Portland

The Portland Metropolitan Area has a population of over 2 million people. For fans of the outdoors, Portland is a great base camp, with the coast, high mountains, and Columbia River Gorge just short drives away. Great hikes can also be found right in Portland.

Portland is located in Multnomah County on Oregon’s northern border. The city straddles the Willamette River near its confluence with Columbia River. Across that river is Vancouver, Washington.

The Tualatin Mountains run along the west side of Portland and include Forest Park and other green spaces packed with hiking and biking trails. Buttes, or extinct volcanoes, are spread around the Portland area offering additional hiking destinations.

Portland Oregon
Waterfront on the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon

Hiking Portland

This collection of trails in Portland lists hikes from north to south. The table may also be sorted alphabetically or by distance to help you pick your next hike. Each trail links to its own report complete with photos, GPS maps, elevation profiles, directions, and all the other information needed to locate and enjoy these hikes. Below the table is an interactive map showing the location of each hike.

Trail
Description
Distance
Location
Dogwood Trail - Alder Trail Loop175Dogwood Trail - Alder Trail Loop
This hike combines five trails (Keil Trail, Dogwood Trail, Leif Erikson Drive, Alder Trail, and Wildwood Trail) to form a lovely woodland loop in Forest Park.
2.8 miles
410
45.5403,
-122.7368
Wild Cherry Trail Loop Forest Park178Wild Cherry Trail – Dogwood Trail Loop
This Forest Park hike plots a nice, short, woodland escape by easing down Wild Cherry Trail to Leif Erikson Drive and rising back up Dogwood Trail.
2.5 miles
515 feet
45.53826,
-122.73406
Wild Cherry Trail Alder Trail Loop Forest Park180Wild Cherry Trail – Alder Trail Loop
This circuit (a combination of two shorter loops) explores more of woodland beauty in Forest Park.
3.5 miles
510 feet
45.53826,
-122.73406
Holman Lane Loop Hike285Holman Lane – Wildwood Trail – Birch Trail Loop
This hike combines three trails in Forest Park for a refreshing woodland walk.
2.7 miles
425 feet
45.5336,
-122.7332
Lower Macleay trail to Stone House290Lower Macleay Trail to Stone House
This hike starts by following Balch Creek to fern-covered ruins and can finish with a loop that exits Forest Park and passes through the Willamette Heights Neighborhood in Northwest Portland.
2 miles
400 feet
45.53585,
-122.7125
Lower Macleay Park to Pittock Mansion295Lower Macleay Park to Pittock Mansion
This Forest Park hike takes Lower Macleay Trail to the Stone House ruins and ascends Wildwood Trail to Pittock Mansion, bagging a big view over Portland.
5.4 miles
850 feet
45.53585,
-122.7125
Wildwood Trail to Pittock Mansion300Cornell Road to Pittock Mansion
This partial loop on Wildwood Trail and Upper Macleay Trail goes up a wooded hillside in Forest Park to Pittock Mansion, a landmark with panoramic views over Portland.
2.5 miles
435 feet
45.5269,
-122.7265
Marquam Nature Park305Marquam Nature Park
This hike goes through peaceful forest in a less visited pocket of Portland's West Hills.
1.3 - 4.25 miles
225 - 500 feet
45.50276,
-122.6916
George Himes Trail306George Himes Trail
This short lollipop loop ascends into Portland's West Hills for a woodland walk with a view of Mount Hood.
1.5 miles
400 feet
45.49825,
-122.8392
Tualatin Hills Nature Park308Tualatin Hills Nature Park
This hike on Vine Maple Trail, Old Wagon Trail, and Oak Trail loops through forests and wetlands in a pocket of wilderness on the west side of Beaverton.
2.1 miles
30 feet
45.49825,
-122.8392
Powell Butte Hike310Powell Butte
This lollipop loop combines Mountain View Trail and Summit Lane to explore the top of Powell Butte and its big views from Southeast Portland.
2.15 miles
165 feet
45.49036,
-122.49726
Scouters Mountain Hike312Scouters Mountain Nature Park
This short loop explores a forested mountain east of Portland, rising to a shelter and a viewpoint facing Mount Hood.
1.2 miles
180 feet
45.4468,
-122.5078
Loop Hike in Tryon Creek State Natural Area315Old Main Trail - Red Fox Trail - Cedar Trail - Middle Creek Trail - Maple Ridge Trail Loop
