Guides
These city hot spots are not to be missed
Many locals say the Portland Saturday Market is the number one attraction, but its limited hours and winter closure mean that some visitors won't get to go. Don't despair. The city has so many other unique things to do that even hitting just a few of these highlights should ensure a great trip.
12.6 mile trail near Portland, Oregon
Aspen Trailhead to Rocking Chair Dam is about 12.6 miles long and located near Portland, Oregon. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes a full day
Follow this trail to Pittock Mansion for a panoramic view of Portland
At over 1,000 feet you will have great views of Portland and will also have a great opportunity for bird watching. Take the time to explore the grounds and make sure to read the links I've included with this guide for more information on the site. The building is overseen by the Bureau of Parks and Recreation and it is open for touring.
Explore Washington Park and visit the Zoo, Pittock Mansion, Japanese & Rose Gardens, Hoyte Arboretum & Vietnam Memorial
This guide uses the most popular and beautiful trails in Washington Park to connect you with all the major sites and attractions within the area. This is a great walk for the family as it includes a zoo and very cool Japanese Garden area. You will have great views over Portland 1,000 feet below you from Pittock Mansion and from the International Rose...
Take a ride or a walk around this beautiful city park which holds 3 different reservoirs for Portland
Although there is no swimming in the reservoirs for obvious reasons this park has plenty of other things to offer the whole family including picnic areas, a dog park, monuments and public art, and even volleyball and tennis areas. I've drawn a quick path that will take you to views of all three reservoirs and to the top of Mt. Tabor but I also encourage...
Take a nice loop hike on this undeveloped Butte in Clackamas County
This short loop to the top of this extinct lava dome in Clackamas County is perfect for the whole family. The trail winds through beautiful forest and is filled with interpretive signs about the environment you are walking through and the flora and fauna you may see along the way.
A beautiful park at the confluence of the Pudding, Molalla and Willamette Rivers.
Take a hike along a beautiful meadow and through beautiful woods to the shore of the Molalla River. If you have time enjoy a picnic at the tables near the parking lot and a game of horse shoes!
This is one of the newest Rails to Trails efforts in Oregon.
You will start your ride at a parking area at Chapman Landing and end on Route 47 north of Pittsburg and Vernonia. The trail follows an old logging road along the Scappoose Vernonia Highway. It is rough in some places and I would only suggest mountain bikers attempt this. This trail has been under construction for the past 5 years or so and the...
This guide will take you on a great hiking trail, a bat loop trail, and even a horse trail along the Clackamas River
This park has a series of trails that run throughout it but for this guide I wanted to give a taste of three very different ones. The first is a bat loop trail that will bring you past several bat houses to a barn full of a rare species of bat in Oregon. The next will take you on a beautiful hiking trail along a ridge of land above the Clackamas River....
This is a nice hike along the north shore of the Columbia River with great views
This 8 mile loop trail will bring you to a great viewpoint over the Columbia at about 1,200 feet then drop you down to the very edge of the river along fields of lava rocks and by basalt towers. You'll pass a waterfall on the way to the Cape Horn Road that will bring you back to the parking lot as well.
A great hike past waterfalls to an overook above the Columbia Gorge.
This hike will take you past lower 150 foot Coopey Falls, Upper Coopey Falls which you can walk below, and up many switchbacks to a beautiful view over the Columbia River below. There is also a really cool ridge of lava rock at the top that you can walk along for different views back towards the Angel's Rest Viewpoint. This can be done any season...
One of the best mountain biking areas in the Portland Metro area.
This trail offers varied terrain from steep hill climbs to quick sections of road biking to some technical terrain. This trail was opened to bikers around 2004 and quickly became one of the more popular loop trails for mountain bikers in the Portland Area. You'll have views of Mt. Hood from several places and you can even take a swim in the lake...
A beautiful park along the Banks-Vernonia State Trail perfect for the whole family.
This park has over 20 miles of trails to explore and from the Hill Top area you will have spectacular views of the coast range. The Banks-Vernonia Trail heads straight through tis park. I have another guide for that as well. This park also offers year round camping for the whole family with multiple cabins on site. Check the links for more detailed...
This is a beautiful loop in the gorge that brings you to one of the best waterfalls in the area.
This loop hike passes by several beautiful waterfalls. The trail ascends Wahkeena Creek past the springs which feed the waterfall and then continues onto Larch Mountain Trail which brings you to Multnomah Falls. Looking down from the top of the tallest waterfall in Oregon is pretty amazing! The trail then descends down to the Multnomah Lodge and...
A short waterfall hike in the Historic Columbia River Gorge that takes you past several beautiful falls.
This is an easy 5 mile loop hike that brings you past 3 beautiful waterfalls. You will park at beautiful horsetail falls then head towards Ponytail falls and then finally ascend 600 feet up Oneonta Creek to Triple Falls betfore returning back via a loop hike and walk down the historic highway.
This 4,000 foot peak with its rocky summit spire will provide you great views of Portland, Hood and the Columbia Gorge
This loop hike will start you off at the top of Larch Mountain at Sherrard Point just over 4,000 feet with fantastic views of 4 major Cascade Volcanoes! Sherrard Point is an easy walk from the parking lot at the top of Larch Mountain Road. This road is definitely not open in the winter so plan accordingly. From here you will then take a loop hike...
One of the most popular climbs in the Columbia Gorge with great views of both Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams and the Columbia.
This is a wonderful climb in teh Columbia Gorge with great views from the many cliffs and ledges near the top of Mt. Hood, Adams and the Columbia River. There is a side catwalk trail you can take along the way and even a beautiful waterfall with bridge viewpoint. I don't want to give away too much as being surprised is always better. Bring a camera!
Table Rock is at 4881 feet, offers some incredible views of the Cascades. Here is my track from July 2, 2011. Just under 8 miles and 2900 feet of elevation gained, some of which was goofing around some of the different rock outcroppings. The first 1.5 miles of the hike are on an old logging road,You will come to a landslide that wiped out part of the...
Trips
Aspen Trailhead to Rocking Chair Dam
Portland, Oregon, United States
Hiking | 12.6 miles (2.3 miles away)
Hiking | 12.6 miles (2.3 miles away)
In researching a route through Forest Park I saw a picture from a trail on this site of a sign that read "Rocking Chair Dam 6.0" miles. I looked up information for Rocking Chair Dam and it took awhile but I finally found a brief reference to it in Afoot & Afield Portland and Vancouver.Intrigued - I set out to find the dam. While the route I took places a loop at...
Wildwood Trail at Hoyt Arboretum
Portland, Oregon, United States
Hiking | 9.5 miles (2.0 miles away)
Hiking | 9.5 miles (2.0 miles away)
