Little Zigzag Falls Hike

Overview

This is a short trail along a beautiful stream to a photogenic waterfall, which tumbles in two splashing drops for a total of 41 feet. The trailhead here is in an old quarry used to build the original Mount Hood Highway, which now is blocked off to further vehicle traffic at this point. There’s an information sign that describes the construction of the highway in 1923. The original bridge over Little Zigzag Creek is near the parking area. Signage also touts the benefits of negative ions, which are generated in abundance by cascading creeks and waterfalls. The Little Zigzag Falls Trail #795C enters the forest just past a picnic table and under a rock face. This is a pleasant mossy stroll alongside Little Zigzag Creek. You'll cross two footbridges over a boggy area. The devil’s club and skunk-cabbage flourish in the muck, while huckleberry and rhododendron form the understory under Douglas-fir and western hemlock. The rhododendrons erupt in pink blooms in July. A user trail that leads up to the top of the falls parts from the main tread. Little Zigzag Falls splashes prettily down a rock face, resembling a mini Ramona Falls. At the falls, there’s a memorial bench to Helen and Jim Ogle. A loop is possible. You can cross the creek on a log above the falls, and then do a short bushwhack up to a ridge to join the Pioneer Bridle Trail. Go right to follow the Bridle Trail down to the Old Mount Hood Highway, which will deliver you to the trailhead. In the winter, there is usually snow, but the access road is plowed to the Kiwanis Camp a short distance from the trailhead, so it makes a good winter hike or snowshoe.

Trail Stats

Photos

400px-LittleZigzagFallsMap2

400px-LittleZigzagFallsMap2

250px-ZigFalls

250px-ZigFalls

250px-Devil%27s_club%2C_Little_Zigzag_Creek

250px-Devil%27s_club%2C_Little_Zigzag_Creek

250px-Small_cascade%2C_Little_Zigzag_Creek

250px-Small_cascade%2C_Little_Zigzag_Creek

260px-Littlezzfalls14

260px-Littlezzfalls14

Tags