Forest Park Reviews

The Oregon landscape around Portland is breath-taking - the Columbia River gorge & Mount Hood are among the most spectacular things I've seen. But Portland itself has some astonishing natural beauty, and Forest Park is really worth a visit; it's an actual forest in a city park! It's huge - much bigger & wilder-feeling than Central Park, Hyde Park, Hampstead Heath, or any other city park I can think of - and it has a great many trails to explore. We did one of the easier trails on our last day, but could have spent our whole visit just getting to know it.

You can definitely spend hours walking the trails. Started at the upper mcloskey (sp?) parking lot - there is a port-o-potty there. Took the wildwood trail. The Wildwood trail to paddock mansion is fun too. Definitely not for the super scare of heights as there are many steep drops - however, ground was compact, and the trails are about 4-5ft wide. One issues is bathroom options - plan ahead. The map had some locations marked with bathrooms, but they are few and far between. Lots of dogs, kids, and joggers on all the paths - no too isolating.

Beautiful hike. Mostly paved easy to get to and great for little kids. Right in the city. Parking off the street. Took a picnic and there was nice grass to sit on and picnic tables. Kids and l loved it! Great escape inside the city. Also bathrooms onsite which was important with a potty training toddler

Forest the size of Manhattan, within walking distance of downtown Portland. Beutiful walk in the woods!

Forest park has amazing trails that can give you almost any length of hike you’re interested in. There are lots of things to see in the park and places to stop like the Audubon society or pittock mansion. There are animals throughout the park and it connects to Washington park. It’s a great place to go for a jog, walk with a partner or take kids to. Highly recommend for anyone visiting or living here in Portland.

This is a great place to hike along quiet forest trails for a few hours without even leaving Portland. Antidote to stress and strain.

Such a lovely, calming, tranquil space to connect with these magic trees. Take a moment to walk some of the trails and relax.

Its a gem! I love hike over there! make sure you get there early because parking is a challenge sometimes. If you have a chance, visit Audubon Society as well!

This park has been a must visit. It is a comfort having lived here all my life to see all those beautiful green trees.

I went to this park for some of the main attractions (with's house and pittock mansion) but the hike itself was worth going to all on its own. There are so many options to make the hike as short or long as you want. I took wildwood trail to Pittock mansion and loved every second of my journey. I got there as close to sunrise as I could and the place felt magical! Loved it!

It was a beautiful hike, even - maybe especially - on the rainy day we had. From a fairly fit 65-year-old, I would take all the health and fitness advice offered in the tour description seriously. There were some steep inclines and fallen trees to navigate. Wear good, non-slip hiking shoes and bring your own water.

The only complaint I have, that was not made clear in the description or by the guide at the beginning of the hike, was that the tour did not end where it started. This could be very unsettling if you’re not prepared. I ended up at the Japanese Garden and got a Lyft back to my hotel from there.

So many trails to choose from! Safe and great place to take the kids to play or have a picnic. Easy access from downtown...after hiking easy to grab a bite to eat.

Our GPS was not able to give us directions to a public place to park or entrance. We drove in circles, in traffic, heavy traffic and finally gave up

I love this park. You forget you are in the city. There are enough trails to explore for a while and long and steep enough to wear you out if that's what you are looking for. The trees are magnificent, a great place to take guests to hike or if you are new in town to get away from sight seeing and get fresh forest air and move your body while visiting.

My 29 year-old friend wanted to do something special before turning 30 at the end of December, so we hiked 30.2 miles in one foggy day. This is the review of that experience.
I am a 40 year old male in decent shape. The trip did not require an abundance of physical fitness, just smart footwear planning, a bit of hiking know-how, and careful food and water preparation. We met at the Forest Park Max station, about 1/2 mile from the Wildwood trail head. (This is also the Zoo station) There are public restrooms here. We started walking in the pre-dawn gloom on December 27 at 6:12 a.m. Head lamps were essential - this is a dark forest when the sun is not up! We passed a few morning runners / walkers, about ten total before the Pittock Mansion. Pittock Mansion has a nice view spot, only 20 yards from the trail, definitely worth the the stop. Also you will pass a bathroom here, just five or so miles in.
We went North, away from the city, because the steep stuff is at the Zoo end. You can go either way, and ending with the Max station makes sense if you don't have someone picking you up. Cell coverage is very spotty in the middle 4/5 of the trail, but you can get it at either end.
The weather was perfect for a long hike - 38 - 42 degrees, no ice, just lots of mud. We passed about 25 people TOTAL on this soggy Tuesday, which was amazing. Many, many trees were down due to recent ice storms - I enjoyed seeing the carnage of mother nature more than climbing over everything.
Gear: I wore North Face Hedgehogs trail running shoes. A fried wore hiking boots and another friend wore trail runners. Boot dude changed socks about 18 miles in. All feet were cozy for the day. Both of my companions trekked with trekking poles, I didn't but should have (towards the end I was definitely shaky!)
I carried 3L water, 3 power bars, four clementines, a bag of sunflower seeds, and a giant chocolate bar. I should have brought more food! My friend had a water purifier and I used it for another 3/4 L water.
We hiked 3 miles per hour and made it to the rendezvous just as the sun went down, about 10.5 hours in. Send me a message with questions! The only reason it's not a five for me is the lack of wildlife and water features.

