Hiking in Portland is great because there are just so many choices. So many, in fact, that it is hard to pick just one. If you are looking to get a little exercise, but want to keep things relatively short and sweet, these are nine of the best hikes around town that are easy and under five miles long. Lace up your shoes and head out to one of these scenic destinations for the best hikes in Portland!

1. Hoyt Arboretum
Hoyt Arboretum, 4000 SW Fairview Blvd, Portland, OR 97221, USA
Mary Anne Thygesen / Flickr
This 1.8-mile loop takes you through a myriad of trees of the northwest and is a pleasant adventure for an afternoon.
2. Eastbank Esplanade to Waterfront Park Loop
Eastbank Esplanade, SE Salmon St, Portland, OR 97214, USA
Susan Smith / Flickr
This easy loop is 3.7 miles around, or you could just stroll the Eastbank Esplanade's 1.7-mile promenade. To do the whole loop, cross the Hawthorne and Steel Bridges.
3. Mt. Tabor Green Trail
Mount Tabor, Mt. Tabor, Portland, OR, USA
Tom Hilton / Flickr
The 1.7-mile green trail is an easy adventure and takes you to the epic views from the top of the park.
4. Oak Island
Oak Island, Oregon 97231, USA
I Bird 2 / Flickr
This 2.9-mile hike along the river at Sauvie Island is a great place to see blue herons and other waterfowl.
5. Powell Butte Loop
Northwest Powell Butte Loop, NW Powell Butte Loop, Bend, OR 97703, USA
brxO / Flickr
Enjoy this easy 3.5-mile hike by another extinct volcano that is fun and scenic.
6. Tryon Creek State Natural Area
Tryon Creek State Natural Area, 11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd, Portland, OR 97219, USA
J. Maughn / Flickr
Take the 4-mile loop through the park for a quiet, forested tour of the city's only state park.
7. Willamette Mission State Park
Willamette Mission State Park, Gervais, OR 97026, USA
Ian Sane / Flickr
Head down near Woodburn to this state park along the Willamette River. The 2.3-mile loop trail here takes you by what is thought to be the world's oldest black cottonwood tree.
8. Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge
Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge, SE Sellwood Blvd & SE 7th Avenue, 10830 SE Oaks Park Way, Portland, OR 97202, USA
h.r. williams / Flickr
See herons and other waterfowl on this 3.6-mile hike through the forest in Southeast Portland. Beavers, muskrats, and nutria call this place home and make for a great sighting on your hike.
9. Council Crest
Council Crest, Portland, OR 97239, USA
David Lebech / Flickr
Get the best view in the city when you take the 3.2-mile trail from Marquam Nature Park to the 1,043-foot summit. Be sure to stop and enjoy the view before heading back.

What are other easy hikes in Portland that you love? Feel free to share!

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Best Hikes in Portland

Tori Jane | July 02, 2022

What are the best hiking trails near me?  

If you’re located in Portland, there are most certainly lots of amazing hiking trails near you to add to your outdoorsy bucket list. Of all the hikes in Portland you’re sure to love, most of them just so happen to be outrageously beautiful. Some of our favorite hiking trails near Portland include the trails at Hoyt Arboretum. The Hoyt Arboretum trails are open 365 days a year and are truly beautiful. Alternatively, head over to Council Crest City Park and check out the Marquam to Council Crest Hike Trail, a three-mile trek with some amazing views of the city from above and afar.  

What are the most scenic hikes in Portland?  

Of course, the list of scenic hikes in Portland doesn’t stop there! Head to Forest Park and do the Wildwood Trail – or part of it, anyway. It’s an impressively long trail, coming in at 29 and a half miles long, and you can choose to do the entire thing or just parts of it (whichever parts you want!). Another absolutely beautiful hike in Portland is within the Tryon Creek State Natural Area called the Tryon Creek Triple Bridge Loop. It’s short, at just three and a half miles long, but it’s magical, featuring bridges, stunning woodlands, and lots of shade. It’s all the beauty of Oregon jam-packed into one amazing trail you won’t soon forget.  

What are the best easy hikes in Portland?  

With so many hikes in Portland to choose from, it could be tough to know where to begin – so why not start with the easy hikes? Some of our favorite easy hikes in Portland include the Oaks Bottom Loop Hike, at Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge. It’s just over three miles long and leads through a fascinating wetland area excellent for wildlife watching. You also can’t miss the Portland River Loop Trail, a 10-mile paved walkway that loops around the river and features some delightful bridges. With as many wonderful parks in Portland as there are, you’re sure to find one or two to fall in love with while hiking through!  

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