Ramona Falls

Location

Ramona Falls: 45.3800 N, 121.7760 W

USGS Topo: Bull Run Lake

Directions

Quoting www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org: "Drive to the community of Zigzag on U.S. 26 which is 18 miles east of Sandy and 10 miles west of Government Camp. From Zigzag, go north for 4 miles on the Lolo Pass Road (forest service road 18) which is paved one lane each direction. Turn right on Road 1825 labeled 'campgrounds and trailheads'. This is paved one lane each direction. Stay right on the bridge going over the Sandy River (0.6 mile from Lolo Pass Rd.). There is a gate here that is closed in the winter when there's snow, maybe several months starting in December. Go past McNeil Campground (1 mile from Lolo Pass Rd.). Stay left past the road to Riley Horse Camp (1.8 miles from Lolo Pass Rd.). The road narrows to one lane with turnouts. Stay left past the road to Lost Creek Campground (2.2 miles from Lolo Pass Rd.). Go 0.3 more miles to the Ramona Falls Trailhead (2.4 miles from Lolo Pass Rd.). This last section is paved with potholes. The trailhead is a huge gravel parking area. On summer weekends there may be 100 cars parked." The trail starts from the southern side of the parking area next to the information board which leads through the forest for the first mile or so. At ~1.0 mile from the trailhead is a removable footbridge over the Sandy River and ~1/2 mile past the bridge is when the trail splits into the loop. Both trails lead to the falls but the one to the left does so by following Ramona Creek and the one on the right does so by following the Sandy River. I took the right trail here as well as took this trail back (I did not do the loop, which apparently would add ~0.3-0.4 miles to the hike). Walking along the river you are very exposed, so in the summer it may be pretty hot. At ~2.8 miles from the trailhead the trail intersects with the PCT, stay left to stay on the Ramona Falls trail and ~1/2 mile further you'll reach the waterfall.