Not far away from the city it is a place with many trees where you can enjoy the nature and the relaxing low winds.

If you love to hike and no time to drive to Columbia Gorge or Tillamook area. Well, this is the place.
Ive been hiking this place for many years. And brought my kids here when they were little for fun and picnic.

Lots of trails and entry points to this extensive park make it easy to use for visitors and residents. Various levels of physical activity, too. Wear boots as the trails are usually muddy - which is why it is a four star rather than a five - and not easy for the park to service regularly.

You won't believe you are in the city. Kudos to Portland for preserving this forest. We did the Lower Macleay Park to Pittock Mansion (5.3 miles). It was very aerobic and steep in many parts but so beautiful and worth it.

unbelievable so close to the city where to hike in an other word. It looks like to be for from everything ,lost in a forest and in the main time, at the foot of Portland

This park is amazing and huge. Many trails to enjoy and the Pittock Mansion to visit. To have such a large park within the city limits is wonderful surprise. Beautiful views!

take some trail shoes, hiking sandals, a rain coat, and some some trail mix because this place is amazing! seriously, the trails are clean, challenging, and well marked. you should just spend 4-5 hours out there!

Met the hubby in Portland at the end of his business trip and had some time to spend looking around the city solo. Hiked the wildflower trail on an out and back. The trees were all sorts of fall colors. It was wet and occasionally sloppy. So bring your trail shoes. On a Thursday morning I only saw three other people. Parking lot was somewhat tricky to find, as you drive through a couple of neighborhoods to get to the trailhead. Grateful for google maps!

What a lovely surprise in the middle of Portland! We found a little parking area on an edge of the park - more like a forest, this the name. There were 2 trails from that lot and we took the easier of the two for a pleasant stroll.

Forest park is the name of the whole park. I had a really hard time getting there 2 reasons no car, and my uber driver didn't even know it existed... Only accessible with a car, from what I experienced it was good but you kinda need to plan your whole day around it. You need to expect that your going to get stranded if your phone dies and you can't call for a ride. I really have only one thing to say this place is great for people that actually live in this area but for travelers just go to the normal places like the zoo or stay in downtown.

Beautiful trails! Worth the time to relax and get some fresh air exploring this area. Good shoes are a must.

Awesome spot To take a short hike or a long hike it feels like you're in the wilderness but you're right within city limits really exceptional hikes that are appropriate for kids and the more difficult ones for adult adventurers

There are numerous trails to explore just 5 minutes from downtown. Take a short stroll or hike for hours. Beautiful wooded park you could easily get lost in, so be careful and know where your going or you could end up walking in the dark to get back. Your always on a trail, but some of them go way back. In the summer it is an excellent place to get out of the hot sun for most of the park is covered with tall pines, old and rich.

Loved the trails! It was wet, but not unbearable in late January. Trails are very thin in many points so if traveling with large party or crowded day could be awkward. Also finding trail heads was hard in the sense of places to park. We stayed at the Laquinta inn and were able to walk over from the parking lot at what looked to be an abandoned part of the Lief Erikson trail. It would be a great resource for anyone who lived in the area.

Nice hiking right in town! We did an out and back - saw a coyote (walking on our same trail). Good footing. Very rain-forest-y.

If you are not from Portland, this place may be hard to find as it is tucked away in upper SW Portland. The Pittock Mansion is on part of the grounds at the top. Lots of trail but quite dark because of the Forrest canopy.

