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Oregon’s famous Multnomah Falls is especially gorgeous when it’s partially frozen.

Credit: D. Paul Angel via Flickr

Winter Hikes in and Near Portland

It’s well worth braving the elements for these beautiful walks.

Updated Jan. 16, 2025 4 min read

Tuck Woodstock

Tuck Woodstock wrote and edited content for Travel Portland from 2014–2020. Read More

In Portland, hiking isn’t an occasional summer activity — it’s a way of life. On any given winter weekend, thousands of locals lace up their waterproof hiking boots, zip rain jackets over their down vests and hit the trails. Ready to join them? These Portland-area paths are perfect for all-weather adventures.

In Portland

Forest Park

Forest Park, in the city’s northwest corner, is an 8-mile-long (13 km) conservancy covering 5,156 acres (2,086 ha). It contains 70 miles (113 km) of trails and is a popular destination for runners, cyclists, equestrians and hikers looking for a respite from urban life. In the winter, the 7.5-mile (12 km) Maple-Wildwood loop is a popular choice, while the 4.9-mile (7.8 km) Lower Macleay Park trail to Pittock Mansion offers beautiful panoramic views of the city.

Mt. Tabor Park

Beat the winter chill by hiking to the top of Mt. Tabor, a volcanic cinder cone in the middle of Southeast Portland. Choose between dirt trails and paved paths as you climb your way past towering evergreens, basketball and tennis courts, a large playground and a series of gleaming open reservoirs. At the top of this extinct volcano, you’ll find breathtaking views of the city, plus a statue of Harvey W. Scott, who was editor of The Oregonian in the late 1800s. Warm up before or after by grabbing a coffee at the original Stumptown Coffee Roasters location, located less than a mile down Southeast Division Street.

Washington Park

At 3.9 miles (6.3 km), the Washington Park loop hike is an easy option that takes visitors through the park’s many monuments, the site of the old zoo, up the popular Wildwood Trail, and through the Hoyt Arboretum, the Portland Japanese Garden and Portland International Rose Test Garden. It’s a great way to see gorgeous plant life and trees in winter, plus many of the city’s iconic vistas.

Hoyt Arboretum

Home to more than 2,000 tree and shrub species, Hoyt Arboretum is tucked into the west side of Washington Park, only 2 miles (3.2 km) west of downtown, and is easily accessible by bus or light rail. As you stroll along 12 miles (19.3 km) of hiking trails, look for seasonal highlights like evergreen holly, corkscrew hazel, blooming wintersweet and budding magnolias. Stop inside the arboretum’s visitor center for free maps and guides to all the glorious flora.

Winter Walks in Portland

Take a walk through the city's scenic parks in the crisp winter air.

More Parks

• Irving Park

  The 16-acre (6.5-hectare) park features a series of tree-lined paved paths that loop past play structures, baseball diamonds and soccer fields. Burn off any extra energy in the covered basketball court, or head to the center of the park to meet a few four-legged friends in the unfenced off-leash dog area.

• Laurelhurst Park

  Circle the 31-acre (13-hectare) park on paved pathways, passing horseshoe pits, picnic tables and sports areas. Kids can explore the play equipment (if it’s not too slippery) and dogs can run in an off-leash area. Sit by the spring-fed pond in the middle of the park to spot catfish, carp, ducks and turtles swimming in the water.

• South Park Blocks

  You don’t need to leave downtown Portland to enjoy a little nature time. Simply stroll down the South Park Blocks, the leafy stretch of Southeast Park Avenue from Salmon Street to Jackson Street. In addition to trees and other greenery, each block is complete with its own artwork, including bronze statues and limestone sculptures.

Macleay Park

This is Portland, so naturally, you can take public transit straight to a trailhead! Part of Northwest Portland’s sprawling, 5,100-acre (2,063.9-ha) Forest Park, this lush woodland area is open year-round. Hike from Lower Macleay, passing a unique WPA-era structure (known to locals as the “Witch’s Castle”) and the Portland Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary, to century-old Pittock Mansion for panoramic views of the city and a fascinating local history lesson. Don’t expect a leisurely stroll — the path climbs 600 feet (183 m) to the top.

Near Portland

Multnomah Falls

Winter is a wonderful time to visit Oregon’s highest falls, located 30 miles (48.3 km) from Portland and popular year-round. A short climb to the Benson Bridge awards visitors with picture-perfect views of the 620-foot (189-m) Multnomah Falls, while more ambitious trekkers can climb all the way to the top. Dress warmly for the waterfall’s spray and cross your fingers for a cold day — the falls are even more beautiful when they’re partially frozen.

Before you head out, check with the United States Forest Service (USFS) for the most up-to-date information on alerts, conditions and trail closures.

Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge

A quick 25-minute drive from downtown delivers adventurers to the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, a 1,856-acre (751.1-ha) wetlands sanctuary southwest of Portland. A 3.7-mile (6-km) graded gravel trail entices bird watchers to brave the elements. During winter months, up to 50,000 waterfowl can be spotted on a single day.

Salmon River Trail

Experienced hikers highly recommend the Mount Hood National Forest’s Salmon River Trail, about an hour east of Portland, where majestic old-growth forests transform into a winter wonderland. Frozen ferns, icy eddies and towering Douglas firs provide spectacular scenery. Multiple access points allow for hikes as short as 1 mile (1.6 km) or as long as 8 miles (12.9 km). Pro tip: If you’re planning a longer hike, bring shoe chains or spikes to prevent any slips.

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