Beautiful hiking trails, perfect for walking your dog! Parking can be a little scary (but then…read moreagain, it is on Germantown road - what can you expect haha). However, there is usually room in the parking lot on Germantown or along the sides of the road. I love how large the walking path is. It's definitely easy to pass another walker, even if you both have dogs. The path is well-maintained, and it didn't have any large fallen branches or trash when I visited. It's a straightforward path, so you don't have to worry about accidentally taking a wrong turn and getting lost if you are new to hiking. Very beginner friendly! The forest itself is beautiful. So much greenery, little birds, and a wonderful sense of peacefulness. I would recommend visiting on a weekday if possible, as the parking lot and trail can get crowded on weekends.

I love coming to Forest Park when visiting Portland! There are many trails to choose from, it's…read morewell maintained, and there's a lot of signage, making it fairly easy to navigate around. I've come here a handful of times and have done some easy walks, as well as the more strenuous trek all the way up to Pittock Mansion. The observation deck is always a favorite stop too since it's such a pretty area. The whole park is very lush and seems to stay that way no matter the time of year. Not sure if all of the trails are dog friendly, but we have brought a dog on some and see lots of them throughout the park.

I'm rating Tom McCall Waterfront Park 5 stars due to the happy, grateful moments, every time I am…read more here, especially during this March 2026 visit, My chasing cherry blossom dreams came true. I tried coming every year to catch the blooms for past 5 years ( I was either too early or too late) but Wow, this year I finally caught the blooms. My heart is filled with Joy! I have a LOVE for Sakura/Cherry Blossoms. Tom McCall Waterfront Park sure brings back wonderful memories when I visited Portland for the first time during my daughter's college day, very beautiful park! Tom McCall Waterfront Park if for Governor Tom McCall is about 36. acres with a view of Williamette River in downtown Portland, bordered by RiverPlace to the south, Steel Bridge to the north. Did you know this park used to be 6-lane highway, activists held picnics on the tiny riverfront walkway in 1969 to protest the lack of public space. Gov. Tom McCall formed a task force, Harbor drive closed in 1974 and the park opened in 1978. Besides annual cherry blossoms this park has trails, salmon street springs, monuments, various festivals, protest, events, are held here. Near by to Portland Saturday market. Parking is very limited, either street parking or private lot. I can't wait to visit Tom McCall Waterfront Park again, with or without cherry blossoms or for Fall, foliage- I hope to catch the blooms again next year! same time, same place, I loved to be back!

Great park that used to be a freeway! It contains a bunch of points of interest: the Battleship…read moreOregon Memorial, Salmon Street Springs, the Japanese American Historical Plaza, etc. It definitely makes the park more interesting, since otherwise it's flat and grassy with not a lot of other features. Amazing for cyclists and joggers though. The views of the river are pretty, and you can spend your lunch break walking around and getting fresh air. Portland's Saturday Market is hosted on the weekends (March until December) on the northern end of the park, right next to the Bill Naito Legacy Fountain. There's also other festivals that use the park as the grounds. I've heard that the cherry blossoms in the spring are very pretty, so I'll have to return for those!

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!

Mount Tabor Park Nature's Own Little Showstopper…read more Mount Tabor Park stands proudly in the heart of Portland, yet somehow feels like a secret escape tucked right under the city's nose. The moment you step onto the trails, you forget you're in a metropolis at all trees tower overhead like gentle giants, wind whispers through the branches, and everything smells like fresh air and freedom. On a busy day, this place absolutely fills up walkers, joggers, bikers, curious wanderers, and people who just came for the view but pretend they're "out exercising." The crowd doesn't ruin the vibe, though; it actually brings the park to life. Nature does the singing, and visitors add the harmony. The water reservoirs sit calmly along the hillside, shining like mirrors laid out to reflect the sky. They give the park this serene, cool presence as if the earth itself stopped to take a drink. And those little trails? They may not stretch for miles and miles, but they're perfect for exploring, stretching your legs, and clearing your head. Just enough adventure, just enough workout, and plenty of places to pause and think, "Dang, this is nice." And then you reach the top. The view of Portland is nothing short of jaw-dropping. A full, wide panorama of the city laid out beneath you. It's the kind of view that hits your brain like a reward like nature saying, "Congratulations, you made it. Enjoy the show." You're on a mountain smack in the middle of the city, yet you feel miles above it all. Million-dollar views in every direction, guaranteed. Riddle time: What mountain lets you see the whole city while barely breaking a sweat? Answer: Mount Tabor Park, of course. Whether you drive up, walk up, or roll up with your snacks ready, this place never disappoints. It's one of my all-time favorites a little oasis with a big personality, a peaceful escape with killer views, and an easy adventure anyone can enjoy. Mount Tabor Park is a must. Step in, look out, breathe deep, and let nature do its magic.