The park is quite extensive with beautiful towering trees guiding you thru the forest. It's a popular park with the locals: we saw walkers, joggers, runners, and bikers on the (main) trail, many with dogs (on leash).

The trees obscure the view of the shipyards below, so you begin to feel as if you're truly in a lost forest.

There are quite a few entrances into the park, but be mindful that parking is limited at these trailheads.

I visited Forest Park at the suggestion of a local friend. We hiked/walked through Forest Park for hours. There are many people around the area enjoying nature, and exercising. The trails are clearly marked, and easy to find. This is a great way to enjoy the beauty Portland has to offer, without even leaving the city.

Great park with hikes aimed at all levels of experience. Kids had a great time on the 1.3 mile hike.

Forest Park is a gorgeous, lush and green place to hike which is incredibly located very close-in to Portland. The trails are wide and well maintained and even on a sunny Sunday inJuly there was plenty of room for trail bikes as well as hikers.. The scenery is amazing and we even spotted an owl in a high branch of a tree.. Portland has many unique and wonderful venues - this is one of the most special.

Arrived at the park around 12 noon Saturday, June 25th. We'd been watching a News Story about the Stone House. Apparently, the parks department went up there to clean off all the graffiti and restored the house (what's left) for park goers to enjoy. It was built back in the day for equipment and workers there at the park when it was being established. When we arrived at the Stone House, we enjoyed a picnic lunch!
There are over 80 trails, and over 5,000 acres of forest. Paved with packed rough rock. Make sure you have a good pair of walking shoes, back pack, clothes for the weather and plenty of water!
Our hike was considered MODERATE. Up hill, low grade with plenty of switch backs. Round Trip 4 miles.
For those of you who REALLY want an adventure, Start from the WASHINGTON PARK ZOO and end at GERMAN ROAD by the ST. JOHNS BRIDGE!
I don't know if you have to have a permit to camp on the park if you plan on completing the entire length, it WILL take you 2-3 days.

Wonderful contrast to the city. Kids and adults will love it.

The trails are well maintained with very large trees.

Great hiking . Easy and beautiful. Recommend for a half or full day . Close ride t\from the city. Enjoy.

A great place to hike just minutes from downtown. Wildwood and dogwood trails are great for beginners. We use the alltrails phone app to navigate the twisty, intersecting trails and have loved going out for walks with the dog on most weekends.

This a picturesque park where you can go for a walk in the woods along a creek in the hills. The moss covered trees and a beautiful maintained trail. A close walk from Portland neighbourhood. It is well worth the visit.

It was a hot sunny Sunday when I set off walking toward Forest park. I walked down NW Thurman to the Bridge at NW 29th and down the stairs on the north side into Lower Macleay Park. There were several people loitering about. And several more drifting into and out from Lower Macleay Trail head to Forest Park.

I reckoned that most of the people here had driven to this location. Parking their cars after entering Lower Macleay park at its entrance NW 29th Avenue and NW Upshur Street. Where one can park between the hours of 5 AM and 10 PM.

The park attracts many to its 5,100-acre forest. It is the largest and wildest park in Portland. In fact it very well maybe the largest urban forest in America. There is a sign posted to provide before you start the trail that provides some interesting information about Forest Park. And currently there is another sign posted to mentioned a trail closure that will take place for a couple weeks during the summer to maintain and repair the condition of the trail it mentions. As we did have a very wet and harsh winter that brought some landslides here and there. Some trails were closed for a time.

I started my hike on the Lower Macleay Trail. It was an easy hike. More like a walk or a stroll with people walking dogs, walking with children, walking as couples, or even the occasional jogger dashing by. It certainly was a great day to go to Forest Park.

There where places where the edge of the trail had an old rustic wooden rail fence at its edge. The Blach Creek was off to the side along the trail– constantly. They were like a matched pair these two. The Trail and the Creek. Earth and Water. Ying and Yang. So peaceful and so tranquil was the forest. And so nice to have this vast park in the City where one could slip back to nature and enjoy its beauty.

It took no time at all to reach a marker at the side of the trail. It was in front of a Huge Douglas-fir tree. And that tree was the tallest in the forest– Heritage Tree. It stands like a giant at 242-feet tall. I took a photo of the marker. And continued onward on my journey. A mere mile into my hike I found what I came to see– The old stone ruin. Some call it the Witches House. It was standing at the junction of two paths. The lower Macleay Trail and the Wildwood Trail. The latter being a long and winding road that eventually leads into Washington park. They say that one can even hike to the Pittock Mansion from the Witches House. But which path does one choice for this much more enduring sojourn in the vastness of Forest Park?

