Outdoor Adventures in Portland, OR

The amount of accessible outdoor activities in and around Portland creates a community that lives for the days they get to adventure outdoors. This culture has also cultivated a passion for preserving green space within the city, which is evident through the creation and maintenance of natural areas within city limits. Portland has an inspiring balance of an exciting and bustling city, filled with unique specialty shops and the best food and beer you can find anywhere and a community that recognizes the beauty within and outside of the city and actively participates in it.

Trail: Within Portland, the most impressive natural area to visit is Forest Park. With over 5,000 acres of green space filled with classic, moss-covered, Oregon forest, it is every city-dwelling trail runner’s, hiker’s, and biker’s dream. If the adventurer travels outside of Portland, the trail options are limitless. The Portlander can easily access many of the famous Cascade Mountains. Just outside of Portland, the 11,250-foot Mount Hood is a relatively accessible peak for aspiring mountaineers, with endless amounts of trails and world-class ski areas. Even closer to Portland, the Columbia River Gorge has a seemingly endless amount of hiking and biking trails, plus beautiful waterfalls.

Water: Surrounded by rivers and with one running through it, Portland is surrounded by rivers and even has a river running through it, which makes for plenty of paddling opportunities. The Willamette River borders downtown Portland and allows for beautiful flat water paddling without having to leave the city. For those who hunger for the roller coaster of white water, the surrounding area does not disappoint. A Portland favorite is the Clackamas River, whose varying rapids accommodate paddlers of all experience levels.  

Rock: As evidenced by the multiple rock gyms in Portland, rock climbing is a favorite pastime of many people who live in the city. There are many local rock climbing options in the gorge, such as Broughton Bluff, Ozone, and Beacon Rock, which all have exceptional rock and are all within 30 or 40 miles of the city.