Parks & Outdoors
Eastside Esplanade
The Eastbank Esplanade is a pedestrian and bicycle path along the east shore of the Willamette River. The 1.5 mile esplanade runs from the Steel to Hawthorne Bridge and offers wonderful views of the downtown skyline.
Waterfront Bikes (1 mi.)
10 SW Ash St. #100, Portland, OR 97204
Tel: 503.227.1719
Conveniently located in downtown Portland, across the street from beautiful Tom McCall Waterfont Park and the Willamette River. Portland's largest bicycle-rental shop, with over 85 hybrid, road, cyclo-cross, tandem and children's bikes and trailers
Portland River Company (1.3 mi.)
6320 SW Macadam Ave., Portland, OR 97239
Tel: 503.229.0551
Portland River Company offers guided kayak tours, kayak classes and kayak rentals.
Willamette Jetboat Excursions (1.1 mi.)
1945 SE Water Ave., Portland, OR 97214
Tel: 503.231.1532
Explore Portland's historic bridges, skyline and scenic waterfront. All this awaits you, plus the excitement found only in an open air jetboat!
Crystal Dolphin Yacht (1.4 mi)
110 S.E. Caruthers, Portland, OR 97214
Tel: 503.224.3900
Dinner cruise ship seating up to 350 guests.
The Portland Spirit (1.4)
110 S.E. Caruthers St., Portland, OR 97214
Tel: 800.224.3901
Cruise the scenic Willamette River on the Portland Spirit. Take in the beautiful sights of downtown's skyline and riverside.
Sternwheeler Columbia Gorge & Marine Park (1.9 mi)
1200 N.W. Naito Parkway Suite 110, Portland, OR 97209
Tel: 503.223.3928
Cruise through the Columbia River Gorge, Portland Harbor and Willamette River.
Chinese Garden (2.2 mi)
NW 3rd and Everett, Portland, OR 97209
Tel: 503.228.8131
A year-round wonder, the Portland Classical Chinese Garden is an authentically built Ming Dynasty style garden. This urban oasis of tranquil beauty and harmony, built by Suzhou artisans will inspire and engage all who visit. Public tours and audio tours are available.
Oregon Zoo (2.9 mi)
4001 SW Canyon Rd., Portland, OR 97221
Tel: 503.226.1561
The Oregon Zoo is located along the MAX light rail line, five minutes from downtown Portland. The zoo's animal collection consists of about 1,029 specimens representing 200 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.
Washington Park (3 mi)
Head of SW Park Place
Washington Park, one of the oldest, best-loved parks in Portland, offers many recreational activities as well as three public gardens, including the International Rose Test Garden, the Japanese Garden, and Hoyt Arboretum, and two memorials.
International Rose Test Garden (3.2 mi)
400 SW Kingston, Portland, OR 97201 (in Washington Park)
Tel: 503.823.3636
One of the most popular of Portland's Parks & Recreation locations, the garden's spectacular views and more than 8,000 roses make it one of Portland's most notable signature landmarks.
Japanese Garden (3.3 mi)
611 S.W. Kingston Ave., Portland, OR 97201
Tel: 503.223.1321
Tucked into a cusp in Portland's West Hills, the gardens are a haven of tranquil beauty that has been proclaimed one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Japan.
Hoyt Arboretum (4 mi)
4000 SW Fairview Blvd., Portland, OR 97221
Tel: 503.228.8733
Beautiful garden of trees and plants situated on a ridge commanding the Oregon Zoo.
Eco Tours of Oregon Day Tours (4.5 mi)
1906 S.W. Iowa St., Portland, OR 97201-1904
Tel: 503.245.1428
Nature and sightseeing tours for individuals, groups and conventions.
Oaks Park Amusement Park & Roller Skating Rink (4.6 mi)
7805 SE Oaks Park Way
Portland, OR 97202
Tel: 503.233.5777
Forest Park (11 mi.)
A public park in the Tualatin Mountains west of downtown. Stretching for more than 8 miles on hillsides overlooking the Willamette River, it is one of the country's largest urban forest reserves.
Mt. Hood National Forest (25 mi)
Sandy, OR 97055
Tel: 503.668.1700
Located twenty-five miles east of the city of Portland, Oregon, the Mt. Hood National Forest. Many visitors enjoy fishing, camping, boating and hiking in the summer and skiing and other snow sports in the winter.
Multnomah Falls (30 mi.)
Plummeting 620 feet from its origins on Larch Mountain, Multnomah Falls is the second highest year-round waterfall in the United States. Nearly two million visitors a year come to see this ancient waterfall making it Oregon’s number one public destination.
Oregon Garden (45 mi)
879 West Main St., Silverton, OR 97381
Tel: 877.674.2733
About 1 hour southeast of Portland.
Discover The Oregon Garden, the Northwest's premier display garden.
Columbia Gorge (60 mi)
Hood River, OR 97031
Tel: 541.308.1700
The Columbia River Gorge is a spectacular river canyon cutting the only sea-level route through the Cascade Mountain Range.
Mt. Hood SkiBowl Winter Resort & Summer Action Park (60 mi)
Government Camp, OR 97028
Tel: 503.222.BOWL (2695)
For summer activities, the Summer Adventure Park offers a scenic sky-chair ride to SkiBowl to experience panoramic views and access to interpretive and mountain bike trails. For winter fun, SkiBowl features America's largest night ski area with 34 lighted runs, 65 day runs and 300 acres of outback terrain.
Timberline Lodge (60 mi.)
Declared a National Historic Landmark in 1977, Timberline Lodge is one of Oregon’s most popular tourist attractions, drawing more than two million visitors every year. Considered an architectural wonder, it’s still being used for its original intent—a magnificent ski lodge and mountain retreat for all to enjoy.
Mt. Hood Meadows (65 mi)
One of the largest ski resorts in the US and the largest ski resort on Mount Hood. It is located about 67 miles east of Portland and has both alpine and nordic ski areas and offers night skiing, lessons and equipment rentals.
Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument (73 mi)
Visit Johnston Ridge Observatory and learn to “read” the effects of the 1980 eruption on the land from this visitor center that sits only 5 1/2 miles from the crater. The center includes: exhibits with a geological focus, a 16-minute theater program, ranger-led programs, and a bookstore.
The Oregon Coast (80 mi)
Lush evergreen forests, picturesque coastal scenery, rugged cliffs, impressive sand dunes and vast sandy beaches await you along the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway, US Highway 101. There are also many coast attractions like aquariums, art galleries, theaters and festivals, parades and poetry readings. Many lighthouses dot the Oregon coast and you'll find hundreds of parks to explore.