(To find the answer to this question all one needs to do is simply go to the Portland Parks and Recreation website and take a look at their trail maps. You can always download what you need before hand. Always nice and smart to be prepared.)

I walked all around the stone ruin taking photographs. As many as I could. From as many different perspectives as I could. I tried to imagine what it must have looked like once. Long, long, ago. Back when it was built in 1936. On the side of a large fir tree across from it was a marker with the number 5 ½ on it. So it’s five and a half miles from somewhere further ahead was my best guess. But from what?

Next to that tree with the marker there was a sign with a map of Forest Park. This map had a red star to indicate where in Forest Park you are. A very handy place for the map to As this is where people rested and gathered. Stop and gawk at the Witches House. And fall under its magic spell.

We were shocked on how large this park was, we drove all around it and then did a walk at Macleay Park to the witches castle.

I had my engagement pictures taken here!!! This is such a great park that's right in the heart of Portland- up the trail a little ways there is a cool old stone house/structure- TONS of photo ops!!!

We parked intending to take the Lower Macleay Trail loop but found it closed. A local directed us to walk up Thurman, which turns into Leif Erikson Drive. From there we took Wild Cherry to 53rd, etc. The point is we could have wandered for days and been happy. This is a really beautiful spot so close to the city. We will be back!

If you're looking for urban beauty, Forest Park is one of Portland's brightest offerings. The paths lead forever and they begin with moderate uphills, so there's the benefit of ending with a downhill. There are nooks and crannies to explore. Bikes and runners with plenty path to share with walkers and talkers.

You could literally spend days in this park, it is so beautiful and has tons of trails. Be sure and get a forest park map or you might get lost because it's very expansive and filled with huge fir trees. Lots of great trails and things to see and do.

Went back to hike these trails two days in a row. Reminded us of our beautiful Santa Cruz mountains. Lush, green with large diversity of trees.

If you like to walk nature trails, this is your spot withing the city. Not too crowder ever and I think dog are ok it thy are leashed and you cleanup after them. I imagine the same would hold true for your children.

Quite vast for an urban forest, it covers 5,200 acres (roughly 8 miles long by 1-2 miles wide) and has some 80 miles of trails! It will take several visits to see it all – and that’s great! Following the contours of the Tualatin Mountains, overlooking the Willamette River, it is a welcome oasis in a busy city.

This park has some 40 access points, over 110 bird and 60 mammal species have been seen here. You can catch panoramic views of the city of Portland, the Willamette and Columbia rivers and five major peaks of the Cascade Range.

The park is so large that for four years, a man and his 12 year old daughter squatted there in a tarp-covered structure filled with encyclopedias for homeschooling. (A movie was made about this – Leave no trace in 2018).

The park is losing about 4.5 acres for a new powerline (2025). Don’t take it for granted. Visit it while you can.

Streatches for miles and miles throughout the city. Many people hiking all the time. Some areas have steep down hills. Can be scary to drive up hill in some areas to park car. Lots of low level pull over on the side the road and get out parking though. Beautiful views.

Leif Erickson trail head right at the end of the Pearl District is one of the most beautiful and convenient places to go for a hike or a run. You'll find yourself in the middle of the forest right in town. Main trail is 11 miles long with several other trails branching out which give the visitor plenty of options to explore the park and have an amazing day. The park is about 10 degrees cooler than town which make it an excellent option for hot summer weather.

We took the lower Macleay Trail that stars under the green bridge between two red sculptures. The trail so so beautiful and follows a creek surrounded by gorgeous trees. It was a pretty level 0.8mi hike to the little stone building "Witch's Castle" which was cool to see, especially because we like the show Grimm which was filmed their as well as the added fact that it is supposedly haunted. It did feel like you were walking through an enchanted Forrest.

More than a park, this feels like you've traveled an hour or two away and are climbing a mountain! Or leisurely hiking, it's not physically demanding if you don't want it to be.

I've never before been to a park in which I wanted to live. Just being in Forest Park is soothing. We go there every visit to Portland because it should never be missed and there is always more to see.

