11 Best Sunrise Hikes in Oregon [Great Spots to Watch the Sun Come Up]
There’s really just something about crawling out of bed during the early morning hours and basking in the light of the rising sun.
From mountains to ocean coastline, there are so many great places to watch the sun come up for the day in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
Whether you’re looking for something short and simple or a little more complex, one of the best sunrise hikes in Oregon will be magical for you.
In this post, I’ll tell you all about 11 trails in the beautiful state of Oregon that will treat you to a marvelous sky filled with oranges, pinks, and yellows.
Best Sunrise Hikes in Oregon
There are so many great hikes all across Oregon, but not all of them are suitable for catching an epic sunrise.
Below you’ll find 7 trails with incredible vantage points, each giving you a beautiful view and the opportunity to rise before the sun.
1. Misery Ridge
Distance: 3.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,000 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Location: Terrebonne
Pass Required: Oregon State Park Pass
Smith Rock State Park isn’t just one of the best places for rock climbing in the state, but also a beautiful place for hiking.
Misery Ridge is a tough hike that starts at the bottom of large rock formations that jut out of the ground and make Bend feel like a desert.
You’ll make your way up a dirt trail that’s pretty steep before reaching a viewpoint over the state park.
And not only will you see the beautiful Smith Rock, but you’ll also have the opportunity to see over 5 of Washington and Oregon’s mountains in the distance.
And when you reach the top, you’ll have views for miles and miles of the sky and the sun rising over the horizon.
This trail is pretty short, so you won’t have to start hours before sunrise, but it is pretty steep, so you’ll need at least a little time.
This is one of my favorite hikes in Oregon that’s close to Bend, especially for sunrise, and I love climbing to the top and just sitting to take in the views.
Lodging Nearby: The Campfire Hotel in Bend is a beautiful place to stay with an outdoor pool and uniquely decorated rooms.
2. Trillium Lake
Distance: 1.9 miles
Elevation Gain: 30 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Location: Government Camp
Pass Required: Northwest Forest
If you’re looking for an easy trail to bring your family on to watch the sunrise, check out Trillium Lake in the Mount Hood National Forest.
This trail is short, very flat, and has a breathtaking view of Mount Hood over Trillium Lake.
There is a great viewpoint right on the shoreline that looks out into the water and showcases the towering mountain.
Because of how close this spot is to the parking lot, you really don’t even have to walk very far to actually see the view.
If you have little kiddos, this one will be perfect for you, and it’s just over an hour from Portland.
And if you visit in the summer months, your family might even enjoy taking a dip in the lake or taking a kayak out after watching the sun come up.
Lodging Nearby: Sitting right at the base of the Timberline Ski Resort, Timberline Lodge is a beautiful home base for this hike.
3. Cape Kiwanda Sand Dunes
Distance: 0.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 100 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Location: Pacific City
Pass Required: Daily Parking Fee
One of my absolute favorite places in all of Oregon is Cape Kiwanda found in Pacific City on the Pacific Coastline.
This beautiful area has large sand dunes right on the shore of the Pacific Ocean that are perfect for climbing up.
While I suppose you might not consider this a real hike, it does take a pretty intense walk to get to the top of the dunes.
Because they are sand dunes, the ground will shift underneath your feet and make it difficult to walk up.
But once you’ve made it to the top, you will be absolutely blown away by the expansive views that you’ll have.
You’ll be able to see the ocean, the beaches, the sandstone formations along the coast, and the beautiful coastal towns.
I love getting to the top of the dunes and just taking a seat and taking in all of the views because it truly is incredible.
Lodging Nearby: The Inn at Cape Kiwanda has incredible ocean views and is just a short walk from the dunes to watch the sunrise.
4. Paulina Peak
Distance: 6.1 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,600 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Location: La Pine
Pass Required: National Parks Pass
Found in the Newberry Volcanic National Monument, Paulina Peak is the highest peak within the monument.
It is a fairly long hike to get to the top, but once you’ve made it up there, you’ll be able to see both Paulina Lake and East Lake from above.
Look out into the distance and see if you can spot other powerful mountains such as Mount Bachelor and the Sisters.
There are rolling hills and mountains in every single direction.
On a super clear day, you might even be able to see all the way down into California to Mount Shasta, which is truly such an amazing thing to witness.
If you aren’t up for hiking that long of a trail right in the away in the morning, you can also drive to the peak, but the road is only open in the summer.
After you’ve finished watching the sunrise, head down towards Paulina Lake and check out the hot springs for a way to relax after your hike.
Lodging Nearby: Just 20 minutes from the trailhead, the Best Western Newberry Station is a great place to stay with free breakfast.
5. Tumalo Mountain
Distance: 4 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,500 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Location: Bend
Pass Required: Northwest Forest
Once you’ve gotten to the top of Tumalo Mountain, you’ll be blown away by the views that you get for such a short hike.
