Ramona Falls Gear Checklist

What shapes your gear on Ramona Falls

Distance and climb

The Forest Service lists 7 miles round trip, with 1000 feet of gain spread across the 3.5 miles up to the falls. Hikers who tracked the route with a watch or an app logged closer to 8 miles.

From Mt. Hood National Forest (USDA Forest Service), Maddie Deer and Uprooted Traveler

The river crossing

The Sandy crossing comes about a mile in, and you cross it again on the way back. The Forest Service says there is no bridge and none will be built. Hikers pick a fallen log, sometimes with a rope strung beside it, or wade. A Mazamas club listing calls it a large crossing that usually means balancing over moving water.

From Mt. Hood National Forest (USDA Forest Service), Oregon Hikers Field Guide, Maddie Deer and Mazamas

When the water is lowest

Morning is when the river sits lowest, and by late afternoon it is at its highest. One hiker watched it rise noticeably in about two hours around 2 p.m. Mid-summer to early fall is the easiest window. A 2014 drowning followed a sudden storm that raised the water fast.

From Maddie Deer, Oregon Hikers Field Guide and Uprooted Traveler

Permit box and pass

The permit box sits past a big boulder, about 0.2 miles from the parking lot. One hiker found a pencil in it. A recreation pass is needed at the trailhead, and parking is $5 per vehicle per day.

From Mt. Hood National Forest (USDA Forest Service), Oregon Hikers Field Guide, Maddie Deer and Uprooted Traveler

Road and signal

The road in is rough and the Forest Service recommends a high-clearance vehicle. Cell service is unlikely, so hikers download maps before leaving town.

From Mt. Hood National Forest (USDA Forest Service) and Uprooted Traveler

Winter access

From December 1 to April 1 the access road is gated lower down, which adds miles each way. People still do the loop on snowshoes or skis.

From Oregon Hikers Field Guide and Uprooted Traveler

What hikers carry on Ramona Falls

• A trekking pole or two

  A blogger who crossed on logs suggests bringing one for extra help at the river. A Timberline Trail backpacker who forded the Sandy higher up used poles, and found the water about knee deep with a faster center than expected.

  From Maddie Deer and Washington Trails Association

• Footwear you trust on wet logs and cold water

  The Oregon Hikers guide tells people to wear proper footwear and treat this as a backcountry hike. A 2007 winter scout slipped on icy logs, waded the Sandy instead, and called the water painfully cold.

  From Oregon Hikers Field Guide and Portland Hikers Archive

• A pencil or pen

  The permit is a paper form you fill out at the box. A blogger found a pencil there, then suggested carrying your own in case the box has none. She notes that hikers without a completed permit can be fined.

  From Maddie Deer

• A map saved to your phone

  Hikers report no signal at the trailhead or on the trail, so one blogger recommends downloading offline maps first. A Timberline Trail hiker found a GPS app most useful for picking the trail back up after river crossings.

  From Uprooted Traveler and Washington Trails Association

• Dry, warm clothes left in the car

  After wading the Sandy in January, a scout changed into warm dry clothes at the car for the drive home. The river is cold even when the day is not.

  From Portland Hikers Archive

• Microspikes or snowshoes between December and April

  With the road gated, the walk starts miles lower in snow. One guide says to bring microspikes and snowshoes in that season, and the 2007 scout found traction cleats easier than snowshoes on about 4 to 6 inches of snow.

  From Uprooted Traveler and Portland Hikers Archive

• Hand sanitizer

  A blogger who hiked the loop says the trailhead toilet is likely to be out of it.

  From Maddie Deer

• Sun protection and plenty of water

  The Forest Service points out that large sections of the trail have no tree cover and says to carry both.

  From Mt. Hood National Forest (USDA Forest Service)

Gear questions for Ramona Falls