TriMet provides bus, light rail and commuter rail transit services in the Portland, Oregon, metro area. We connect people with their community, while easing traffic congestion and reducing air pollution—making the Portland area a better place to live. More
Transit to Trails
TriMet is your connection to nature in the city
The Portland metropolitan area has more than 10,000 acres of parks and natural areas. We invite you to leave the car at home and take TriMet to enjoy our wealth of outdoor beauty. Here are some destinations we think you'll like.
Beaverton
M.O. Stevens/Wikimedia
Tualatin Hills Nature Park
15655 SW Millikan Way, Beaverton
The Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District maintains a 60-mile trail system that includes the Tualatin Hills Nature Park. This wildlife preserve features evergreen and deciduous forests, creeks, wetlands, ponds, meadows, trails and an interpretive center. 5 miles of loop trails, all accessible.
Trail map PDF
Difficulty
Easy to moderate
Westside Trail
15655 SW Millikan Way, Beaverton
The Westside Trail is an extension of a trail that begins in the Tualatin Hills Nature Park parking lot and continues south to Hart Meadows Park. After an unfinished section, it begins again at 163rd and continues to Murrayhill Powerline Park and Scholls Ferry Road. 8 miles one-way, portions are accessible.
Trail map PDF
Difficulty
Easy to moderate
Buxton
Photo: Chris Friend
Stub Stewart State Park
31 miles west of Portland, on the east side of Oregon 47
Stub Stewart State Park offers hike-in, bike-in camping, picnicking and more than 20 miles of trails in the park. The park also features two disc golf courses, one 18-hole and one 3-hole.
Trail guide PDF
Difficulty
Easy to moderate
How to get there
Take MAX Blue Line to Willow Creek Transit Center, then connect with Columbia County Rider
Clackamas
Mount Talbert Nature Park
Mather Road, just east of I-205 and south of Sunnyside Road
Mount Talbert is a lava dome and the largest undeveloped butte in Northern Clackamas County. The nature park includes the top of the dome and the west facing slopes. The park offers parking, restrooms, picnic shelter and 4.2 miles of hiking trails that loop around the natural area and lead to the summit. Trails vary in length, some are accessible.
Trail Map PDF
Difficulty
Easy to moderate
N Portland
Pier Park
North Lombard Street & Bruce Avenue, Portland
Pier Park's 87 acres includes a baseball field, basketball court, disabled access picnic area, disabled access restroom, disc golf, paved and unpaved paths, picnic area, playground, skatepark, soccer field, softball field, tennis court and water play feature. The park is accessible.
Learn more at portlandonline.com
Difficulty
Easy to moderate
NW Portland
EncMstr/Wikimedia
Forest Park
NW 29th Avenue & Upshur Street to Newberry Road, Portland
Forest Park's 5,156 acres includes natural areas, biking, hiking and equestrian trails and an abundance of wildlife. The 30-mile Wildwood Trail in Forest Park is part of the region's 40-Mile Loop. 70 miles of trails, fire lanes and gravel road, portions in the Washington Park section are accessible.
Difficulty
Easy to difficult, depending on trail
How to get there
Access available from many points, including MAX Blue or Red Line, 17-Holgate/21st, 20-Burnside/Stark
SE Portland
Springwater Corridor
The Springwater Corridor is a multi-use paved trail that extends from SE Ivon Street in Portland to Boring. It follows a railroad right-of-way and is designed for walkers, joggers, hikers, bicycles, wheelchairs and strollers. 20 miles, with easy on-off access for shorter trips, accessible.
Trail map PDF
Difficulty
Easy to moderate
Cacophony/Wikimedia
Eastbank Esplanade
SE Water Avenue & Hawthorne Boulevard, Portland
The esplanade extends north from the Hawthorne Bridge to the Steel Bridge and includes a boat dock, paved path for walking, running and biking, including a 1,200 foot floating walkway. 1.5 miles one-way, accessible.
Learn more at portlandonline.com
Difficulty
Easy to moderate
How to get there
Access available via numerous buses, including 14-Hawthorne, 15-Belmont/NW 23rd, 19-Woodstock/Glisan, 20-Burnside/Stark
Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge
SE 7th Avenue & Sellwood Boulevard, Portland
Oaks Bottom is one of the few remaining urban wetlands; it is located along the east bank of the Willamette River and is a birdwatcher’s paradise. 1 mile one-way, accessible from the Sellwood Park entrance.
