Finding solitude on a day hike within driving distance of Portland

Big Slide Mt. and Big Slide Lake from Bull of the Woods near lookout



One of my favorite wilderness areas within driving range of the Portland area for a day hike is Bull of the Woods Wilderness. One of the reasons is because every now and then, you can hike a trail and meet, see, or hear absolutely no one. Unfortunately in Oregon's mountains, there are no guarantees you will find the complete serenity found when only you and the mountains interact, without any interference from the outside world. However, there are areas where one has a much better chance to find solitude. I have found this on a few hikes on the Dickey Creek Trail.