The views from Powell Butte, another extinct cinder cone volcano, will not disappoint. This century-old public space is known for its open-air reservoirs, forested hiking trails, sunset picnics and epic city views. The route is well marked with signs and involves about 2.5 miles (4 km) of walking. The tour takes about four hours, five dollars and a bit of leg power. Instead, you’ll rely on the 4 T’s: trail, tram, trolley and train. The 4T Trail is a self-guided tour that lets you explore the city - and see some of the best views - without a car. The park’s Bluff Trail connects to the Springwater Corridor on the Willamette for a 2.3-mile (3.7 km) loop that offers views of marshland favored by scores of great blue herons, as well as the vintage rides of Oaks Amusement Park. Minutes from downtown Portland, between the Willamette River and Sellwood-Moreland, Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge is a haven for birds and walkers. Pack a picnic, challenge yourself with some reps up the stairs near Southeast 69th Avenue or circle the picturesque reservoirs on the park’s west side. Tabor Park offers paved and natural-surface trails that wind through evergreen forest and to the top of a 636-foot (194 m) extinct cinder cone volcano, where you’ll enjoy great views of the city skyline. Located east of the shops and restaurants of Southeast Hawthorne, Mt.

Once you pass the Stone House, known to Portlanders as the “Witch’s House,” you can ascend to Pittock Mansion or explore one of the seven loop trails of varying lengths that will take you into the forest and through neighborhood streets. Macleay Parkįrom the fields of Macleay Park in Northwest Portland, it’s less than a mile (1.6 km) to the Wildwood Trail. On any given day you’ll find trail runners, dog walkers, families and outdoor enthusiasts enjoying every inch of Forest Park. The Wildwood Trail’s highest point is at the historic Pittock Mansion, and the southern part of the trail passes through Washington Park and Hoyt Arboretum.

Wildwood TrailĪ National Recreation Trail, Forest Park’s Wildwood Trail stretches for more than 30 miles (48.3 km) through the Tualatin Hills (also known as the West Hills) from the Newberry Road Trailhead to the north and the Wildwood Trailhead near the Oregon Zoo. With clearly marked trails and paths in every direction, you can explore this urban oasis from any of its 40 access points. On any given day, you’ll find trail runners, dog walkers, families and outdoor enthusiasts enjoying every inch of Forest Park. Forest ParkĪt 5,100 acres (2,064 ha), Forest Park boasts more than 80 miles (129 km) of paths and is one of the largest urban forests in the United States. Tabor Park or Council Crest, you’ll be surprised how easy Portland makes it to walk, hike or bird your way around the area. From the stairways hidden in the Alameda neighborhood, to historic homes near Laurelhurst Park, to the walk to the top of Mt. The many trails and natural spaces throughout the city provide a quick escape from the attractions that fill Portland’s neighborhoods.

The wide sidewalks (and short blocks) of downtown make for pleasant strolling. Portland Parks Trail Closures and Delays.Before you hit the trails, check these helpful sites to see if there are trail closures (due to inclement weather or improvements):

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