The Best Walking Trails in Portland, Oregon

Walking from one place to another is what we have to do on a daily basis to keep in shape, except for those who are unable due to medical issues related to mobility, and, even then, doctors will encourage mobility exercises whenever possible.  

In general, most people see walking as a form of exercise and transportation, but the fact remains that it plays a significant role in improving the overall health and mental well-being.  Walking, quite simply, is one of the best things we can do for ourselves.

PORTLAND, OREGON

Portland is the largest city in the state of Oregon in the U.S, and it’s situated on the Columbia and Willamette River, in the shadow of snow-capped Mount Hood. Portland Oregon is well known for its eco-friendliness as it hosts bridges, parks, bicycle paths, microbreweries and coffeehouses.

The city also hosts much in the way of thriving art, theatre and music scenes. There you will as well find the iconic Washington Park on the pathway from the formal Japanese Garden to Oregon Zoo and its railway.

Portland Oregon is popularly known as an excellent city for bicycles, and, at the same time, you can’t leave out those who walk on foot.

There are beautiful places where you can walk around in Oregon for those who love to go on hiking alone or with friends and families.

WHERE TO FIND THE BEST WALKING TRAILS IN PORTLAND OREGON?

Whether you are new or not to the city, and you prefer walking to biking; there are plenty of places where you can go hiking or simply strolling along, to enjoy the atmosphere of the city and the fresh air.

One of the best ways to search for the best walking trails in Portland Oregon is through google maps. You can as well use some social platform such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn but google map remains the best option.

Here is the list of the best walking trails in Portland Oregon for those searching for the best places for hiking.

MARQUAM NATURE PARK

The Marquam Nature Park is 193 acres of undeveloped land located in Portland Oregon, United States. It has over 7 miles of hiking trails in which the Marquam trail connects to the 40-mile loop. Portland Parks and Recreation acquired the park in the year 1979.

Situated in the southwest Portland area, the Marquam nature park hosts many alluring plant species including the western hemlock, red cedar, Douglas fir and bigleaf maple.

It has an abundance of beautiful hiking trails with forested scenic views, and it is not crowded, which makes it a perfect place for those who love to trek without disturbances and experience quietude.

Access to the park is easy, regardless of your mode of transport thanks to many well-placed trailheads.

  • Address:  SW Marquam St, Portland, OR 97201, United States
  • Website: portlandoregon.gov
  • Mobile number: + 1971-599-3667
  • Operating Hours:  Every day of the week from 5:00 AM to 12:00 AM
  • Difficulty: Moderate

Here’s a great video showing off some of the scenery at Marquam Nature Park, filmed by beardedfatloss.

Read our article, Friends of Marquam Nature Park


FOREST PARK

If you are in search of a trail that is user-friendly for families and pets, then Forest Park is one of the best in Portland to consider.

Forest Park is a public municipal park that is situated on the west side of the city. The park is just a 10-minute drive by car from downtown. The park is more than 8 miles on hills sides overlooking the Portland’s main waterway known as the Willamette River.

Forest Park is one of the country’s largest wooded urban forest reserves in the United States. The forest park is filled with over 70 miles of walking and hiking trails, and it covers more than 5,100 acres of forest.

  • Address: Portland, OR 97231, USA
  • Website: portlandoregon.gov
  • Mobile Number: +1 503-823-4492
  • Operating Hours: Every day of the week from the hour of 5 am to 10 pm
  • Difficulty: Difficult

Here’s a video showing some of what Forest Park has to offer from Youtuber Explore with Erik.

Read our article, “Forest Park Conservancy: Keeping Portland Green”


OAKS BOTTOM WILDLIFE REFUGE

Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge is called the city’s first migratory bird park because it effortlessly attracts a wide variety of birds. For those who love birds and would love to hear their melodies while walking through the park, the Oaks bottom wildlife refuge is a perfect choice for you.

The park has about 141 acres of land in the southeast Portland in the state of Oregon. To locate the park is easy enough, as it is in proximity to the floodplain along the east bank of the Willamette River near Sellwood. 

The city has a hiking and biking path called the spring water corridor which runs through the park and towards the Willamette River.

You can choose to go on your bicycle or walk through the park to enjoy the soothing atmosphere of the place.

  • Address: SE Sellwood Blvd & SE 7th Avenue, Portland, OR 97202, United States
  • Website: portlandoregon.gov
  • Mobile Number: +1 503-823-7529
  • Operating Hours: Every day of the week from the hour of 5 am to 12 am
  • Difficulty: Easy and safe

Here is some interesting trail cam footage from Oaks Bottom at night filmed by The Oregonian.


Washington Park

Washington Park really is the place to be if you want to get to simply enjoy nature at its finest. The park is loaded with a variety of attractive centres including the zoo, rose garden, Japanese garden, and it has about 15 miles of trails for people that love hiking.

It has plenty of walking trails and benches for you to sit and relax whenever you get tired of walking. Not that alone, it has some recreational centres where you can have fun with your family and pet such as the tennis courts, soccer field, picnic areas, playing ground for kids and children’s museum.

The park commands 410 acres of land on mostly steep wooded hillsides. About 160 acres has been officially designated as Washington park by the city of Portland which is now one of the best places to trek and enjoy the cool breeze as you walk through to admire the environment.

  • Address: 2760, 4033 Southwest Canyon Road, Portland, OR 97221, USA
  • Website: explorewashingtonpark.org
  • Operation Hours: Every day of the week from the hour of 5 am to 10 pm
  • Mobile number: +1 503-319-0999
  • Difficulty: Easy and friendly

Take a closer look at why people love Washington Park here in this video from Youtuber Lane Erickson.

Read our article, “Discovering Washington Park in Portland”

Conclusion

These are all places you will always enjoy exploring with your family, including fur babies. We’ve made this list of the best walking trails we feel might be perfect for you, if you reside in the state of Oregon and you love hiking, or you’re just visiting.

The entirety of the parks listed above have good and mainly positive reviews from most people who trek on them, and the security measures are outstanding to keep you and your fam safe and secure.

It is advisable that you go on hiking with all the necessary things you need such as water bottle to keep you hydrated and a perfect hiking shoe to help prevent your foot from injury.

Here are some helpful links in that regard:

We review the best trail shoes for men

We review the best trail shoes for women