Being a trail runner, Forest Park is a playground for me and my husband. Lower Macleay is one of entry points and connect at Wildwood Trail. The Witches House is about 3/4 mile from the parking lot. Along the way you'll see creeks with some running water and immediately the beauty of the trees and bushes envelope the trail. Past the Witches House on the right is Wildwood Trail and you can be on this trail for another 25 miles. Parking: There are 3 parking spots in that little roundabout in the end. You can also park on both sides of the street. Bathroom: There are 2 regular public restrooms and 1 porta potty which is wheelchair accessible. Picnic Tables: There are 2 under. read more

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I really like this park. It's beautiful for walking around. The park is clean and kept well. When I was there it was crowded or busy. It was really peaceful. There are colorful steps near the entrance to the park and those stairs make for a great picture opportunity! Will definitely visit this park again. read more

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Such a peaceful escape right in the middle of POrtland. The trail is beautiful (colorful steps), quiet, and shaded (really important) - and the little stone "Witch's Castle" is such a cool surprise. Perfect for a jog or light hike. Parking's limited, so go early if you can and bring a good pair of shoes, it gets muddy in places, especially after rain. read more

What a beautiful park! We stopped here after checking out the views at Pittock Mansion (perhaps a 5-10 minute drive). We easily found parking and did the mostly-downhill hike to the Witch's Castle (I think it's what is referred to as the Stone House on signs near the parking lot). For a Californian that is accustomed to dry, yellow, dusty hikes, this hike was a dream. You definitely the get the feel of the Pacific Northwest with green everywhere - moss and ferns thriving in the damp environment. A creek runs through part of the hike and you get the sound of the rushing water. Before you come, look up the history of the Witch's Castle and you'll appreciate it even more. If you're just here to do the hike to the Witches Castle, it's an easy walk down and not a tough hike back to the car - I didn't quiet track the time, but we took our time and I'd guess that round trip + time at the ruins took an hour or so. read more

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Covid-19 review! The fiancé and I came here just to visit the Witches Castle! This trail is still open as of August 2020. The restrooms at the beginning of the trail were locked. The address on Yelp took us directly here. Find free parking along the street and walk under the bridge to follow the trail. We came at around 5pm on a Sunday. There were many other hikers (adults, kids, and dogs), but it wasn't crowded. Almost all people were wearing masks on the trail. According to my Apple Watch, it was 0.94 miles (with short stops to take photos) to reach the Witches Castle beginning from under the bridge at the entrance of the trail. The building had some graffiti unfortunately, but it was still a cool sight to explore and fun to take photos! As mentioned, this is not a real castle for witches or haunted in any way! The trail does continue past the Witches Castle, but we turned back around after. The whole entire trail is GORGEOUS and I feel that photos do not do it justice. I loved the tall trees providing shade and walking alongside a small creek. The majority of the trail is dirt/mud so your shoes will get dirty! I normally am a mosquito magnet so I wore bug spray, but I didn't feel like there were many bugs to begin with. Everything was beautiful and well maintained with the exception of 3-4 dog poop bags thrown into the forest. read more

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Great hiking spot. I took the Wildwood trail from the Holman Lane entrance, past the Witch's Castle to the Pittock Mansion. It was about 2-2.5 miles and mostly uphill after the castle. If you go by the Mansion, go to the other side of it for the lookout point. Great views of Portland and Mount Hood. It is very breezy so you may need a windbreaker. The trail was in great shape for early November. It has light gravel and rocks, and a few places with wooden stairs. Leaves on the ground and only slippery in a couple spots. Make sure to wear shoes with treads if you go during or after a rain. I started around 8am on a weekday. The trail was completely empty until about 845/9 am when I started seeing runners coming from the other way. There are several parking spots at Adam's community park which is not far from the Witch's Castle. There is a larger lot opposite of the Mansion as well. There are a lot of good shots for pictures (see mine). The foliage reminded me of Kyoto at the same time. Next time: I'll try starting at the Mansion and continue the rest of the Wildwood Trail. read more

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Finally, found this spot on my second to last day stay in Portland. I first went to upper Forrest park trail, which seemed forever. Honestly, all the parks here in Portland is gorgeous! If you love nature, then Portland is the city for you. Beautiful sceneries everywhere... read more