At just 4 miles long, this hike is just moderately challenging and provides you with views of Mount Bachelor and the Three Sisters.
The views honestly make it feel like you’ve climbed a full-blown mountain, rather than just something smaller.
And if there’s snow on the mountains, it’s even better!
The trailhead for this hike is right across the street from Mount Bachelor Ski Area, so you might even see people riding the lifts or skiing if you visit in winter.
I love that this hike is accessible (for the most part) year-round, as long as you have some winter hiking gear.
You’ll just need to take a slightly different route.
Either way, this epic trail is definitely one of the best sunrise hikes in Oregon and gives you some of the most bang for your buck!
Lodging Nearby: The Waypoint Hotel in Bend is just about 30 minutes away, has an outdoor pool, and has an on-site diner.
6. Broken Top and No Name Lake
Distance: 11.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 5,000 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Location: Bend
Pass Required: Northwest Forest
Before we jump into this next epic hike, I want to say that this one definitely might be hard to get to for sunrise because of its length and difficulty.
Which is why it’s best done as a backpacking trip to get the most out of your visit.
This trail also requires you to have a permit, which you can try to snag here.
But after you’ve overcome all of those obstacles, you’ll be left with one of the most magnificent hikes in all of central Oregon.
You’ll have climbed to the Broken Top summit and will be able to watch as the sun rises up and over the mountains, shining brightly onto No Name Lake.
This is a highly sought-after hike in Oregon and is definitely one of the best things you’ll ever do, if you’re able to get a permit.
If you’re looking to do this hike but want to shorten it, check out the shortened version here, but not that you will need a high clearance vehicle.
Lodging Nearby: After a day of hiking, head to LOGE Bend, which is themed for the outdoors and is great for nature lovers.
7. King’s Mountain
Distance: 4.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,500 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Location: Tillamook
Pass Required: None
Located right in the Tillamook State Forest, the King’s Mountain hike is a beautiful trail that leads you through towering trees to a scenic viewpoint.
This hike definitely isn’t easy, with over 2,000 feet of elevation gain in just over 4 miles, but the views are so worth it!
On a clear day, you might be able to spot Mount St. Helens and Mount Hood in the distance, two of the PNW’s most prominent volcanoes.
To the west, you’ll be able to see Elk Mountain, which sits at 2,788 feet above sea level.
And when the sun begins to rise, it’ll creep up over the towering trees and take its place in the sky for the day.
It’s a beautiful spot to sit with your breakfast or coffee (props to you if you can get the coffee up without spilling!) and just enjoy the peacefulness.
Lodging Nearby: Although a ways away, Netarts Surf Inn is a beautiful place right by the shore that is a great place to explore.
Best Sunrise Hikes Near Portland
If you’re located in Portland and are wanting to see the sunrise but don’t want to drive too far, boy are you lucky.
There are quite a few pretty great spots to perch up and watch the sun peel out over the skyline within an hour of Portland.
8. Powell Butte Nature Park
Distance: Varies
Elevation Gain: Varies
Difficulty: Varies
Location: Portland
Pass Required:
If you’re looking for one of the best sunrise hikes in Oregon that is within a short distance of Portland, then the Powell Butte Nature Park is for you.
While it isn’t a huge mountain overlook (head to Sherrard Point for that!), you’ll get beautiful views without having to leave the city.
There isn’t really one particular hike here, but rather a large collection of trails that you can turn into whatever you’d like.
Simply hop on a trail and hike around the area!
There are a lot of great openings in the trails that have benches and spots to sit and watch as the sun peeks out over the horizon.
You can really make the hike as long or as short as you’d like, so make this one your own!
Lodging Nearby: In Southeast Portland, you’ll find Jupiter NEXT, featuring spacious rooms and patios to enjoy the outdoors.
9. Angels Rest
Distance: 4.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,500 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Location: Troutdale
Pass Required: None
Located in the Columbia River Gorge, Angels Rest is a beautiful, moderately challenging hike that leads to a viewpoint over the river.
The trailhead is only about 30 minutes from Portland, so it’s not too tough to get there before sunrise.
Be careful if you’re doing this one in the dark because it does have quite a lot of rocks on the trail.
At the top, you’ll have 360-degree views of the Columbia River Gorge, rolling hills in all directions, and mountains in the distance.
And early in the morning, you’ll have those epic views plus the beautiful colors that the sunrise puts into the sky.
There are plenty of places to sit on rocks at the top, so grab a seat and just enjoy the magical feeling of sunrise in Oregon.
Lodging Nearby: Book a stay at the historic McMenamins Edgefield for the night and enjoy their spa and wellness center.
10. Pittock Mansion
Distance: 3.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 600 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Location: Portland
Pass Required: None
Pittock Mansion, built in 1914, is Portland’s historic mansion that overlooks the large city and has a beautiful view of Mount Hood in the distance.
There are plenty of spaces to hike on the grounds of Pittock Mansion, which all offer beautiful views of the overlook of the city.
