Portland is an awesome, trendy, Pacific Northwest city with great views of Mount Hood. The surrounding rivers, trees, and mountains encourage people to get outdoors and admire Portland’s lovely scenic views. We rounded up the top 5 hiking trails in Portland to try with the whole family – they promise great outlooks, historic buildings, and outdoor Oregon fun!
1.) Lower Macleay Park to Pittock Mansion
2.)Marquam Trail to Council Crest Hike Trail
3.) Mount Tabor Loop Trail
4.) Pittock Mansion via Wildwood Trail
5.) Hoyt Arboretum Trails
Lower Macleay Park to Pittock Mansion
The Lower Macleay Park to Pittock Mansion trail features beautiful overlooks of the city. You’ll also travel through Pacific Northwest forest, next to rushing creeks, and you’ll end up at the historic Pittock Mansion which is open to the public. This is a popular trail and you may see fellow hikers or mountain bikers while you’re out.
Address: 2960 NW Upshur St, Portland, OR 97210
Mileage: 5.0 miles
In and Out Trail
Terrain: This is a packed dirt trail that can be muddy or snowy at certain times of year. It is not accessible for wheelchairs or strollers.
Difficulty: This is considered a moderately challenging trail.
Open year-round: Yes
Miles from downtown Portland: 2.4 miles from downtown Portland
Pet-friendly? Yes, dogs are allowed on this trail, but must be leashed. Be sure to bring bags and pick up after your pet!
Kid-friendly? This trail is kid-friendly. Younger children may have trouble hiking to the end, and there is an almost-1,000-foot elevation gain over the course of the hike. However, you can turn back early or bring a backpack to carry tired toddlers.
Marquam Trail to Council Crest Hike Trail
The Marquam to Council Crest hiking trail also affords great views of the city and of Mt. Hood in the distance. You’ll pass through forests, by moss-covered benches, and past statues and signs on your way to the summit.
Address: 1120 SW Council Crest Dr, Portland, OR 97239
Mileage: 3.1 miles
In and Out Trail
Terrain: This is a packed dirt trail that can be muddy or have snow, depending on the season. It is not easily accessible for wheelchairs or strollers.
Difficulty: This is considered a moderately challenging trail.
Open year-round? Yes
Miles from downtown Portland: 2.7 miles from downtown Phoenix
Pet friendly? This trail does allow dogs on a leash. Be sure to bring bags and pick up after your pet!
Kid-friendly? This is a somewhat challenging trail for small children, with a good amount of elevation gain. You may want a backpack carrier for younger children.
Mount Tabor Loop Trail
The Mount Tabor Loop Trail is a popular trail for hiking, biking, and birdwatching. You’ll be walking around a Portland city park that has three different reservoirs. The park also has public art, a volleyball area, and a dog park.
Address: SE 60th Ave &, SE Salmon St, Portland, OR 97215
Mileage: 1.9 miles
Loop Trail
Terrain: This is a paved asphalt trail, which is smooth and easy for strollers and wheelchairs to manage. It does use a bike lane on the side of the road for some of the trail.
Open year-round? Yes, but the best times to hike are from March through December.
Miles from downtown Portland: 7.4 miles from downtown Portland
Pet friendly? Yes, dogs are allowed on this trail, but must be leashed. Be sure to bring bags and pick up after your pet! There is also a Mt. Tabor Off-Leash Area where dogs can run free.
Kid-friendly? This trail is kid-friendly. Mt. Tabor Park, where the hike is located, also has a playground and picnic areas.
Pittock Mansion via Wildwood Trail
The Pittock Mansion via Wildwood Trail is a popular spot for hiking, running, and biking. You’ll end at the historic Pittock Mansion, where you can learn more about the building’s history.
Address: 2960 NW Upshur St, Portland, OR 97210
Mileage: 3.2 miles
Loop Trail
Terrain: This trail has packed dirt. It can be muddy after rain or snowy, depending on the time of year.
Difficulty: This is considered an easy route, although it does have just over 500 feet of elevation gain.
Open year-round? Yes
Miles from downtown Portland: 2.4 miles from downtown Portland
Pet friendly? Yes, dogs are allowed on this trail. They need to be on a leash, and don’t forget to pick up after your pet!
Kid-friendly? This is a kid-friendly trail. You’ll get some great views of the city on this hike, plus be able to explore the Pittock Mansion and learn area history at the end.
Hoyt Arboretum Trails
The Hoyt Arboretum Trails wander the arboretum. It’s an especially lovely hike in the fall, when the trees change color. There are lots of benches for resting, and the redwood deck has great views of the trees in the area.
Address: 4000 SW Fairview Blvd, Portland, OR 97221
Mileage: 1.3 Miles
Loop Trail
Terrain: Some of this trail is paved, some is boardwalk, and some is packed dirt and can be muddy.
Difficulty: This is considered an easy trail
Open year-round? Yes
Miles from downtown Portland: 2.7 miles from downtown Portland
Pet friendly? Yes, dogs are allowed on this trail, but must be leashed. Be sure to bring bags and pick up after your pet!
Kid-friendly? This is a kid-friendly trail. There are gardens to admire, impressive trees, and educational signs where kids can learn more about the flora and fauna of the area. There is also an arboretum visitor center where families can learn more about the grounds.
Portland Trails
Thanks to Portland’s notoriously wet weather, there are many hiking trails with lush, gorgeous plants, trees, and flowers to admire! Of course, the moisture can also make any dirt trails muddy, so be ready for a little mess. It’s worth it, though, for the views and the experience of getting out into nature in the Pacific Northwest.
RV Camping in Portland
RV camping is a great way to experience the beautiful city of Portland and the surrounding area! There are many suitable RV campgrounds in Portland, and lots of them are near rivers, mountains, or great hiking trails. Ainsworth State Park is also a beautiful nearby destination where you can camp and enjoy the Oregon scenery.
RV Rentals in Portland
There are plenty of RVshare rentals in Portland to choose from, so you can be sure to find one that suits you! There are many fun places to explore that lend themselves to renting a Class B campervan…but if you want more amenities, or to bring kayaks and other outdoor toys, you may want a toy hauler or Class A motorhome.
Other Things To Do in Portland
Along with hiking, there are lots of other things to do in Portland! There are a few state parks nearby, including Ainsworth State Park and the Deschutes River State Recreation Area. Cape Lookout State Park is a farther drive, but promises beautiful views of the coast. In Portland itself, take in a Trail Blazers basketball game, visit the Oregon Zoo, or check out the famous Powell’s City of Books.
After you’ve worked up an appetite, head to Lucca for excellent Italian food, Butterfly Belly Asian Cuisine, or Blue Star Donuts for delicious treats!
Enjoy your time in Portland and hiking the lovely trails of the Pacific Northwest!