This was such a beautiful park!! The forest was so green and fresh and I loved the smell of pine!! It was drizzling a little which only added to the beauty of this park. The creeks were also full from the all the rain during the week. But it is a very long hike...it would take all day to cover the miles of forest this park has to offer. I dont even think we completed half of it. Its a easy hike so it is a good place for kids and pets. It can be a little muddy and slippery when wet so wear good shoes and keep an eye out for the little ones

You step into this forest situated in the hills on the outskirts of downtown and it feels like you entered a magical land. It is like a whole different world and it is unlike anything I have ever experienced. When u come to Portland take half the day visit the park, bring a picnic, and some good shoes. This place is vast and it feels like it goes on forever.

Many trails for hiking at all levels available. Enormous park that is exemplary in being so close to the city and so extensive in area.

My wife and I went for a trail run in Forest Park during our visit to Portland over the 4th of July weekend. We found an entry point to the Cannon trail in Germantown, which connected us to the Wildwood Trail for a beautiful out and back. If you are in the city of Portland and enjoy hiking or trail running make sure you visit Forest Park, you won't be disappointed. FYI - The Wildwood trail is approximately 30 miles long.

If you enjoy hiking - it's the place! Nice trees, nice trails, very peacful place to spend the whole day or to take a short walk )

This park was so very beautiful with an amazing view. We also took a short hike and loved being amongst the trees.
I would love to come back and explore more.

You can not beat Forest Park for urban hiking! The park has many wonderful attributes but I use it to hike. Trails range from short and easy to very long and/or difficult. Always interesting and often with great views. The trails are generally well maintained. It's not often you can get a wonderful, out in the wilderness, experience right in a large metro area.

We stayed in the NW area and didn't realize this was so close we could easily walk to it! Our VRBO manager told us about it. Said we could also walk to Pittock Mansion. We did take a walk, but didn't have enough time to go that far. Next time I will!

Hard to believe that such a huge and beautiful park is so close to downtown Portland. I stayed in Portland without a car, and walked from my hotel to Pittock Mansion, and then picked up the Wildwood trail. Trails are well maintained and well marked. Dogs are allowed on leash, and bikes are allowed on some trails.

With over 5000 acres, Forest Park is the largest urban forest in the U.S. It is impressive in its size and beauty. One minute you can be sitting in the traffic big city's are infamous for (Portland drivers are generally kinder than other drivers), and the next minute, hiking through lush shrubs, pine & fir trees, and wild flowers. Oregon's forests definitely live up to their hype. Trails are well maintained, and accessible. Forest Park is a must do in the City of Roses!

Thanks to a recommendation from my tour guide, I did the hike in Forest Park from Lower Macleay past the witches castle and up to the Pittock Mansion. It was outstanding -- being in the forest right there in the city!

I absolutely loved this place. There's trails for each level of hiker, and there's maps at certain areas. This place was a bit of a challenge and was super slippery at times, but overall I would go again and again. It's so beautiful and hidden, even when there's other people around you can lose them quick on the trail. It made for a good challenge/ playful sweet walk with the boyfriend. The relaxing environment just puts you in a great mood. We ended up making friends with this lady and her mother while they were walking their dog along the trail. Side note: the only bathroom is at the beginning before you go off on any trails, it's past the entrance, a good walk up the path and it's several port-a-potties. Needless to say, they were gross but they were the only restrooms around that I saw.

Forest Park is a fantastic park with many different hikes ans styles. While most of the hikes are "easy", you could still find some with the incline needed to work up a good sweat on your afternoon jog. Some are wide and flat enough to walk with a stroller and a hand full of dogs on leashes. Dogs love the parks, and everyone with dogs are respectful. Overall a very beautiful place with a lot of versatility. It is hauntingly beautiful in march-may- when the greenery is at its peak.

The biggest park in the area, and there is no visitors center, parking area, or entrance anywhere that we could find. Closest thing was the Audubon center, where at least they have a few free maps. Parking is along the roads next to trail heads. Good luck -- we ditched this and enjoyed Washington Park and the Hoyt Arboretum

Forest Park is a fine place to hike, losing yourself in the wilderness next to the City. The wind in the trees, and the sounds of the natural world everywhere.

It is not often you can walk or ride for miles in a city and never cross a road. Forest Park is one of the largest urban parks in the US. There is no charge and you can walk as far as you like. be sure and take water. There are no refreshments. Whatever you take in - please take out.

For the first time i felt safer alone in the woods than i did in a residential neighborhood. Good spot to escape the craziness of portland.

