Forest Park Trails

Forest Park sprawls across Portland’s West Hills, occupying roughly eight miles of ridgeline and covering more than 5,000 forested acres. It’s one of the largest urban forest reserves in the U.S., featuring a network of trails - from well-worn paths like Wildwood and Lower Macleay, to steeper, quieter routes through less visited corners. Here ferns, big-leaf maples, Douglas firs, red cedars, and a lush understory form a thick green canopy. Birds (over 100 species), mammals, and myriad plants share this space.

Visitors can enter through many trailheads; some are accessible by public transit or close to neighborhoods, others require a drive and parking. Trails are used for hiking, trail running, walking dogs (on leash), birdwatching, and quiet reflection. There are also viewpoints looking over the city and river, especially from vantage points along Wildwood and Leif Erikson Drive. Maintenance and conservation work are ongoing - through the city’s Parks & Recreation, with support from Forest Park Conservancy - and habitat health, trail safety, and invasive species control are active concerns.