While you can choose other trails, the Wildwood Trail is one of the more popular, and that makes a stop at the mansion.
You’ll be 1,000 feet above the city and will have views of the PNW’s five iconic mountains, Rainier, Hood, Jefferson, St. Helens, and Adams on a clear day.
As one of the best sunrise hikes near Portland, you can watch the sun peek out over the mountain and the city, which is a really unique and beautiful experience.
If you prefer not to hike, you can also just drive to the mansion and admire the views that way.
The only downfall of this trail is that it’s very likely that there will be other people here with you.
Lodging Nearby: Just 3 miles away, Hotel Lucia has stylish rooms, decorated with photos from an award-winning photographer.
11. Sherrard Point
Distance: 0.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 50 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Location: Cascade Locks
Pass Required: Northwest Forest
Sherrard Point is one of my absolute favorite places near Portland that offers astounding views for minimal effort.
It is a bit further from Portland, about an hour, but trust me when I say that you will not regret the drive up here.
Take a short hike from the parking lot up to what’s known as Sherrard Point, a viewpoint that overlooks the Mount Hood National Forest.
Be sure to visit on a clear day because you’re not going to want to miss the views that you can see here.
In the distance, you’ll be able to see Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams, Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, and more if you look closely.
My favorite view is that of Mount Hood, towering right in front of you, although still miles and miles away.
At sunrise, the colors fill the sky and make this one of the most magical places around, that you likely won’t have to share with many other people.
Lodging Nearby: I again will recommend McMenamins Edgefield because Sherrard Point is quite a ways from other lodging options.
Tips for Viewing a Beautiful Sunrise
When you’re getting ready to head out and watch a sunrise there are a few things that you’re going to want to remember.
- Know when the sun will rise: This time changes every day, so continue to check and keep yourself updated to ensure you arrive on time!
- Watch the sky: Look for partly cloudy conditions with a high cloud cover and ‘wispy’ (or cirrus) clouds for the best views.
- Give yourself enough time: Arrive at your viewing point at least 30 minutes before sunrise time, as sometimes the best colors come out beforehand!
- Look for low humidity: Colors come out better when the humidity is lower, so sometimes fall and winter produce the best sunrises.
What to Pack for a Sunrise Hike
Packing for a hike when part of it is going to be in the dark can be a little tricky because you really want to make sure that you’re prepared.
Below are a few of the best things to remember when packing for a sunrise hike.
☀ Warm Clothing: I always pack extra clothing for sunrises and sunsets because they tend to be colder temperatures.
☀ Headlamp: You’ll want to be able to see on the trail, so wear a headlamp with fresh batteries.
☀ Spare Batteries: You don’t want that headlamp to die, so always carry spare batteries.
☀ Flashlight: I also typically carry a flashlight because I’m scared of getting stuck in the dark with no light!
☀ Bear Spray: Animals are most active at night and in the morning, so this will help protect you.
☀ Ten Essentials: Aside from the above you should also be packing the ten essentials in your backpack.
When is the Best Time for Hiking in Oregon?
Oregon is a really beautiful state that offers hiking in certain locations all year round.
But for the best hiking, I would recommend going in the summer and fall months when there’s little to no snow on the ground.
July through September is typically the best time because it’s warmer and most trails in the state are open for use.
Fall is great too because there is beautiful fall foliage all over the state.
Winter is a great time to see the mountains all covered in snow, but it can be more difficult to hike during this time, due to that snow.
If you want to hike during winter, just be sure to check trip reports before going to ensure that you can be safe.
Tips for Hiking in Oregon
FAQs
Where Can I See the Sunrise in Oregon?
There are plenty of places to see the sunrise in Oregon and this post is full of many of them.
Some of the best places are Cape Kiwanda, Paulina Peak, the Columbia River Gorge, and more.
Where Can I Watch the Sunrise in Portland, Oregon?
If you’re looking to see the sunrise in Portland, then head to either Pittock Mansion, Powell Butte Nature Park, or Vista Bridge,
What is the Best Hike in Oregon?
This is a tough question as there are so many incredible trails in the state of Oregon.
Personally, I love hikes with expansive mountain views.
So a few of my favorites are Paulina Peak, Sherrard Point, and Misery Ridge.
Where Can I Watch the Sunrise in the Columbia River Gorge?
There are many places to watch the sunset in the Columbia River Gorge on both the Washington and Oregon sides.
A few favorites include Angel’s Rest, Dog Mountain, Coyote Wall, Sherrard Point, and Hamilton Mountain.
Conclusion: Best Sunrise Hikes in Oregon
The state of Oregon truly has some of the most magical places to visit, and are even more magical at sunrise.
And when you can get out on the trail and spend time in nature as you watch the sun awake, it’s truly the best feeling.
If you’re able to check out a few of these best sunrise hikes in Oregon, you surely won’t be disappointed.
Complete the hike, sit back and relax, and watch as the beautiful colors fill the sky and create a painting.
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