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    Marquam Nature Park

    4.2 (20 reviews)

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    Lynn R.

    Marquam nature Park park is part of the Portland Parks and recreation natural area. It is the third largest park in Portland, comprised of over 200 acres of undeveloped land. Has over 7 miles of trails forest and scenic views. The last part of the trail took me to the top of the hill at Council crest Park. At 1,073 feet, Council Crest Park is the highest point in Portland. The park is a quiet place to enjoy a sunny afternoon on the ample lawns and to take in one of the most spectacular panoramic views of Portland and Beaverton. On a sunny day, Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier, Mount Adams and Mount Hood all can been seen from the viewpoint in the center of the park. The park's history is as rich and varied as the city which it tops. Council Crest was named as a misnomer, as it was once believed to be a place where Native Americans held meetings. From 1907 until 1929 the park operated as Council Crest Amusement Park, with various amusement rides and an observatory where the water tower now stands. There was a cable car that took patrons up what is now the main trail to the top of the park. The amusement park was torn down in 1941, and all that remains of the cable car is a commemorative plaque.

    Nearby trees and ferns make up most of the view, looking both up and down
    John K.

    This is a nice spot for hikes of varying lengths, without leaving the city. There are many trails - we walked a couple of miles, on 3 different paths, and were pleasantly surprised by the gentle grade, though virtually all of our route was along hillsides overlooking steep ravines. The trails were somewhat narrow for Covid times. Fortunately, almost everyone else that we encountered were wearing masks. The trails had a number of exposed roots and medium sized rocks, making for good traction, but also potential for twisted ankles. The feeling of wooded isolation is remarkable, considering how close this park is to downtown. There are constantly varying levels of sunlight reaching down into the ravines, making for entertaining viewing. Some of the trails have been renamed, so if you've done any route planning online, the names on the trail markers may be different. One example is that the former Shelter Loop Trail is now called the Shadyside Trail. Look for trail maps at the shelter near the surprisingly small parking lot. We encountered one section of trail that had water running across, draining into a gully that ran alongside, although there has been no rain in the area for several days. So, be sure to wear appropriate footwear.

    Art O.

    Beautiful trail. I can't believe there's only a few reviews here. We took the MAX to the Zoo and did the full hike all the way to OSHU. There were so many beautiful ferns and trees along the trail. It was a bit wet after the rains but it seemed to make everything pop even more. This was a great way to see parts of the city and get some hiking in during our PDX trip. It was only around 4-6 miles so not enough to tucker you out but just enough to burn a good amount of calories. The hills weren't too steep either. I'm glad I was convinced to go on this trail/hike. I'd highly recommend checking out this hike!

    Trail Pics
    Noemi P.

    What a workout! It was a really nice hike as me and my friend got up one of the trails it got cooler! We also got to see some birds. Also almost ran I to a spider cute trail overall.

    Campers with propane tanks and huge mounds of trash  are a permanent fixture, with next-to-no enforcement.
    James K.

    The park itself is amazing, however the city has not enforced laws against campers that have totally trashed major sections. In many cases, like by Buhler Cutoff, the same campers will remain for months and just dump their stuff everywhere. The city needs to put a stop to this. For the rest of us they city has strict rules that treat the land like a nature sanctuary.

    Beautiful mosaic wall done by children and local community groups.
    Jan B.

    Great place for a scenic drive or quick scenic walk, picnic, or hike. Beautiful dense tree lined easily walkable paths...many to choose from. It is close in and has ample parking. There is a beautiful mosaic wall by the main shelter done by local children and community groups which is very inspiring. After a hike we met some friends for a picnic in the Marquam shelter and had fun posing for pics on the mosaic wall.

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    9 years ago

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    12 years ago

    Simple park near ohsu. Short trails as well as medium size trails that connect to council crest. A simple getaway in a weekday.

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    7 years ago

    I really enjoyed this scenic trail but there was very limited parking so it was abit stressful finding a spot.