Learn more at portlandonline.com
Difficulty
Easy to moderate
Ennetws/Wikimedia
Powell Butte Nature Park
16160 SE Powell Blvd., Portland
Powell Butte is an extinct cinder cone volcano and former dairy farm. It now is a 608-acre city park with a variety of biking, hiking and equestrian trails. Trails vary in length, some are accessible.
Difficulty
Easy to moderate
SW Portland
M.O. Stevens/Wikimedia
Train, Trail, Tram, Trolley: The "4-T" Experience
Loop trip from downtown Portland to Council Crest
Experience the best of Portland's scenery and transit on this loop excursion. Begin by taking a MAX train to the Oregon Zoo in Washington Park. Follow the 4-T signs to a wooded trail up to Council Crest, the highest point in Portland. Then, have a street ramble down through several West Hills residential streets to the Portland Ariael Tram terminal on SW Gibbs Street. Enjoy the tram ride down Marquam Hill to the South Waterfront District. Here, you can easily return downtown on the Portland Streetcar. Roundtrip takes about 4 hours.
Learn more at theintertwine.org
Difficulty
Moderate hike to Council Crest, due to elevation gain, not accessible
samgrover/flickr
Hoyt Arboretum
4000 SW Fairview Blvd., Portland
Hoyt Arboretum is a 187-acre living museum of trees and plants. Self-guided walking maps are available at the Visitor's Center. 1 to 4 miles round-trip, all accessible.
Learn more at hoytarboretum.org
Difficulty
Easy to moderate
How to get there
20-Burnside/Stark, 63-Washington Park/Arlington Heights, MAX Blue or Red Line
Northwesterner1/Wikimedia
Waterfront Park
Naito Parkway between SW Harrison Street & NW Glisan Street, Portland
The park consists of 29 acres along the west bank of Portland’s Willamette River. This is Portland's gathering area for events and festivals; includes a boat dock, restroom, fountain and paved paths for walking and biking. 2 miles one-way, accessible.
Learn more at portlandonline.com
Difficulty
Easy to moderate
How to get there
MAX Blue and Red lines and numerous buses, depending on point of entry.
Finetooth/Wikimedia
Tryon Creek State Natural Area
Main entrance and nature center:
11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd., Portland
Tryon Creek offers 14 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails, a nature center and open-air shelter; located on the border of the city of Lake Oswego and SW Portland. Trails vary in length, trails around nature center are accessible.
Trail map PDF
Difficulty
Easy to moderate
How to get there
Several entry points available via 38-Boones Ferry Rd and 39-Lewis and Clark, weekdays
EncMstr/Wikimedia
Washington Park
Extending from West Burnside Street south to Highway 26 in Portland’s West Hills
A public urban park of 129 acres, with many trails linking to the adjacent Forest Park. Features include the Oregon Zoo, World Forestry Center, Hoyt Arboretum, children's museum, amphitheater, archery range, tennis courts and acres of wild forest with miles of hiking trails. Trails vary in length, many are accessible.
Learn more at portlandonline.com
Difficulty
Easy to difficult
St. Helens
Newton Road Loop
NW St. Helens Road (Hwy 30), just north of Marina Way
Newton Road Loop trail is a former mountain road that leads steeply up a ravine, connects with Forest Park’s Wildwood Trail and returns to St. Helens Road via a steep gravel road. The summit offers views of Sauvie Island and the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers. 4.4 miles roundtrip, not accessible.
Difficulty
Difficult
Tualatin
Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge
SW Pacific Hwy (off Hwy 99W), 15 miles southwest of Downtown Portland
Tualatin River Refuge was established as an urban refuge to provide wetland, riparian, and upland habitats for a variety of migratory birds, threatened and endangered species, fish, other resident wildlife, and for the enjoyment of visitors. It is home to nearly 200 species of birds, over 50 species of mammals, 25 species of reptiles and amphibians, and a wide variety of insects, fish and plants.
Difficulty
Easy to moderate