Enjoy the beauty of Oregon within the city of Portland!…read more Sunrise hike ~ magical. Mossy trees, creek crossings, see beavers & dams, hear woodpeckers peck at wood. Pups & horses allowed, short recreational bike path too. Large parking lot though it will get full if you don't arrive early.

Just behind your backyard kind of hike, who doesn't love that. Nice well kept trail, and I believe…read morethey allow dogs on leash too! Exhilarating tall pines, get ready to soak all that nature in!! I love that it's just tucked close to neighborhood and campus nearby. Plenty of free parking and don't be stuck as they close this park at night. Love love all the trees!!!

Tubes are $25 for a day rental! They are nice, heavy duty red tubes and have handles. Pickup is in…read morehis garage/driveway and pickup was so easy! You can take the tubes wherever you want which is nice. They're super easy to blow up and have a mesh bottom to hold your belongings close by/shield your bum from rocks. He gave us a hand pump to use to blow them up when we arrive at our location. Drop off was just as easy, we texted him when we were 5 minutes away and he came outside when we needed to drop off! Would definitely rent from him again if we are ever in the area!

We rented six tubes from Bryan on the Fourth of July. I thought we were going to be an hour early…read morepicking them up than we scheduled. I called Bryan and he was totally fine with us being early. It ended up taking us an hour longer than we thought to drop our car off at Barton Park. But Bryan was waiting for us when we got there. The process was very easy and fast. He had everything ready for us and offered us life jackets since we didn't have quite enough for our group. The tubes were a lot of fun and held up, even going over some parts that were shallow and rocky. We will rent from Bryan again if we float the river again. Great experience!

This lovely bit of land has the potential to be as great as it was originally envisioned. And I…read moreimagine there was a time it was a community favorite spot for family gatherings, first dates, "that" secret retreat where you could take a breath to reset your inner peace, a trusted romping ground for your fur kids. The park's magical energy gave reason enough to grab your umbrella, Wellingtons, a friend who is willing to dance in the rain (yes, I know I'm stretching this a bit, dream with me here). Sadly, a short visit to this once bubbly land will likely leave you to go back to your favorite park and never return. I get it. It's winter and with Portland winters comes wet, muddy, and now even neglected by the city workers who's jobs are subsidized by local and state income taxes paid by hard working people from our gorgeous city. I may be new to the city, but what I do know is it rains. And it's no secret that winter brings days upon days of cold, rainy days. I personally love it! And isn't it safe to assume that this seasonal shift is no secret for the OG city folk? I'm told to expect living under dark clouds with daily rain accumulation right through spring of 2026. Again, I am new here. But doesn't it make sense to perhaps to take another look into learning what the city's resident community experts thoughts are on what seasonal characteristics determined this unfortunate decision. So like me, for example. I'm from Phoenix, AZ. Where summer temps seer to 115°- 120° with minimal breaks for weeks upon weeks. And guess what? City parks don't close up shop. They still book events for picnic spaces and other popular hidden gems. The toilets are open, clean and the park workers are eager to answer any questions you bring. And so my issue isn't with the declining state of the park. It's the blatant inconsideration for people who get outside even on the rainiest days and nights I find to be adversarial. The city has turned the parks public water source (especially convenient for your pups), closed and locked the only two toilets available to relieve the most commonly shared human function. Locking these toilets is wrong on so many levels. Doing so doesn't save the city spending budget. It doesn't keep homeless people away from the park, and it doesn't keep the park clean. Yeah. That last part. Thank you for encouraging people to make an unfair decision. Anyone reading this knows, when you gotta go, You gotta go. There is no health benefit for someone to hold it. Even leaving the park to go home is too long. Instead of promoting cleanliness and personal responsibility, you are in fact forcing people to urinate at will, anywhere. And even worse? Yes. Not all poop can be held beyond it's naturally placed emergency exit. Your decision to restrict access makes no sense. But, let's be real. This isn't to keep the budget honest. It's also not to ensure less traffic in spots where there is solid traffic. It's certainly not to use the opportunity to upgrade the facilities. It's to satisfy the early morning city park "ranger" and his personal agenda to bully anyone who wears the effects from a life of despair shown everywhere on their being. He wants to make life harder for a life that you'd think can't get worse. He is so repulsed by their presence, taking away their safety, dignity, hope and a spot to rest quietly when absolutely nobody is there. And even should someone stroll through, they don't care. The homeless folks aren't why this park has lost it's joy, it's because the people who have the powers are making decisions based on ensuring they win. How proud you must feel when you stoop to pick up your park powers and literally spew your wrongly placed toxic energy. Please reopen one of the restrooms and turn the water source back on. These park amenities belong to all the people of the city of Portland. Make your choices based on that agenda. Not your rangers. Do better!

