Popular day hike or overnight to scenic 120-foot mossy waterfall on Mount Hood.
“A seven-mile loop to a waterfall that fans down a wall of columnar basalt, with an unbridged glacial river in the middle of it that the Forest Service says will never be bridged.”
Plan your Mt. Hood Wilderness trip here, then get your permit from the agency.
Walk-up permit
How to get Ramona Falls
Ramona Falls is issued by the agency rather than through a booking calendar. Their page has the current process and any dates.
Official permit pagePlanning another trip? See the permits we alert on.
Ramona Falls permit season
- Season
- April 1 (trailhead gate opens, later in a heavy snow year) to October 31 (Recreation Pass requirement ends)
- route distance, loop
- 7mi
- elevation gain
- 1,000ft
Ramona Falls elevation profile
Ramona Falls Trailhead to Ramona Falls1,000 ft of descent · 5.4% average grade
Ramona Falls Trailhead
Gate opens April 1, but may open later due to snow. The road in is very rough and the Forest Service strongly recommends high-clearance vehicles.
- Mile
- 0
- Elevation
- 2,440 ft
Ramona Falls landmarks
How to get a Ramona Falls permit
No reservation. You get the permit when you arrive.
Arrive in person
Fill in the permit and pay
The wilderness permit itself is free and self-issued See the fees below.
Head out
Mt. Hood trailheads and fees
- Ramona Falls
Mt. Hood trailhead in full
Primary
Ramona Falls TrailheadThe access for the Ramona Falls loop, which enters the Mount Hood Wilderness. PCT #2000 overlaps the route for a couple of miles.
- No water
Parking
A valid Recreation Pass is required from May 1 to October 31, or $5 per vehicle per day.
Getting there
The gate opens April 1 but may open later due to snow, and the road to the trailhead is very rough, and Mt. Hood National Forest strongly recommends high-clearance vehicles.
Nearest services
Zigzag, Oregon.
As of September 2026, Ramona Falls in Mt. Hood Wilderness, Oregon requires a permit issued via walk-up. Ramona Falls is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. The permit season for Ramona Falls runs April 1 (trailhead gate opens, later in a heavy snow year) through October 31 (Recreation Pass requirement ends). The Ramona Falls route covers 7 miles with 1,000 feet of elevation gain, rated moderate.
- Type
- Overnight
- Location
- Mount Hood Wilderness, Oregon Cascades, OR
How this permit is issued
Get this permit in person at the trailhead or ranger station, or by phone.
Official permit page →Step 1: Check the agency page for the process
This permit is not sold online. Confirm where and when it is issued (and any fee) at U.S. Forest Service before your trip.
Step 2: Arrive early
Walk-up permits are issued first-come, first-served. Where the agency sets a daily quota, popular trailheads can run out on weekends and holidays.
Step 3: Have backup plans
Popular trailheads fill fast. Know alternate routes or dates.
Ramona Falls pro tips
- Cross in the morning. Glacial melt pushes the Sandy River up through the afternoon, so the crossing you liked on the way in can be worse on the way out
- The gate opens April 1 but snow can delay it. Check the forest's current conditions before driving out
- High-clearance vehicle strongly recommended for the trailhead road
- Fill out the free self-issued wilderness permit at the portal box between May 15 and October 15
- There is no bridge and there never will be one; the Forest Service states that outright
More on Ramona Falls: Live availability activityDo I need a Ramona Falls Trail permit?
How much a Ramona Falls permit costs
Ramona Falls permit fee: $5 per vehicle per day at Ramona Falls Trailhead, or a valid Recreation Pass. The wilderness permit itself is free and self-issued.
The Ramona Falls hike
- Distance
- 7 miles
- Elevation Gain
- 1,000 ft
- Route Type
- Loop
- Duration
- 1 day
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation Range
- 2,440 - 3,442 ft
A seven-mile loop to a waterfall that fans down a wall of columnar basalt, with an unbridged glacial river in the middle of it that the Forest Service says will never be bridged.
About this permit
Ramona Falls is a 7-mile round trip into the Mount Hood Wilderness on the Mt. Hood National Forest, gaining about 1,000 feet over the 3.5 miles to the falls. The Forest Service classifies it as challenging and does not recommend it for children or pets.
