By Danella Demary For the Mountain Times
Little Zigzag Falls is an easy-to-find and even easier-to-walk trail that leads to one of our favorite underrated spots in Mount Hood National Forest. When thinking of the more popular trails on Mt. Hood, Ramona Falls, Mirror Lake and Timberline Trail all come to mind. These options offer a big payoff with some of the area’s breathtaking features, but they aren’t without the accompanying hike to match. What we have found after living in the foothills of Mt. Hood for the past four years is that you don’t have to hike hard or reach into remote parts of the area to find something spectacular.
Directions to Little Zigzag Falls: About halfway between Welches and Government Camp, you will see Forest Service Road 39, on your left when driving east. It’s here you’ll find some of the best dispersed and secluded river spots as well as a number of walking trails.
Take Road 39 to its end, about 2.5 miles, and you’ll come to a small parking lot and an old bridge that dates to the 1920s. From here, stroll along the Zigzag River for only one-half mile and you’ll reach the stunning Little Zigzag Falls.
This short trail has been a favorite of ours since our first visit. We have hiked this trail many times ourselves, brought visiting friends and family, as well as recommended it to many hikers coming our way from Portland and beyond. Just last week, we grabbed burritos from the food truck outside of Goodwynn’s and took our camper van up to the trailhead to have dinner at the picnic table just 100 feet from the parking area. When we opened the doors of our van, we were immediately met with the rushing sound of the river running under the stone bridge that was a part of the original Mount Hood Highway.
The interpretive sign that signals the beginning of the trail describes the change in the roadway. It also details the benefits of negative ions in the air caused by the rushing water. Small rapids are seen along the river, accompanying the trail all the way to the falls. We love how this trail weaves and winds its way through the lush landscape as we cross log footbridges, duck under basalt rock overhangs, and swerve around nurse logs that flourish with regeneration.
There is a bench on which to sit at the falls and watch as the Little Zigzag River tumbles more than 40 feet into a small basin. Or you can choose to keep walking on any of the social trails that have been forged by nature (and maintained by the Forest Service) beside the cascading water. The more adventurous can hike to the top of the falls in another few minutes. Often overlooked because of its short distance and smaller size, Little Zigzag Falls doesn’t see as much foot traffic as some of the more iconic trails in the area. It does, however, offer a more accessible, family friendly and equally picturesque portrait of what Mt. Hood National Forest has to offer.