If you ever wanted to know what it was like traveling along the Oregon trail, trekking through mountainous terrain with little more than a covered wagon, a hike along the Blue Mountains may be right up your alley. 

“The heavily timbered, steeply graded Blue Mountains marked the last major obstacle for pioneers before they entered the grassy, scrubby Umatilla Valley and then either rafted the difficult Columbia or, after 1846, took the Barlow Road. Many emigrant journal accounts record their astonishment at the sight of 200-foot -tall trees and the view from the Blue Mountains Pass of the high volcanic peaks of the Cascade Range.” ~go-oregon.com 

Photo Credit: ArtBrom via go-oregon.com

Blue Mountain Hiking Trails

There are many trails that range from easy to very difficult. You can see info about them all HERE, but a few favorites are listed below.

Alder Creek Trail

Length: 3 miles
Difficulty: Difficult 
Time: 1.5 – 2.5 hours 
Trailhead Elevation: 4100

Boulder Ridge Trial

Length: 3.9 miles one-way
Difficulty: Difficult 
Time: 3 – 4 hours 
Trailhead Elevation: 1200

Granite Creek Trail

Length: 3.4 miles
Difficulty: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 – 2.5 hours 
Trailhead Elevation: 4300

HO Reservoir Trail

Length: 3.4 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 1 – 2 hours 

A view of the North Sister from the Dee Wright Observatory at the top of the McKenzie Pass (Oregon highway 242).

Photo Credit: Kirt Edblom – Flickr

 

 

Thanks to Legacy Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram of Island City Oregon for bringing us this great information about the Blue Mountains in Oregon!