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There are lots of entrances for hiking here. I chose the south entrance and found street parking in an area that appeared to be safe. You can easily spend a good amount of time hiking here and have a nice outdoor outdoors experience. There were several small groups of students studying the water in the creek as well as the rocks and the terrain in general. I will just caution that the trails are only wide enough for two people, and you will find people with friendly dogs off leash as well as people with aggressive dogs. I was unfortunate in that I encountered a woman with an aggressive dog that lunged at me and my dog. I had nowhere to go but backwards because the trail runs alongside a creek. We were lucky that her dog did not bite us, but only because I basically shoved my dog into a shrub, to avoid getting bit by the aggressive husky. My advice is to be prepared to turn back in an opposite direction to avoid conflict with those who have trouble managing their own pet. read more

Such a beautiful hiking trail. It felt as if you are in a different world. Mini waterfalls and the river you get to see. It was so worth it. I did see a couple runners, dog walking and groups of walkers too. It was cool to see all of that. Definitely worth to go if you are in Portland. read more

Awesome hike up to Pittock Mansion! This hike was so green and lush! We hadn't even planned to do this hike, but when we landed on Saturday, the weather was nice so we decided to give it a try. The whole hike was very well maintained and so nice and green. It rained in the end but overall this was a beautiful, moderate hike with great views and lots of photo opps! read more

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What a beautiful park! I don't even know how big it is, but I just found out about it this morning after while I was in Washington after hiking Mt St Helens. I googled to see what weird sh!t I could find in Portland and the 'Witches Castle' popped up, so I was immediately on my way (had to fly outta PDX anyway). The hike was short, but steepish down which meant there was a little blood pump on the way back up. The little witches house was cool (and the backstory that supposedly goes with it), but unfortunately covered with graffiti, but luckily it doesn't strip the charm away from the residence. If I lived in Portland, I'd know every inch of this beautiful park. read more

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DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES IN YOUR CAR HERE! Someone broke into our rental car and stole our backpacks with all of our stuff. They apparently hit a few people today and this is a regular occurrence at the parking lots to the trails. The people nearby believe it is the homeless that have camps over here. Very sad that such a beautiful place is being ruined by thieves. read more

A forest in the city! We came on a Monday afternoon to the upper Macleay trail to go to Witches Castle. The castle was cool and unique, but it is now covered in graffiti :( which takes away a bit of the nature-esqueness of a castle in the forest. The park is huge with multiple trails, some were loop trails, some led to other trails to other sides of the park, and you could also hike to Pittock Mansion; the options are endless. Although we did see quite a few people on the trail, most were wearing masks. Due to Covid, the park has mapped a one-way loop trail that prevents you from having to pass others on the hike. We did this loop after seeing Witches Castle, but we did pass people who were taking the loop in the other direction. The trails are fairly wide, so it never felt like we were squeezing past others. Overall not a hard hike; there were some incline and slopes, which were a bit slippery after a rainy week. Hiking shoes or shoes with good grip/soles are recommended. A beautiful park in Portland that is worth to explore! read more

Macleay Park - Seen on the way to Witches Castle - Parks Near Me - Portland, Oregon

We're on the roll with neighborhood parks here! This time, my husband and I brought our quilted cozy blanket and Tuna sandwich for lunch, and settled in the parking lot (small lot), facing the entrance of the trail, in the shade on the grass. A bit from Wikipedia: "Donald Macleay immigrated from Scotland at age 16, with his parents to Canada, he was a wholesale and shipping businessman in California and eventually end up in Oregon, and the founder of the US National BANK of Portland. Old Balch Bridge, & the creek below, referring to the original owner: Danford Balch, who used to own this area in the 1850." Beautiful Trail, I really enjoyed this area, wide enough for us to walk in pairs, then single as people approach us, all masked. Now & then, we could hear the sound of the creek below us. I told Alan, we could have gone down there, for our very own picnic by the creek. I've seen people go there, to have a photo op. Or, we could have gone down there, to finish eating our orange slices, but none of us thought about it! When you go, make sure you visit the Witch Castle! The highlight of our walk, is to stop at your nearest convenient store for a cold ice cream cone and enjoy on the ride back home. read more

To be honest, I wasn't 100% stoked on visiting this place during our trip to Portland but our friends were super pumped on it. So we gave it a try! My mood quickly shifted once we started the hike. It's a beautiful park! So great on a fall day. Leaves were already starting to change and the air was all cold and crisp, so it was super refreshing. There's lots of different foliage and little creeks to see here. Super tranquil and peaceful. The main star of the show that we were going to see was the Witches House. It's about a 20 minute walk to it so it's not far at all. SUPER cool to check out and take photos of/with. The inside is definitely creepy. And no... There weren't actual witches that used this spot. ;) Read up on the story, it's actually kind of interesting! Totally recommend whether you are a local or a tourist. Great spot to kill some time and get some fresh air. read more

Nice short hike. I wish there wasn't graffiti everywhere. I enjoyed the hike either way. Make sure to wear appropriate shoes as the trails can get slippery when wet. Beautiful views! read more