I love Forest Park. It's breathtakingly beautiful, a great place to hike or take a walk, trails are easy and pretty busy but you'll have times where you seem more alone in the forest. Really refreshing, feels like you've pulled in some of that natural energy after you've left.

It was a beautiful, warm day when I visited. Perfect weather. But I'd go if it were drizzling, just take it slow on the paths with the steep drop and you should be fine if you're experiencing some of that famous Portland drizzle.

What a great place for walking the woods!! We have taken our children there many, many times. Each time is a new experience. If you have the knowledge of the trees, ferns or other plants you can name them & talk about each as you walk along the path, making this a learning time for those walking with you. You could buy a book that would have the info. This is such a great place and relaxing hike.

One of the most beautiful parks within a city I have ever visited. You forget you are actually in a city and not in the middle of the forest. The are miles of trails. In better weather some are more heavily traveled but there are other areas that are almost desolate. In some areas tree canopy so dense may not even feel the light rain. In the Summer can escape the heat in the shade. Very dog friendly, runner friendly and also many areas for mountain biking. Within the park the is also the Arboretum with trails embarked with each tree.

We walked there one late afternoon and found it to be a richly rewarding experience. It was as if you were many miles away from any city.

With all the many paths winding through this area, it is a lovely place for a walk, with or without dogs (on leash). Gorgeous trees.

We walked to the Stone House, which seemed a little further than what the map says! It's mostly uphill. Prepare to see huge trees and a delightful creek. I nearly expected a small dinosaur (like in Jurassic Park)to jump out.

A wonderful place to hike with woods and trails perfect for a walk with the dog or solo. Some areas are a bit steep and the woods are glorious

I love how accessible this park is! And there's so many locals that get to maximize the park to go for a walk, a run, or a hike. It is a peaceful and serene place. It is also the largest park within a city--larger than Central Park! If you are in town and want to go to a free place to enjoy nature, meditate, do photography, and do your regular work-out then this place is for you.

Okay, the hike was a bit miserable for me since I had sustained an injury the night before. Even so, the hike was really peaceful even though the area was really crowded (better than deserted). Parts of the hike are a bit steep on the way to Witches Castle and there aren't rails most of the way. It just took us a little longer to get down there but it was well worth the

Upon entering Forest Park, a visitor truly feels like s/he has stepped into a magical forest. While the highways are close to the park, they are quickly forgotten in the forest of redwoods and pines. Inside the forest, it is cool and peaceful. The trails are very clearly marked, so despite the fact that there are many trails, it is almost impossible to get lost within the park. I hiked the trail from Pittock Mansion to the Rose Garden/Japanese Gardens (all excellent sites to visit as well). Forest Park is my new favorite Portland experience.

We only hit two hiking trails in Forest Park, but both were quite lovely. Coming from Miami, I found the tall red cedars and maples fascinating. The trails were dry in the summer, so hiking was only difficult when going uphill.

Went for a post holiday family walk with my wife, dog and father I law a week ago. I love this town but with its increasing density I love this park even more! Five minute drive for a walk in the woods, pure heaven! It was just what all of us needed, so happy to have my tax dollars supporting it!

15 minutes from downtown portland into the wilderness, this is a great place for people who like to escape the city easy and fast. you wouldn't believe that such a jungle is just there almost in the middle of a city.

Fantastic PAC NW forest with trails right in city. Great opportunity for even brief visitors to experience the Pacfific NW.

The park is perfect to do some easy trecking. If you walk for about two hours you get to the tip where a Masion Museum wit a great view is waiting for you.
One of the nicest park in Portland

Take a photo of the trail map on your phone when you get there. Some trails are clearly marked, others are not. If you are directionally challenged this is important. Satellite may or may not work on your device. All of the trails are well maintained, lots of families with kids, dogs, and runners here. Some steep walks here and there but if you are in any kind of decent shape, certainly doable. Lots of ferns, and yes, a lot of nice big trees. Perfect for a couple of hours, or more.

Just go up NW Thurman to where it ends. You can walk as little or as much you feel. Just amazing. This is 2 miles from downtown Portland. We are so fortunate to have this massive park in our back yard.

We walked from Pittock Mansion down to the Stone House on 12 March 2021 a lovely warm sunny day, sadly the witches castle/stone house was completely covered in graffiti when we got there, what a complete let down, wasn’t worth the hike down from Pittock mansion. Views from the mansion was definitely worth the drive, as was the mansion tour, you have to pay for parking, but there is an app which is easy to use and you can add more money without returning to your car.

