Little Zigzag Falls Trail is a 0.7 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Government Camp, Oregon that features a waterfall and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips and is best used from April until October. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
Mount Hood National Forest requires a recreation pass during certain times of the year. For more information, please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mthood/recreation/recarea/?recid=53552 FIRE CLOSURE: From Sep 25, 2020 - May 15, 2021 there are closures in this park or area due to wildfire. For more information, please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/mthood/alerts-notices/?aid=62187 This is a nice little trail off the main road with a pretty waterfall and forest surroundings that is good for the whole family. It can be a bit icy in a few parts but is still passable to the top without spikes, though they certainly make it easier. Users have reported that there is a fork in the trail near the falls and the route with better views and less incline is on the right. According to Marissa Solini Photography and Disabled Hikers (https://www.marissasolini.com/blog/ada-accessible-oregon-elopement-locations), this trail follows along a creek and leads to a view of a wide cascading waterfall streaming over moss-covered rocks in a thick old-growth forest. A Northwest Forest Pass is required. This trail has two small wooden boardwalk bridges. For current trail conditions - it is recommended to contact the Zigzag Ranger Station at Phone: (503) 622-3191. Accessibility: There do not appear to be any designated accessible spaces in the gravel parking lot off of Kiwanis Camp Road at the west end of the trail. The trail surface is packed dirt with a few short wooden bridges with edge barriers and typically at least 3 feet wide. The AllTrails estimated grade is moderately steep (5-8%), except for a very steep (over 12%) section at about 0.3 miles uphill when going southeast, however, users report this being an easy and gentle hike. Disabled Hikers gives this trail a spoon rating of 1 (level, paved, 0-2 miles, very easy trailhead access, probably wheelchair accessible). According to the park website, this trail was recently restored to be wheelchair-accessible. Due to the recent trail restoration, users report this trail to have an estimated grade of gentle (3% or less) for about the first half of the trail and mostly gentle (5% or less) for the last section as your approach the viewing area to the waterfalls. Trail goers using wheelchair/mobility equipment or strollers may need assistance when crossing the small bridges and navigating around/over a few exposed roots along the trail. In the wintertime, the surface may be snowy, icy, and muddy and may not be possible for mobility equipment users. There are benches at the waterfall viewpoint for resting. There is a picnic table at the start of the trail. There is sometimes a wheelchair-accessible outhouse.
Travel Oregon, 670 Hawthorne St, Suite 240 , Salem, OR, 97301, Phone: 800-547-7842
Directions from Rhododendron: Follow Hwy. 26 for five miles, then turn left onto Rd. 2639 (Kiwanis Camp Road) and continue to the end of the road and a large parking area.
This was a gorgeous trail!! I hiked this morning (3/7) to beautiful falling snow. I only saw one other person out and about. I accidently tried the hidden lakes trail head before I realized I had to walk a bit further back along the road to zigzag trail head I just wore boots and stayed on the path with no problem- I tried to step off the trail to look at the river and went up to my knees though; so you're good as long as you stay on the path! Overall 100% recommend this beautiful hike in the winter!
Great boots made the snow no problem. can't wait to see it when it's not frozen too! Super beautiful and enchanting
Hiked 12/12 -road to the trailhead and parking lot were snowy, but plenty of parking was available for a Saturday morning -micro spikes were nice to have but since the hike is so short it would be fine without them too -short easy hike with a nice pay off at the waterfall -we lucked out & had the trail to ourselves!!
Very easy little trail off the main road with a pretty waterfall and forest surroundings. A bit icy in a few parts but still passable to the top without spikes (though they certainly make it easier). Fun little walk for kids or to get the waterfall reward with very minimal effort.
11/14/20 about 4pm, took 27m even stopping some. Very flat and easy, slightly muddy but it could be icy.