates a beautiful scene. Towering trees and their exposed, winding roots add to the rugged character of this little canyon.
You can view the falls from several spots at the end of the trail. A memorial bench dedicated to Helen and Jim Ogle sits nearby, offering a quiet place to rest and listen to the rushing water.
Little Zigzag Falls Hiking Trail
The Little Zigzag Falls Trail #795C starts just past a picnic table and passes beneath a rock face before entering the forest. It follows Little Zigzag Creek through a steep, narrow canyon. Most hikers reach the falls in about 10–15 minutes.
Along the way, you'll cross two footbridges over a boggy area and pass a seasonal spring on the north side.
The trail is mostly gentle, with dirt, exposed roots and rocks.
Near the falls, the trail splits into two paths. The main path continues to the base of the waterfall, where you can enjoy views of the cascading water. A narrower path branches left and climbs to the top of the falls.
This side trail is steeper, muddy, and rougher, so watch your step.
Devil's club and skunk cabbage grow in the wet ground, while huckleberry and rhododendron fill the understory beneath tall Douglas-fir and western hemlock trees.
The trail is mostly gentle, with dirt, exposed roots, rocks, and a sandy finish near the falls.
A Short Walk Through Oregon Road History
This little canyon has more than 175 years of travel history. In 1846, pioneers traveling along the Barlow Road, part of the Oregon Trail, struggled down nearby Laurel Hill.
In 1923, crews used the quarry at today's trailhead to help build the original Mount Hood Highway. Remnants of the old highway bridge over Little Zigzag Creek still stand near the parking area.
In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps cleared an old section of the Barlow Road for use as the Pioneer Bridle Path. The trail has been used since about 1935.
Finally, Highway 26 replaced the old Mount Hood Highway in the late 1950s. An interpretive sign at the trailhead tells the story of the highway's construction.
Another sign discusses negative ions produced by rushing water.
🔵 Winter: Snow usually covers the trail. The access road is plowed to Kiwanis Camp, leaving a short walk to the trailhead. This makes Little Zigzag Falls a nice winter destination for snowshoeing.
If parking in a designated Sno-Park, you'll need an Oregon Sno-Park permit from November 1 through April 30.
Little Zigzag Falls Trail | Facts
Open: Year-round (snow in winter)
Managed by: U.S. Forest Service, Mt. Hood National Forest, Zigzag Ranger District
Amenities: Portable toilet, picnic table, interpretive signs
Activities: Hiking, waterfall viewing, photography, picnicking, snowshoeing
Distance from the parking: 0.4 miles one way (0.8 miles round trip)
Road access: Any passenger vehicle
Day-use fees: Required May 1 – October 31, or a Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass
Elevation: About 3,000 ft, up to 3,350 ft (1,021 m) at the falls
Little Zigzag Falls Trailhead is located:
- 7 miles west of Government Camp
- 25 miles east of Sandy
- 50 miles east of Portland.
Adventures Nearby
Directions to Little Zigzag Falls Trailhead
From Portland,
- Take US-26 east toward Sandy
- From the last traffic light in Sandy, continue 22.8 miles east on US-26, passing through Rhododendron
- About 5 miles past Rhododendron, turn left onto Forest Road 2639 (Kiwanis Camp Road)
- Follow the road for 2.2 miles to the large parking area at the end.