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    6 years ago

    A wonderful wonderful natural terrain park in the midst of Portland city and above OHSU marvelous little site to take a walk

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    13 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Very well kept nice trail in the city. Parking is a bit tricky to find for some reason but it's great!

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    Review Highlights - Marquam Nature Park

    Council Crest was named as a misnomer, as it was once believed to be a place where Native Americans held meetings.

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    Mount Tabor Park - Right path behind visitor center

    Mount Tabor Park

    4.6(284 reviews)
    4.7 miMt. Tabor, Southeast Portland

    Mount Tabor Park was long, long , long on my list for places to visit in Portland. After a recent…read moretrip to Portland we timed it where we could go here one morning and enjoy the scenery. We were not disappointed in the slightest! Most of the park is up on a hill which if I recall correctly is an extinct volcano. The reservoirs are very cool to look at and walk around at. We went to three of them and I believe that is the total number that aren't decommissioned but there once was five reservoirs here but two are decommissioned. The reservoirs were once used for drinking water but now serve primarily as a scenic and historic feature which it most certainly is! There is all kinds of paths you can walk around in and even minor hikes of a urban sort if you want to look at it that way as if you want you can walk uphill for quite a while. If you roam around the park you can see beautiful views of downtown Portland which is very enjoyable to see. I definitely recommend visiting this park and it has the appeal where it will attract tourists and locals alike as it is just that kind of a special place!

    I went here for a short hike after my last day of work in Portland, and found it delightful. It is…read morea park nestled on the ancient, extinct cinder cone, in a well-to-do neighborhood. It is nicely kept up, and features trails, abundant plant-life and some of Portland's historic reservoirs. The skyline of downtown is visible.

    Photos
    Mount Tabor Park - 8/26/2023 - Original Practice Shakespeare presents Antonie & Cleopatra

    8/26/2023 - Original Practice Shakespeare presents Antonie & Cleopatra

    Mount Tabor Park - At one of the reservoirs and enjoying the historic buildings with them!

    At one of the reservoirs and enjoying the historic buildings with them!

    Mount Tabor Park - Soapbox Derby Let's go #TeamMonkey

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    Soapbox Derby Let's go #TeamMonkey

    Woods Memorial Natural Area - Stairway trail

    Woods Memorial Natural Area

    4.6(13 reviews)
    3.4 miSouthwest Portland

    Love that this little slice of greenery got its own designation. I got to sample a nice (but fairly…read moresmall) network of intertwined trails in this fairly small park (or, ah, natural area), none of them flat, which I totally appreciated for their winding character and shifting terrain. Most are moderate to easy single tracks through wooded areas, but there are some tricky spots, which can get sloppy after rains, but kudos to the volunteers who hacked these paths through a narrow and sometimes steep canyon. You'll get little sun, and lotsa shade, (and sorta sketchy parking), but the trails are decently maintained. Just be aware - they're not flat or paved.

    This park is integrated right into the neighborhood. There is no parking lot, but rather a couple…read moreof dead-end streets that turn into trails. The trails weave their way through the park, down to the creek, and back up to another entry dead end street. It's fairly charming with lots of native plants, wood bridges, and staircases. Looks like someone regularly makes flower art on a particular storm drain - cute. Signposts at trail intersections provide info, but there's no trail map which would be useful. Probably about 2 miles of trails total, some are steep uphill but otherwise it's fairly easy. Dogs allowed on leash. (I saw a number of owners who were not following this rule but didn't have any issues.)

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    Woods Memorial Natural Area - Woods Memorial Natural Area

    Woods Memorial Natural Area

    Woods Memorial Natural Area - Woods Memorial Natural Area

    Woods Memorial Natural Area

    Woods Memorial Natural Area - Woods Memorial Natural Area

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    Woods Memorial Natural Area

    Marquam Nature Park - hiking - Updated August 2026

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