We really love this park when we visit Portland! Macleay Park is a beautiful local park that is truly breathtaking to walk through. The park is incredibly green, with several waterfalls and an amazing hiking trail that leads to the Witch's House. The Witch's House is about a 20 minute or so walk from the beginning of the trail. It's actually fairly easy to be dropped off by Lyft to the park as there's plenty of parking and space at the trail head and all of the many times we've gone, the trails have had other visitors, but never seems to be crowded. We highly recommend a visit if you're in the area - if not just to walk up to the Witch House and back again. read more

My friend took my husband and I here for an awesome hike up to Pittock Mansion. It wasn't super challenging, but I can't say it was 100% easy either! It was mostly small incline the entire time, except towards the middle, right after you cross the street, there comes a steep incline. It's doable though! The view was spectacular even with the overcast weather. Supposedly you can see Mount Hood from the area on a clear day. Regardless, it was a wonderful view. There was even a picnic table for you to hangout and eat at if you wanted. I would recommend going early, as the crowd on a Saturday morning on our descend started to increase as the day went on. Excellent hike though, would love to do it again! read more

If you are looking for a short yet very fun hike, this is it. Its easy and fun for all ages. You can even bring your fur babies. It was an amazing Spring day and despite the pollen you see during the hike, can't beat fresh air. However, if you are allergic to pollen probably not the best place. The dirt trek may be muddy and slippery after the rain. So be careful. So much to explore of Portland. You can easily find short and fun mini hikes like this in and around town. #lovePortland read more

I recently walked the Lower Macleay Trail to Witches Castle and looped back once we reached it. It was a little less than 2 miles total with a little bit of elevation gain. My husband and I have been wanting to hike all summer, but he has a super injured knee and he can't do anything too strenuous. We found this trail while looking for something short and fairly flat. We really liked it! We went at prime time, around 11AM on a Saturday. Although crowded, it wasn't too bad and didn't bother us. It was actually perfect for a quick morning walk and was surprisingly beautiful for such a short hike that's essentially in the city. You can actually run the trail as well if you are looking to get your heart rate up! We will definitely be doing this route again. The only thing that was a bummer is that the "Witches Castle" at the top is just covered in grafiti. Considering this building was built in the 30s it is a piece of history and it's super sad that it has been vandalized like this. read more

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If your looking for Portland's witches castle you've found the right trail! Beautiful short hike in the middle of the city, but you'll never know once you hit the trail, sounds of water rolling down and the ample bird songs will transport you to an ancient forest. The trail is well maintained and it's is a very busy trail. The house (Witches Castle) is a neat rest stop if you want to head on up the wildwood trail towards Pittock. read more

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Came here on a weekday morning, parked on the neighborhood street. Saw some people but it wasn't crowded. Signs were good to get to the mansion, views were just okay at the top. read more

I have a nice list of great places to hike around the country, and Macleay Park might just go right up on top of that list. It's one of those places you just feel like to you walk forever because the sights or so beautiful you just don't realize how far you have come. The trails are very well laid out and posted. On the trail, we saw several bald eagles flying above us. I was just spectacular here. There are a few places to enter and start your hike so make sure you take a look at where you start and plan on ending. Also, just a note, if you're like me and taking an Uber, it's very close to downtown and pretty affordable to get out here. read more

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This place is fantastic and I can thank a recent field trip I took for a science class for cluing me in about it (We were doing a bio-assessment on Balch Creek by collecting macroinvertebrates if you were curious). This creek happens to be a tributary of the Willamette River and was named after Danford Balch, who was the first person legally hanged in the state of Oregon. While wandering around in this park it is hard to believe that you are located just minutes away from Portland's city center. Macleay Park is one of the entrances of Forrest Park. There are a couple fairly easy hikes you can choose to do from this starting location. The longest one is about a five mile round trip haul and heads right up to the Pittock Mansion. I actually wish I had looked at the hiking map posted at the park entrance to learn about this. I believe I turned around to head back right before reaching the mansion. One of the great things about hiking around in this section of forest park is Balch Creek flows right near you. I always find it extra relaxing to hear the sounds of water while hanging out in nature. If you need to get out of the house and be one with nature, but don't want to travel far from home. This is the place to go! read more

Macleay Park - Great blue heron waking though the stream. - Parks Near Me - Portland, Oregon

What a fun and beautiful park to explore. Found a few interesting spots along the trail. The a few hikers we met were friendly, good vibe! Recommend. read more

