PARADISE PARK

WHERE:     From Portland take highway 26 east to Zig Zag where you will take a left onto Lolo Pass Road right next to the Zig Zag general store.  Follow to Forest Road 1825 where you take a right then make sure to stay on the left when it splits with Lost Creek road:  The signs for Ramona Falls where pretty distinguishing so there should not be much problem finding it.

THE HIKE:  Begin following the trail leading to Ramona Falls (see the Hike review).  About .3 miles before reaching the falls you will reach a junction with the Pacific Crest Trail, 3300 feet above sea level, where you will head south.  The next 3.6 miles rises to 5400 feet to a Junction with Paradise Park trail #170.  This portion of the PCT follows the Sandy river for a while then rising up a canyon providing views of Slide mountain as well as many distant waterfalls that are originate on Sandy, Reid and Zig-zag glaciers on Mt. Hood.  There are also many close up views of Mt. Hood as you enter its immediate presence.  On the west side of the Mountain the Timberline is lower than anywhere else to a combination of snowfall and shorter summers (the west side has fewer growing months at higher elevations due to more moderate temperatures influenced by the marine climate.

The Paradise Park trail is actually a loop that returns back to the PCT after 2.4 miles:  There is also an alternate trail back to the PCT that you will reach after 1.4 miles.  I hiked this trail in July when the wildflowers were not yet in full bloom.  Mt. Hood however is always in full bloom.  This trail also brings you to the remains of an old shelter at approximately 5800 feet above sea level.