Easy Portland Hikes Under 5 Miles

With the weather warming up, flowers blooming, and green everywhere you look, it’s time to head outdoors and take in one of the many fantastic hiking opportunities in and around Portland.

Explore the many beautiful Gorge waterfalls or check out the fantastic parks in the city – you can’t go wrong. Bring a water bottle, a good pair of hiking shoes, and occasionally a swimsuit in order to take full advantage of Portland’s increasingly frequent sunny days.

These five short hikes are great for anyone getting out to stretch their legs and take in the scenery of the beautiful Northwest.

1. Latourell Falls

2.4 miles loop | No permit required to hike

Approximately 35 minutes east of Portland

As most outdoorsy Portlanders know, you don’t have to go far to experience the beauty of a waterfall. The closest of the Columbia Gorge falls to Portland, Latourell Falls is a fairly easy hike that still affords great close up waterfall views.

The trailhead can be reached by taking 1-84 east to exit 28 at Bridal Veil, then continuing down the historic highway about 2.8 miles until reaching the Latourell Falls parking lot on the left. The parking lot isn’t huge, but is less likely to be as full as those at the more well-known Oneonta or Multnomah Falls.

Begin heading up the paved viewpoint trail to the first viewpoint. You’ll step off the paved trail on to a dirt path that crosses several small bridges and hugs the creek. Hike up to the Upper Falls for a great view. From here you can either head back down the way you came, or keep going on the path down to Guy Talbot Park and picnic area to complete the 2.4 mile loop. From the park, you’ll cross under the highway bridge and back to the bottom of the falls.

The path is forested, providing side views of the falls as you climb up. You’ll see the smaller lower falls before reaching the large upper falls at the top. Take care with the steep drop offs and spend some time enjoying the cool forest on a hot day.

2. Pittock Mansion Hike

5 miles round trip | No permit required to hike

Located in Forest Park, Portland

Starting in easily accessible Lower Macleay Park, this hike through the lush Forest Park up to Pittock Mansion takes you to fantastic views of the park and the city.

You can reach the beginning of this hike at the trailhead under the Thurman Street bridge in NW Portland. You’ll follow the Lower Macleay Trail for about a mile until you get to the Stone House, which is where the trail runs into the Wildwood Trail (a trail sign will help you out here). Continue on the trail, crossing over the river and climbing out of the canyon until you reach Cornell Road. You’ll cross Cornell and stay on the Wildwood Trail until you’ve conquered the hill and arrived at the Mansion.

When you’re done walking around the grounds, or perhaps taking a tour of the mansion, you can use the Upper Macleay Trail to connect back down to the Wildwood Trail.

Forest Park is a popular destination for Portlanders – watch for trail runners and school kids on nature hikes. Try an early morning start to avoid the crowds.

3. Punchbowl Falls

3.8 miles round trip | Pass required / Day pass dropbox at the trailhead

Approximately 45 minutes east of Portland

The Eagle Creek trailhead is a gateway to some of the Gorge’s best scenery, including a popular swimming destination on a hot Portland day: Punchbowl Falls.

Head out on I-84 east and get off at exit 41. You’ll need an annual pass to park at the trailhead, or you can drop some cash into the drop box at the trailhead. The $30 Northwest Forest Pass is worth it if you plan to visit Forest Services areas in Washington and Oregon more than a couple times a year.

Pack a lunch, and your swimsuit, and head up the trail, where you’ll follow Eagle Creek to the falls. You’ll know when to head down to the water – the path is well worn. Punchbowl Falls cascades down into a wide basin, forming a shallow lower falls a short ways further down the creek. The creek bed is rocky, so water shoes are recommended for extra grip while wading in the cold mountain runoff.

The path can be steep in places and contains slippery rocks at times, so watch your footing and don’t attempt this trail in flip-flops! If you feel like continuing on after a dip at Punchbowl, High Bridge offers great views and will stretch your round trip mileage to about 6.5 miles.

4. Tryon Creek State Park

2.7 miles loop | No permit required

Located in SW Portland

It seems that every corner of Portland boasts its own park full of wooded natural splendor. Tryon Creek runs through Southwest Portland, bumping up against the Lewis and Clark College campus, and while it doesn’t have the tall views of some other parks, there’s plenty to appreciate about this quiet natural area.

Reach the main trailhead for the park by taking exit 297 off of I-5 and heading south on Terwilliger Boulevard, following the signs for Tryon Creek State Park until you reach the trailhead parking lot. This trail is open 7AM to 6 PM, and you can grab a trail map at the visitor center before heading out. The trail can be muddy, and horses are allowed on some trails.

An almost three mile loop can be hiked by following the Old Main Trail to the Red Fox Trail, connecting with the Cedar Trail before heading back towards Tryon Creek. You’ll keep going on to High Bridge (we seem to have a lot of these around Portland!), then head up the Lewis and Clark trail. You’ll get to the North Horse Loop, which will take you back to the trailhead.

There are several bridges along the route, including a suspension bridge, and the Beaver Bridge. Take your time and peruse the educational signs to learn more about the bridges, plants, and wildlife of the area.

5. Council Crest Hike

3.3 miles round trip | No permit required to hike

Located in NW Portland

Climb to the top of Council Crest you’ll be rewarded with views of Portland and a moderate workout. You can find the Marquam Nature Park Shelter Trailhead at the junction of Terwilliger Boulevard and Sam Jackson Park Road. You’ll see a square outdoor shelter at the trailhead. Take off to the left, then turn right where the signs direct you to Council Crest.

Climb up a trail that crosses streets, switches back, and will get your heart pumping. A portion of the trail heads through neighborhood streets, where you can check out rows of large houses. Watch out at some of the street crossings, as not all have crosswalks. Finish out the hike with a steep trek up the last portion of the trail to the crest of the hill, where you can pat yourself on the back for a climb well done. If the weather’s clear, you’ll be able to take in far off mountain tops as well as a top-down city street view.

Council Crest is also reachable by car, as the summit road goes all the way to the top, but climbing 820 feet up isn’t quite as rewarding on four wheels! The park closes to vehicles at 9 PM but is otherwise open until from 5 AM until midnight.

For more, check out these resources for more information on hiking in the Portland area:

http://www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org

http://www.everytrail.com/best/hiking-portland-oregon

http://www.forestparkconservancy.org/portland-hiking-trails

http://www.portlandonline.com/parks

Melanie Kebler is a writer for PortlandSports.com.