Two things are required. Free, self-issued wilderness permits are required from May 15 to October 15 where they are provided at a portal. The box is on the way in, and you fill one out and keep half. A valid Recreation Pass is required at Ramona Falls Trailhead from May 1 to October 31, or you pay $5 per vehicle per day.
The gate to the trailhead opens April 1 but may open later depending on snow, and the road in is very rough enough that the Forest Service strongly recommends a high-clearance vehicle. Check the forest's current conditions page rather than assuming; this is a road and a river crossing whose state changes.
The route
From the Ramona Falls Trailhead you take the Sandy River Trail one mile eastward to where it crosses the Sandy River. The Forest Service is unambiguous: there is no bridge, nor will one be installed. The Pacific Crest Trail #2000 overlaps with Ramona Falls for a couple of miles in this area.
Hikers can choose either direction around the loop (the Forest Service says it is about the same distance either way), while equestrians going to Ramona Falls stay on the southern side of the loop above the Sandy River. Overall the route is a gentle climb gaining 1,000 feet over the 3.5 miles to the falls, for a 7-mile round trip.
The two things that catch people are the crossing and the sun. Mt. Hood National Forest warns that there are large sections with no tree cover and to come prepared with sun protection and plenty of water, and separately that the trail is considered challenging and is not recommended for children and pets.
Why it matters
Mt. Hood National Forest describes the Sandy River, a designated Wild and Scenic River, as a dramatic example of what a glacial-fed river can do to a landscape, with physical signs of a volcanic debris flow from over 200 years ago visible where the trail runs near it. The crossing is not an inconvenience on the way to the falls; it is the point of the place.
The feeling
Open, sunbaked stretches with no tree cover, then the Sandy River braided across gravel, then a cool green side canyon and Ramona Falls spreading over the basalt at the end of it.
Ramona Falls hike highlights
- A free self-issued wilderness permit from a portal box, May 15 to October 15
- A $5 per vehicle per day fee, or a valid Recreation Pass, May 1 to October 31
- An unbridged crossing of a glacial river with strong currents, one mile in
- Large sections with no tree cover. The Forest Service says to bring sun protection and plenty of water
- A rough access road where high-clearance vehicles are strongly recommended
How hard the Ramona Falls hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required2/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills2/5
- Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential3/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity1/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route2/5
Best for: Day hikers comfortable fording a cold, fast river without a bridge.
Recommended experience: Experience judging a river crossing, or the willingness to turn around at one.
Not recommended for: Children and pets: the Forest Service says so directly, because of the crossing.
When to hike Ramona Falls
Best time to visit
The trailhead gate opens April 1, though snow can delay it, and the Recreation Pass requirement runs through October 31. Early season means high, cold water at the crossing; late summer and early autumn generally mean the lowest, most manageable flow. Cross in the morning either way.
- Peak
- July through September
- Shoulder
- Late spring and October
Spring
Gate opens April 1 if snow allows. The Sandy River runs high on snowmelt.
Crowd level · moderate
- Advantage: Full waterfall flow
- Advantage: Green and cool
- Advantage: Fewer people than summer
- Challenge: The crossing at its most dangerous
- Challenge: Gate may still be closed
- Challenge: Snow on the upper trail
Summer
Peak season and peak sun. Glacial melt keeps the river up through the afternoon.
Crowd level · high
- Advantage: Warm
- Advantage: Long days
- Advantage: Most reliable crossing conditions in the morning
- Challenge: Exposed, treeless sections in full sun
- Challenge: Afternoon flows higher than morning
- Challenge: Busy trailhead
Fall
The river drops and the crowds go with it. Recreation Pass requirement runs to October 31.
Crowd level · moderate
- Advantage: Easiest crossing of the year
- Advantage: Cool hiking
- Advantage: Quiet
- Challenge: Short days
- Challenge: Wilderness permit portal comes out October 15
- Challenge: Early snow possible
Winter
Gate closed and no permit required.
Crowd level · low
- Advantage: Solitude
- Challenge: No vehicle access
- Challenge: Snow
- Challenge: The crossing in winter is a serious undertaking
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
56°
44°
Wed
50°
40°
Thu
62°
42°
Fri
65°
44°
Sat
57°
39°
Sun
61°
41°
Mon
68°
44°
Ramona Falls photography guide
Golden Hour
The falls hold soft light all day because of the canyon. The golden-hour shot here is the Sandy River braid, not the waterfall.