One of my favorite places to bring my folding chair, snacks and drinks to admire Portlands skyline.read more

Clean walkway along the water. Great place to take your dog for a walk on a sunny day. Wonderful…read moresweeping views of Portland skyline as well as the river. Was impressed how clean the walkway was. We went midday on a January Sunday. Felt very safe. We found parking nearby under the bridges. Close to the Tilikum Crossing bridge which is a great pedestrian only bridge. This location is part of my Portland dog friendly collection. Follow here for more suggestions. https://www.yelp.com/collection/-qX6l2H98FTB7Q7kH75mtw?utm_content=Collections&utm_source=ishare

I've been walking the Vera Katz Esplanade for years. Most of the time it's fine, but I've noticed a…read morepattern -- the majority of times when someone is acting aggressively out here, it's a white person. I don't know who gave them the sense of authority over public space, but it's that white privilege attitude in full view. Today was the worst incident yet. I crossed over to walk closer to the river and saw a white, butch-built, short-haired woman with an older, heavy-set brown Doberman. As we passed, she made an aggressive comment, then turned back, pulled out a knife, and threatened me for no reason. She was clearly racist -- she doesn't like Black people, Brown people, Indians, Mexicans, or Asians -- and she decided to target me, a smaller Indian man, thinking she could intimidate me. I have video and a clear photo of her. I called the police, but if you're Black or Brown in Portland, you already know -- the police don't take it seriously when we report a white person. They focused more on questioning me than on finding her. Here is picture

There is so much to do at this park and multiple parking spots and access points. Tennis courts,…read moreplayground, bathrooms, basketball court, soccer field, skate park, dog park, trails, community garden, baseball diamond and more! Large rolling hills with expansive grassy areas for picnics and views. If you are looking for recreation, you can find it here. Beautiful day and evening.

I drive by so often I sometimes forget how freaking great Gabriel Park is. The place is huge,…read morenicely laid out, and it is IMO a lovely place to spend an afternoon or even a weekend. Plus it's got a little bit of everything; paved walking paths, or dirt trails if you like; basketball courts; lots of picnic tables; tennis courts; two baseball fields; two dog parks; a skate park; an old growth forest (no joke!); open meadows; an up to date playground, and I'm sure a bunch of other things I'm missing. There's a small parking lot and usually plenty of on street parking if you're driving here, and Multnomah Village is just over the hill. And it's all free.

The PBOT waterways Bike Ride stopped at the Keller Fountain. It's an artistic representation of a…read morestage using cement squares and unique standing shapes. The water was not running but you can imagine how majestic this is when flowing. Going to come back in spring.

I have so many wonderful memories from Keller Fountain Park over the years that I have lived in…read morePortland. I've sulked here, taken dates and out of town guests here, I've had summertime lunches here. While Pioneer Square may be considered "Portland's Livingroom," to some, this amazing park is everything to me.

I always love saying hi to the leprechauns. It's such a cute little park, and there's always…read moresomething fun and new when I go. Worth a stop by if you're in the area.

Something that is just hilariously very Portland and also very cute. Yes it's a real park (second…read moresmallest in the world!), yes it's just one tree, yes it's in the middle of a median. Worth seeing just because it exists lol