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.

We don't get out to Laurelhurst as often as we should; it's one of the best inner city parks that…read morewe have, for myriad reasons: spacious, shaded, plenty of picnic space and open greenway, trails, special events all year round (our favorites being the Water Lantern Festival and Movies in the Park), an off-leash dog area, duck pond, sports courts and fields, and likely a lot more things of which I am aware. It's also seems, to me at least, to be one of only a handful of Portland's "living room" spaces: large enough, and conveniently central enough, to draw in folks from all over the metro area, for any of the reasons mentioned above. It's quite, serene, welcoming...nostalgic, even. A great place to commingle, or isolate, whatever your preference. Portland is blessed with a lot of urban green spaces, but few outside of Forest Park (the G.O.A.T.) can rival the majesty, modesty, and utility of Laurelhurst. It's the sort of place that can make you fall in love with your city all over again.

The Portland Water Lantern Festival was a great outing, especially for father's day! There were…read moregreat food vendors options and overall it was a peaceful, relaxing evening. Set intentions and let the lanterns go!

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.

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!

It's a park. Gotta park for the park and walk. Great views, lots o people…read more Watch airport landings, StZ Helen's blow up in the future, and Mt Hood turn green. Oh and the sunset if you are patient enough to wait. Only downside is the volume of the traffic on 84 in the background.

The best location in NE Portland for watching sunsets, taking in panoramic views of the city,…read moregazing at stars (and other astronomical events, even despite the light pollution), and watching planes take off and land at nearby PDX. On a clear day, Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams can be seen by those with good eyesight. An old, decommissioned aviation beacon still blinks away at all hours of the day and night like a lighthouse, and the rustic lanterns around the perimeter make the park feel as if it were time-shifted from an earlier era. For a real treat, visit the park when the city below lies under a blanket of fog.

It was our first visit to this iconic park and we were not disappointed. We didn't have a full day…read moreto explore everything that we certainly enjoyed Rose Garden, as well as the wonderful shuttle driver who gave us a very nicely, guided informal tour all the way up from the parking area by the zoo to the dairy top by the rose garden, including very interesting facts about the park and the local neighborhood surrounding the park. As it was late April, there were not a lot of roses yet in bloom, but it was still nice to see the garden and all the other sites in the park most of which will have to wait for our next visit.

Washington Park (in Oregon) is way more than a park -- it's mini attractions with the park -…read moreresidential area. So, within the "park", there's Oregon Zoo, Portland Japanese Garden, Hoyt Arboretum, International Rose Test Garden, and Children's Museum -- all require admission feee. The park and trails are free. Washington Park is hands-down one of the most incredible urban parks but I only had time to check out Portland Japanese Garden (separate review). I did walk the perimeter of the Hoyt ArboretumFor hikers and nature lovers, this is a gem.Washington Park has a free shuttle that loops around all the major attractions (seasonal). Parking can be a little tricky during peak times, so plan ahead or take public transit. The cool thing is getting around Washington Park -- there's free shuttle that's takes you to all these places within the park so you don't have to stress about limiting parking spots. Yelp Tip:There are plenty of quiet spots with tables and open lawns to relax between visits -- so do a picnic. Highly recommend carving out time in your Portland trip to explore it properly.

Skidmore Bluffs Park is more of a park for the view. Yes, there are trails there but they go down…read morevery steep slopes and if it's muddy you are bound to get some slipping and sliding in. In fact if you are really lucky while you are slipping and you grab at random things you may even grab a plant with thorns on it. Yay you! Skidmore seems like a park you have to walk to from the neighborhood that it is surrounded by. There is a small, round circle that appears to be a small parking lot but going off of the signs all over there it apparently isn't a place to park. It's more of a cul de sac. Overall I wasn't too impressed with the park but that view is great and if you want a good, panoramic view then Skidmore is the place to go.

Such a beautiful location with a nice view of the river and a lovely spot to have a picnic.read more

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.

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.

Ended up here during one of the pedalpalooza rides earlier this Summer. I'd passed by many times on…read morethe 99E & was always curious. It's much larger than I expected & lots tucked away that you can't see from the road. There's tons of room to spread out & some nice little walking paths. I always appreciate a park with some type of water feature & Westmoreland park supplied that, complete with ducks!

Stopped in to kill time before Oaks Park opened. Pretty cool park with a natural adventure…read moreplayground. Maintained well. Lots of trees and shade. There are plenty of benches and picnic tables. Restrooms nearby. Would recommend.

t's great for families and solo visitors alike. You can kayak here, but be prepared for a steep…read moretrail down to the water; bringing kayaks on dollies is recommended. Head past the bathroom and down the road to the launch area, then go right from the beach to reach Hog Island. The water is calm and relaxing. It's a nice spot for walking dogs, with easy trails and a sandy area by the river for them to enjoy.

OVERCROWDED in the summer. Hardly any parking. LO Police give $120 parking tickets. Dogs off leash…read morefine $145. Steep hill to lug your inflatable up. "Beach" is very small. Insider tips: come off season or early morning in the summer. Enter on Green Street off of Hwy 43. Great walk off the lower parking lot along the river to Old River Road.