Finally got to visit Forest Park and highly recommend it. After eating and drinking the best Portland has to offer, Forest Park was perfect for working some of the calories off. Even get in an hour or two and you'll be recharged for another round at the breweries!

We are so proud to have this park in the city of Portland some of the greatest hiking, running and biking trails. I am a hiker and runner and so happy to have quick access to FP. Hundreds of trails. Love Leif Erickson and the trail to Pittock. Best to go spring through Fall when it is drier. Absolutely gorgeous, if you are even semi active, get out to Forest Park, it is spectacular!

Forest Park is an enormous, well, forested park. What makes it special, though, it that it is within the city limits of the largest city in Oregon. Hiking and biking trails give visitors a rare chance to enjoy the great outdoors and nice scenery within a large city. While their may not be any one feature that are truly stunning, and you should not expect to be awed upon coming here, Forest Park still serves its purpose and is a great place to visit for a few hours as a place to pleasantly recreate, exercise, or get away from the bustle of Portland.

A nice mix of trails-easy/moderate to challenging. Parking is free. A little tricky to find, but worth the trip. No fee to get into the park or to park.

Take a hike, wander through the giants, get dripped on and hopefully get caught in a perfect Oregon rain!

Forest Park is a huge blessing to everyone in Portland. Fortunately most people don't get out to experience it so it remains very much a quiet place to hike and take nature walks.

Forest Park is located on the outskirts of the north west side of Portland. It is incredibly easy to get to by foot from the city - this would be my recommendation if you are able to! The great thing about Forest Park is that you feel as though you are in the middle of the countryside because of how peaceful it is and how surrounded you are by nature, but in reality are not far at all from the hustle and bustle of city life!

Forest Park includes a number of different trails and routes so if you like hiking, you'll definitely find the perfect route for you - some trails are flatter and others steeper, however all are well-signposted so you know where you are going.

I took the trail up from NW Upshur St and hiked up to Pittock Mansion, passing the abandoned stone house aka the Witch's House on the way up. This was a great route as there was a lot to take in, so much beautiful scenery including little brooks and streams. It is also incredibly rewarding to see the views from Pittock Mansion when you reach the top - I would definitely recommend this on a clear day as I experienced one of the best views of the city from this point.

One thing I would say is that I travelled in the fall so it was a very beautiful time of year to go with all the trees being different colours, and it also wasn't too cold to make a day of it. I would definitely recommend comfortable shoes though, and also layers as you will get warm walking, however when you reach some of the higher points on the trails (inlcuding Pittock Mansion) you will feel the breeze and might want to layer up again!

I would say that if you like nature and enjoy hiking, this is definitely somewhere that you should visit. I will definitely be going back here on my next visit to Portland.

Tip - you can download maps to your phone or buy them in Portland if you want to take an overview of the trails with you.

I can’t believe this is near downtown Portland! We hiked from the Lower Macleay trailhead up to Witch’s Castle and then to Pittock Mansion. The trail was maintained well, well marked, and beautiful. The views from Pittock Mansion were spectacular. The total hike to the mansion and back was 5 miles. Right before you cross the roadway to continue on the trail, there are picnic benches and a portable restroom. We really enjoyed our hike and would recommend it.

Just got back from a trip out to Portland. We definitely did not spend enough time exploring this park. There is a trail for every interest and ability. This should be the top of your list if you're visiting Portland. I did a Google search for the park and found a great article in PDX Monthly that had trail suggestions and distances for varying abilities.

I love hiking Forest Park year round. It is muddy but quiet in the winter. If you research the trails, you can find busy spots or less people.

This was a hike through the forest that was beautiful. Hiking up the mountain can be a bit strenuous but the trail is very well maintained so it wasn't too hard. The park is undergoing some work so the most interesting part that we wanted to see was off limits.

We had a few hours before returning to the airport so decided to go to Forest Park for a short hike. There were two suggestions at the bottom of the park sign and we took the 2.7 mile hike. I suggest you take a photo of the trail with your phone so you have a reference just in case. We referred to it on a couple of occasions. Great shaded hike.

Enjoyable hike or walk, depending on what you can do! Lovelyt views. Bring some water & snack! Go see the rose garden & japanese gardens too. Also chinese garden off burnside & 3rd.

