Molalla, Oregon

Note: this trail is closed due to fire damage. For more updates, please visit the Forest Service website.  The Opal Creek pools are a wonderful place to visit year-round, but they’re a true oasis on a hot summer day. With a variety of rock outcroppings and ledges to jump off of, and plenty of ro...

Mount Tabor City Park is located in the heart of southeast Portland and is situated atop an extinct volcano. It’s comprised of more than 190 acres of beautiful Douglas Fir forest and features several relatively easy routes to the top: the easiest being the road you can drive (but what’s the fun i...

Take the train to Washington Park and hike through Hoyt Arboretum. This will bypass a few miles of Wildwood Trail, but you won't miss much. In the arboretum, the trail twists and turns through the trees, will smaller trails jutting off to the sides, through other groups of trees (each trail is a...

Founded in 1928 to conserve endangered species and educate visitors, Hoyt Arboretum is a 190-acre park in the forest above Portland's NW area. It's only 15 minutes from downtown! There are 12+ miles of trails to explore, my favorite is the Redwood Trail that takes you through towering redwoods a...

While the Portland Japanese Garden is a popular place for tourists, it's also a favorite for Portland residents as it's located right in Washington Park close to trails and across from the Rose Garden. The Japanese Garden also just unveiled its Cultural Crossing expansion in April 2017, which inc...

This is an awesome place to escape to for a workout, or just a walk through the forest! You can make it a short walk, or turn it in to 6+ miles of loops! The one main trail is paved, but it’s not hard to find some single dirt track trails branching off and wandering through the trees, it can make...

Lower Macleay Park is one of most easily accessible trailheads in the city, especially during one of Portland’s rare snow years where even driving up to 500 feet of elevation can challenge your car. You can park within the park entrance cul-de-sac, around the intersection of Upshur St. & NW 2...

On a clear day, this short, secluded hike offers breath-taking views of Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood, and Mt. Jefferson, as well as of downtown Portland, Coast Range, and the Roaring River Wilderness. Begin the hike from the Twin Springs Trailhead and immediately take your fi...

Minto-Brown Island Park Tail is a loop trail that takes you by a lake located near Salem, Oregon.

The Santiam Forest is well known for its many beautiful spots, but this one is fairly uncommon. It's likely you will be the only person out here. Since it's such a short hike, just about a mile round trip, you could easily make it a pit stop on your way to or from someplace else and not have to w...

This trail is an easy out and back from either the west or east side of Forest Park. The east trailhead is off NW Skyline Blvd, on Saltzman Road, which is a dirt/gravel road like the trail. You'll park near the gates where there aren't No Parking signs up (the land around the trail at this point ...

This is a great option for a quick hike when you don't have time to get out of the city but need to satisfy your craving to get outside and escape the noise of bustling Portland. Follow Firelane 7 from the Springville Trailhead up towards Leif Erickson Drive and the Ridge Trail. There are signs a...

With no officially marked trailhead, this hike begins slightly west of Elk Lake in Marion County. Take Highway 22 to Detroit, OR. East of the bridge over Breitenbush River, turn onto (FR) Forest Road 46, with signs pointing to Breitenbush River. After 4.5 miles turn left at a sign for Elk Lake, a...

This trail is a great option for people who want to escape the city, without actually leaving. Lacamas Park is located right downtown Camas, Washington and offers over six miles of dirt trails popular for cyclists, pedestrians, and runners.Park off of 3rd avenue at the Lacamas Creek Trailhead to ...

From Highway 22 at the Breitenbush River Bridge, in Detroit, turn north on to French Creek Rd. Drive up French Creek about 7.7 miles to the Upper TH #3379/3381 to Dome Rock and Tumble Lake. The trail can be found on the left side of the road and is easily seen after you pass it. It's best to pass...

Latourell Falls is a beautiful and unique waterfall in the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. This amazing waterfall is just a few hundred yards from the road and parking lot. Once you park, there is a viewpoint for the falls that is straight ahead. The view from there isn't that great compared to ...