Best Light
Overcast. The falls fan across dark basalt and blow out badly in direct sun.
Beat the Crowds
Start early. It also gets you the lower river flow, so the two problems have the same solution.
Classic Shots
- Ramona Falls spread across the columnar basalt wall
- The unbridged Sandy River crossing with Mount Hood behind
- The debris-flow scar along the Sandy River Trail
- Open, treeless trail sections that explain the sun warning
Ramona Falls rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- Sun protection and more water than the distance suggests. The Forest Service singles out the exposed sections
- Footwear you can cross a cold, fast, glacial river in
- Trekking poles for the crossing, which is where they earn their keep
Recommended gear
- A change of socks for after the river
- A high-clearance vehicle, or a willingness to walk the last of a rough road
- Water treatment if you plan to refill
Rules & regulations
- 01Free, self-issued wilderness permits are required from May 15 to October 15 when provided at a portal
- 02A valid Recreation Pass is required at Ramona Falls Trailhead from May 1 to October 31
- 03Wilderness restrictions apply throughout the Mount Hood Wilderness
- 04Equestrians heading to Ramona Falls stay on the southern side of the loop above the Sandy River
Hazards & considerations
- The Sandy River crossing. It is unbridged by design, glacial, and the Forest Service warns of strong currents and tells hikers to know when to turn around
- Flow that rises through the day as glacial melt increases. The crossing you did in the morning is not the crossing you get in the afternoon
- Sun exposure on long stretches with no tree cover
- A very rough access road
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Ramona Falls.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Ramona Falls · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
Some links may be affiliate links. Purchases support PermitSnag at no extra cost to you.
Ramona Falls FAQ
Do I need a permit to hike to Ramona Falls?
Yes, but it is free. Mt. Hood National Forest requires free, self-issued wilderness permits from May 15 to October 15 where they are provided at a portal. You fill one out at the box and carry your half. Separately, a valid Recreation Pass is required at Ramona Falls Trailhead from May 1 to October 31, or $5 per vehicle per day.
How long is the hike to Ramona Falls?
Seven miles round trip. Mt. Hood National Forest describes the route as a gentle climb gaining 1,000 feet over the 3.5 miles to the falls, and says the loop is about the same distance in either direction.
Is there a bridge over the Sandy River on the Ramona Falls trail?
No. The Forest Service states plainly that there is no bridge, nor will one be installed. Hikers must cross a glacial river with strong currents one mile in from the trailhead, and the Forest Service advises using extreme caution and knowing when to turn around.
Is the Ramona Falls trail suitable for children or dogs?
Mt. Hood National Forest says it is not recommended for children and pets, because of the unbridged glacial river crossing. The trail is otherwise a gentle grade.
When does the Ramona Falls trailhead open?
The gate opens April 1, but the Forest Service notes it may open later due to snow. The road to the trailhead is very rough and high-clearance vehicles are strongly recommended.
Ramona Falls trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
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Questions
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Trip Reports
Write ReportAlternatives to a Ramona Falls permit
- Similar ExperienceNo permit needed
Paradise Park
An alpine meadow with a view of Mount Hood, reached by Paradise Park Trail #778 from Forest Road 2639-021.
Tradeoffs
A much bigger climb and no river ford. A Recreation Pass is required at that trailhead too, May 1 to October 31.
- Similar ExperienceNo permit needed
McNeil Point Shelter
A short hike off the Timberline Trail to the stone shelter, with views over the Bull Run watershed.
Tradeoffs
Higher, later to melt out, often through June, and no river to cross.
- Same AreaNo permit needed
An autumn visit to the same trail
The Sandy River drops as glacial melt slows, which is the single biggest variable on this hike.
Tradeoffs
Shorter days, and the self-issue permit portal comes out on October 15.
Where to stay near Ramona Falls
- Flag Point LookoutMt. Hood National Forest
- Nottingham CampgroundMt. Hood National Forest
- Fivemile Butte LookoutMt. Hood National Forest
- All Oregon campgrounds
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