I specifically went to this park a few days ago for Witch's Castle (aka Stone House). The name got me hyped to see it for myself. This short hike to get there is easy; not strenuous at all! Once I got the the castle, I was amazed. Had some "ooh!" moments, even walking on the trail to get there. The nature all around us was beautiful. I walked all around the castle too and it's pretty cool. Definitely check it out! read more

Macleay Park - Parks Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Nothing like a good, simple hike on the edge of town. Look, the weather here has been spotty as of late so the three hikers decided to stay close to town, plus we had free coupons for pizza and it made sense to stay within the city limits. If you live in Portland or it's surrounding towns, you've most likely been to Forest Park and being that Macleay Park is the most common spot to go to, you've probably been here as well. Grimm shot here, the "witches castle" is here and well, nature, nature and more nature. This can be a short hike, which is why it was chosen today. We've been slacking on our hikes and this is a good one to get back in the swing of things. When you are with a hungry eight year old, the quicker, the better. The hike is tame. Not much on elevation but it's still able to get the heart pumping. Some new bridges are being built and they will be far sturdier than what currently exists. So that's cool. Forest Park is always enjoyable. Get outside and explore. Enjoy. read more

I stumbled onto this Park because it is near the Cullen Home (Twilight) and I saw a bridge and thought what the heck. I parked in a residential area and took a short walk, uhm, hike through the park. There are two entrances to the house and I entered through Thurman Street. I made the mistake of wearing my boots instead of walking shoes. The hike was very serene and pretty with a stream. The hike is about half a mile and then you end up at the Witches House. read more

After our pitiful failed attempt to hike Multnomah Falls (hiking shoes, or at least shoes with proper treads are most critical, go figure), we thought Macleay Park would be more our speed or at least, a safer endeavor. So we had our lovely Uber driver drop off us and we figured we would walk back to our hotel thereafter. As you can imagine Macleay Park can be rather moist and mucky during January . . . thus it turns out my barely-any-tread left casual walking shoes left me nearly smacking first face into the thick slimy mud. So don't be a fool like me, dress appropriately. There was some on and off light sprinkling throughout a hike, so I was grateful for my waterproof jacket and cap. Also be forewarned that this is a rather popular hiking area, but nowhere near congest. Just a expect to encounter pups and kids every few minutes and be mindful of their presence. Now, did I get winded throughout this hike? Yep. Because altitudes, not much range in that where I'm from. But I think this is quite doable for anyone in reasonable health. We did the entire hike to Pittock Mansion and back - seemed like it required a couple hours, but the frequent photo stops extended the hike a bit. Overall a really neat mini-adventure nestled in Portland. Lots of vibrant green vegetation, lovely view from Pittock Mansion, and just really "zen." A definite must! read more

Since moving to the wet and wonderful Pacific Northwest, I've learned to appreciate (love, lust) every sunny day that nature brings our way. Both of them so far were so nice. On those rare days when you realize the Sun God Ra is real, Macleay Park in Portland's famous Forest Park will clear away the cobwebs and the sorrow 'til there's none. Oooohhh ... The sun'll come out tomorrow (Seriously, tomorrow may be sunny) Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow (But take the points Portland) there'll be sun (or none) Just thinkin' about tomorrow (and not having to work) Clears away the cobwebs and the sorrow 'til there's none (goodbye months of gloom and doom) When I'm stuck with a day that's grey and lonely (like every other day this week) I just stick up my chin and grin and say, oh (put on those hiking boots, so) The sun'll come out tomorrow (or not) So you gotta hang on (someday we'll see a blue sky) 'til tomorrow, come what may! (probably more misty fog) Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya, tomorrow (cause today kind of sucks) You're always a day away! (Seriously, why not today) This large slice of mother nature is open 5:00 am - 10:00 pm and filled with trails and hiking paths for all levels and ages. Macleay Park has a long history, but takes its name from Donald Macleay who donated the land to Portland in 1897 to avoid paying Oregon's high property taxes. So, keep that in mind, the next time your county tax bill arrives. read more

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Truly a highlight of the trip! We had a great hike along the Wildwood trail, and I was quietly nerding out the whole time, being a HUGE fan of the Wildwood book series! It was the one rainy day we had in Portland, which was actually totally fine as it was still super warm! Plus the overhanging trees provided some pretty good cover. The trail was consistently pretty busy, but not overwhelmingly so, and we had plenty of sections where it was just us and we could appreciate the quiet beauty of the woods. The trails are well maintained, although not signed as well as they could be! We're still not entirely sure where we ended up! Regardless, I would 100% make this a priority next time I'm in Portland. It was a beautiful treat! read more