This 5-trail circuit in the middle of Tryon Creek State Natural Area goes through rolling woodland and across 3 bridges.
2 miles
150 feet
45.4411,
-122.6759
Trillium Trail in Tryon Creek State Natural Area320Trillium Trail
This short nature trail in Tryon Creek State Natural Area is packed with plant-identifying panels as well as benches and viewing platforms.
0.37 miles
15 feet
45.4411,
-122.6759
Camassia Natural Area324Camassia Natural Area
This easy loop tours wildflower-packed meadows and surrounding forests in a blossoming West Linn preserve.
0.8 miles
70 feet
45.3592,
-122.6182
Canemah Bluff Hike325Canemah Bluff Nature Park
This hike explores wildflower fields and forests on a perch above the Willamette River near Oregon City.
1.7 miles
165 feet
45.3449,
-122.6256
Round Lake Loop & Pothole Falls340Round Lake Loop & Pothole Falls
This circuit wraps around a soothing lake with a side trail to cubbyhole cascades - in Camas, Washington.
1.6 miles
200 feet
45.60395,
-122.4070
hikespeak
Cape Lookout State Park Campground Tillamook Coast Campsites Oregon Beach Camping
Jutting out from the coast of Oregon west of Portland, Cape Lookout is a prominent promontory with tall cliffs towering hundreds of feet above the Pacific Ocean. The campground in Cape Lookout State Park is not as soaring. Luckily for beach-lovers, the campground is tucked right behind a big, beautiful beach on the north side of the cape. Cape Lookout State Park Campground is a major... Read more.
By: Published: Last updated: June 29, 2021
Whalen Island County Campground Tillamook Coast Camping Oregon Sand Lake Estuary
Camping by the ocean should be easy and relaxing – Fun in the sun and toes in the sand. That's what you can expect to find at Whalen Island County Campground in Tillamook County. This 33-site campground sits inside the Sand Lake Estuary, a special spot along the Three Capes Scenic Loop between Cape Kiwanda and Cape Lookout on the Oregon Coast. Right from the campground, it is easy to... Read more.
Tagged with · Ocean Views · Tent Camping · Tillamook
By: Published: Last updated: June 29, 2021
Maple Ridge Loop Silver Falls State Park Maple Ridge Trail Canyon Trail Lower South Falls Waterfall Hike Oregon
Maple Ridge Loop travels behind two breathtaking waterfalls and goes through miles of wonderful forest in Silver Falls State Park. This 2.8-mile loop (with 375 feet of elevation change) is a combination of two trails, Canyon Trail and Maple Ridge Trail. Canyon Trail goes down the trough carved by South Fork Silver Creek, taking hikers amazingly close to South Falls and Lower South Falls. ... Read more.
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Tagged with · Oregon State Parks · Silver Falls State Park · Sublimity · Waterfalls
Distance: 2.8 miles · Elevation change: 375 feet
By: Published: Last updated: June 14, 2021
Cape Lookout Trail Coastal Hike Cape Lookout State Park Oregon
What is Whalen Island? It's not quite an island. It's not quite on Oregon's ocean shore. What it is... is a place that is unique, soothing, and beautiful. Wrapped be beaches and shaded by shore pines, Whalen Island sits at the heart of Sand Lake Estuary. Whalen Island – which only becomes an island during seasonal high tides - is just inland from the ocean (close enough to see the waves)... Read more.
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Tagged with · Beaches · Free Trails · Ocean Views · Oregon State Parks · Sand Dunes · Tillamook
Distance: 1.5 miles · Elevation change: 40 feet
By: Published: Last updated: June 28, 2021
Munson Creek Falls Trail Tillamook Coast Range Waterfall Munson Creek Falls State Natural Site Oregon
Measuring 319 feet tall, Munson Creek Falls is no tiny trickler. In fact, this is Oregon's tallest waterfall west of the Willamette River. Munson Creek Falls has picturesque silky tiers framed by canyon greenery. The trek to the waterfall, Munson Creek Falls Trail, is just a quarter mile long (half a mile round trip) with 90 feet of elevation change. The trail explores a lush and lovely... Read more.
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Tagged with · Creeks · Free Trails · Oregon State Parks · Tillamook · Waterfalls
Distance: 0.5 miles · Elevation change: 90 feet
By: Published: Last updated: June 28, 2021