Sometimes you need to escape your daily life, and Sauvie Island is a great place to do just that. The Wapato Access Greenway is the perfect trail to take that will lead you on an adventure far from home and put you in touch with the nature that surrounds us all.
This 2.2-mile trail is easy, making it perfect for families with young children and adults alike.
Being out in the open air without a building around is a great way to spend the day and allow you to escape from your everyday stresses. Next time you are looking for a break, head to this scenic spot.
Because it is a state park, parking at the Wapato Greenway is free, unlike most other trailheads on Sauvie Island. The park is open from 7 am to 7 pm and dogs on a leash are permitted.
There are plenty of amazing trails to explore in Portland, Oregon, but it is best to know what you are getting yourself into before you set out on a hike. Choose the wrong path and you could be on the trail for hours or on an extremely intense (and possibly unwanted) strenuous hike! It's happened to all of us. That's why we put together the following list of what we consider to be the best hikes in Portland that are all under five miles in length! Now the only question is: which trail will you tackle first? Here are some of the best easy hikes in Portland:
This trail is 3.3 miles in length and offers scenic views of the city and the old volcanic cinder cone upon which the park is built. To access the trail, you will begin at the main parking lot and follow the color-coded signs for the Blue Trail. Learn more about the legendary Mt. Tabor Blue Trail from our friends at AllTrails.
Take this scenic loop through the park for a 4.7-mile easy hike that shows you a myriad of species of spectacular northwest trees. One of our favorite hidden gems in Oregon, Hoyt Arboretum is a wonderful Portland park that feels like a true urban oasis. The arboretum is home to 2,300 tree species, collected from six continents. This place offers much more than just a beautiful landscape - its many volunteers are dedicated to education, conservation, and recreation. Explore the arboretum along its 12 miles of trails, two miles of which are paved and accessible to everyone. Come and revel in the forest landscape along the eponymous and accessible Hoyt Arboretum Loop — you might never want to leave!
Take the loop around the wildlife refuge for a stunning view of diverse bird species in the 2.3-mile hike. Learn more about the wondrous Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge Loop from our friends at AllTrails.
Head out to Sauvie Island for this 2.2-mile trail that gives you plenty of opportunities to spot myriad waterfowl and even an elusive beaver! This short-and-sweet trail is straightforward, flat, and well-marked, making it perfect for families with young children and beginner hikers. However, a mix of large trails along the channel, as well as ones screened from viewing the channel, makes this hike a winner for all ages and abilities!
Dirt trails and sidewalks line this 3.9-mile trail that takes you around the expansive park that houses many of the city's most notable attractions. This Washington Park hike really is definitely one of the best hikes in Portland!
The short and lovely Powell Butte Loop takes you along the perimeter of the nature park and up the remains of the extinct volcano that lies underfoot. It's a hike with a grand payoff: the view from the summit of this 10 million-year-old volcano includes Mount Saint Helens, Mount Adams, Mount Rainier, the Clackamas Butte, Mount Scott, the Gresham Buttes to the east, and (on a clear day), Mount Jefferson and Olallie Butte!
This is a moderate 3.8-mile hike on the northwest side of town with some stunning views and pure tranquility. Learn more about the Marquam Nature Park Loop from our friends at AllTrails, and start planning your hike ASAP! You won't regret it.
Take the five-mile hike from Macleay Park to the Wildwood Trail, and up the climb to the Pittock Mansion, where you will be rewarded with stunning views of the city. Just be warned: the Pittock Mansion is rumored to be one of the most haunted places in Oregon! Hike at your own risk!
Have you been on any of these easy hikes in Portland that are under five miles long? You may want to consider it because these trails offer BIG views with little effort! What are your picks for the best hikes in Portland, Oregon? Share them with us in the comments! And if you're looking to expand your hiking adventures into the rest of the Beaver State, you'll definitely want to tackle these short-and-sweet scenic trails in Oregon. And if you're interested in upping your hiking game, you might want to check out our friends over at AllTrails+, which is a game-changer of an app for hikers, mountain bikers, and many other adventurous sorts. Check it out!
Unbeknownst to many, there are a surprising number of trails near Portland, each just as gorgeous as the next. But deep in the woods of Forest Park lies a unique abandoned structure that is surrounded by decades of lore, including tales of witches and murder. The actual stone structure was originally built for public use in the 1930s, but was abandoned after it fell into disrepair in the 1960s. However, it was built on the site of the Balch Cabin, the scene of an infamous murder in the 1800s, and has been known as the Witch's Castle ever since. Ready to see it for yourself? Grab a camera and some hiking boots - this is one of the best hikes in Portland!
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Forest Park's Wildwood Trail will lead you right to the abandoned remains.
When you have some time, there are plenty of cool trails here to explore, including some of the best hikes in Portland.
From the Upper Macleay parking lot, the trail is a half mile, or from the Lower Macleay parking lot you can take the Lower Macleay Trail, a slightly longer option at three-quarters of a mile.
The roof of the building caved in the 1960s, and was largely abandoned until in the late 80s high school students began frequenting the spot and dubbed it the "Witch's Castle."
But further back still, this spot was home to Danford Balch, who bought the property in the mid-1800s.
No one will ever know what really happened, but you can go visit this abandoned Witch's Castle and see the remains of this spooky structure for yourself. There are also a number of ghost stories and prominent supernatural legends surrounding this area, so who knows what sort of hauntings you'll stumble upon! Keep your ears open for nails scraping the rock surface of the structure, for leaves shifting without any breeze, and be alert to the extra chill that will no doubt envelop you when you climb the stairs.
Fortunately, this is one of the best hikes in Portland no matter the season - ghostly presences aside.
Sadly, however, time has not been kind to this castle in the trees, and few parts of the structure remain that have been untouched by graffiti. Be sure to leave the area better than you found it!
Have you been to the Witch's Castle? Do you have any recommendations for other things to do in the area? Let us know in the comments below! Next, to check out even more of the best hikes in Portland, add these 9 easy trails to your bucket list.