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I still can't get over the fact that this great creekside hike is mere minutes away from downtown. And it's not just some little stroll along a creek... it's a real life hike. In the woods. With uphills and downhills. With bridges and signs telling you to watch your step. And in the center of it all? A slowly decaying, moss-covered stone building. Just awesome. Macleay Park is like driving a half an hour out to the gorge for a hike, except without the drive. Admittedly, there are no impressive waterfalls, and little Balch creek can get pretty sad at times, but for getting away from it all it's hard to go wrong at Macleay Park. read more

Macleay Park - An overgrown, crumbling restroom is the surprising highlight of beautiful MacLeay park. - Parks Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Need a break from the concrete of the city? get yourself to the Balch creek trail in Macleay park, which is really part of Forest Park. In 232 steps you will be surrounded by greenery and big trees, in a deep mini-gorge with a lovely creek gurgling by. In the spring the creek is bigger (duh) and in the fall very teeny. What is with those people who can't read the "Keep your dogs on leash at all times to protect the fish" signs???? Do they hate fish? read more

Macleay Park - Parks Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Pretty gorgeous! I recently visited Seattle and decided to drive down to Portland because I have never been. I'm also looking to possibly move the the Pacific Northwest and wanted to check Portland out. The trails are pretty with birds chirping, little creeks, and lots of green. Being from Phoenix, it was nice to go on a hike in the summertime and not die of heat exhaustion. Plus, we don't really have nature trails like this. So, why only 4 stars? Well, I thought the trail was gorgeous and there was lots of green, however it was kind of boring. I planned on giving it 5 stars and then I hiked Mt. Rainier. read more

Actually, my review is for LOWER Macleay Park, accessible via NW Upshur, was it? And 27th...or 29th? There is a smallish green square sign that will direct you there... Quite possibly in the running for top 3 parks that I loved hiking or walking in....amazingly able to whisk you away from the city immediately and the height differential from the ground looking up, with the overpass above, and Balch Creek meandering to the right of the trail uphill....the glorious trees and ferns, the birds.....the doggies. Loved this place, and almost always took guests to visit. Not one missed out on seeing the magic that I did. Don't forget about the adorable and charming stone house about 1/3 of the way up. Joggers, even lunchtime dude and dudettes in their biz casual taking a walk at lunch.... uber fit Mommies with their indestructible Bob strollers jogging uphill, with the Bob wheels almost challenging "Bring it on!". Amazing scenery; so lucky to plop right off the end of Alphabet district and Nob Hill, and have this to usher us into Forest Park. Lovely. read more

If you don't get a chance to go hiking out of the city, this is a good spot where you can find some trails, but if you're expecting a beautiful, natural, eerie Witch's Castle, fuggedaboutit. Witch's Castle/House is a 1/2 mile downhill walk from the Upper Macleay Parking Lot on the Wildwood Trail. The walk is a few switchbacks downhill and then a flat path that takes about 15-20 minutes one way. The Witch's House has a lot graffiti, and it's sad because it has such interesting history. I was expecting some graffiti, but not that much, so I was disappointed. You will probably see a group of teenagers messing around or other people hiking through at Witch's House. My suggestion if you're expecting a beautiful eerie untouched house with history, you won't find that. I was visiting Portland, so I could've done without spending the time to see it. read more

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Saw the Witches castle hike was cool for the kids and it didn't disappoint. In fact, scaring the kids with scary stories as you walk around the old cobblestone home is just pure fun If you do go for this hike, look up the stories of the Belch family, it is a violent one and spurs creative juices. As we were hiking there were a group of young girls along the trail with candles and books.... Looking as if the were trying to summon some old spirits. Spooky!!! Lol We got a kick out of it all and did a nice hike around the park. read more

Macleay Park - Parks Near Me - Portland, Oregon

We went when it was dark to catch the witch house and it was hella fun for sure ! Wish we had gone during the day for pics but I don't care it was a dope hike and a great experience read more

Absolutely beautiful. Anybody living in the surrounding neighborhoods is extremely fortunate to have this so close! Very wide trails, with a lot of options for short or longer hikes. It's a pretty flat and easy 4-5mi roundtrip to the stone house ruins via the Lower Macleay Trail. It's extremely busy on the weekends but still nice nonetheless. You can also connect to the Wildwood Trail that extends for about 30mi, with not many people on it. It's a good option if you want a casual serene walk with no real "spectacular" views or checkpoints. Beware: the trails can be slippery and really muddy! read more

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This is lower Macleay Trail and a surrounding picnic area. It's worth a visit and to stop for a picnic or admire an old railroad bridge and begin a hike on the trail. Parking is limited so you may have to park on narrow street leading to park. Plenty of space for kids to play. read more

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