We're newbies at Portland public transit, but we found few routes that went close to the park. We ended up walking about 3/4 of a mile to the park, did our hike, and then had another 3/4 mile hike to get back to a bus line. The more remote, quieter paths would have involved even longer walks just to get to a starting point. If you're using public transit, Washington Park is a much friendlier choice.

This was my first experience with Forest Hike. Parking is very limited so come early. We arrived around 10:00 am on Christmas Eve Day and was able to park by the mansion. Lovely skyline views of Portland from its veranda. Then we took the Wilderness trail down and connected to another trail where eventually we had to backtrack and go back up on the same trail. It was muddy - it is Portland in December after all. A little slick in places but there were definitely trail runners. Loved the forest. I am in OK shape and was able to take a steady pace back up for a good workout. Would definitely go back and continue to explore more paths.

As first timers in Portland, we knew we had to see what all the fuss was about. A park? Whats the big deal? The big deal is, its a HUGE "park." A gigantic area of pure nature just outside the city. Its got a bagillion miles of trails, both walking and biking. When you view a map of the park, its a little overwhelming, but drop yourself anywhere in Forest Park (with a map) and have an adventure. We started at the entrance nearest the Stone House (Lower Macleay Trail). The Stone House was a graffitied mess. I was a little disappointed at its state, but what can you do? We continued to Wildwood Trail and ventured to Pittock Mansion and then down to the Japanese Garden and Rose Garden. What a great hiking adventure! The trails are clearly labeled and there are berries along the trail, if the plants haven't already been picked clean. The trees provided great shade, despite it being unusually hot in Portland. We saw lots of people walking with children and running with pets. We chit chatted with a squirrel and enjoyed the clean air and greenery. A must while in Portland.

We decided on the Lower Macleay Park hike up to the Pittock Mansion. Over a distance of about two miles, the elevation increased about 900 feet. The trail mostly follows Balch Creek and it is uphill most of the way. This is a nice hike close to the city and reachable by bus in both directions. Although not too intense, you should be physically able to handle the elevation. My wife and I are in our seventies and we faired okay. Nice grounds at the mansion, then downhill to the bus on Burnside Dr.

We walked from the Alphabet District (Raleigh St.) to the Pittock Mansion through Forest Park--a wonderful hike.

This was a great hike up to the mansion and back down. We started at the bottom of Thurston Bridge. The Stone House where the trail connects with the Wildwood Trail is pretty cool. Reaching the viewpoint at the back of the mansion was gorgeous. We were there on a clear day with nice views of Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helen. For those who cannot hike, you can drive to the mansion and see the view from there. We took the hike pretty slowlly (hike up about 2.5 hours; hike down about 1.25 hours).

This large park is a great getaway right in the middle of the city. The paths are well maintained and maps as well as signs keep visitors on the right track. This is not the type of park with wide open grass space, so don't go there thinking you will have a typical picnic while watching your children swing. This park is full of trees and paths. Beautiful scenery. The only drawback are the restrooms. In the area I hiked, there were only Port a potties; no permanent bathroom structures....so.......well, it was gross.

A Gem! For a city the size of Portland to have this extensive a well maintained Park is outstanding.. The hiking trails are beautiful groomed, well signed and of differing difficulty. The park extends for miles. Hundreds of walking trails.. MID Town!

Great "urban" park! Just minutes away from downtown & yet feels a world away!! You must visit to get back to nature!!

This place is huge and beautiful. We hiked 7 miles one morning. Can't believe we were in a city!!!! Beautiful trees. A lot of runners to watch out for at the beginning. We went to the witch house.

Forest Park in Portland, Oregon is the largest park in a major city in the USA. It has more than 50 miles for hiking and biking trails in this forest. It has some hills, but not too much, and during the spring you get to enjoy seeing the spectacular Trillium flowers. In the summer you can even eat some wild berries along the trails. Best thing is you never have to leave the city to get there, its open all year, and is open to the public.

If you want some exercise there are trails here for a good hike. We got the 15 bus from SE 14th and it will take you north to the park. We did the start of the Wilderness trail then short cut to Birch trail. Got a bit lost on way back but someone helped us find the right turning. Park is not as fresh and open as Washington. Most times you are in forest, good for shade but air a little fetid. Good exercise nevertheless.

An hour's hike in this beautiful forest, so silent except for a few birds. Hard to believe it is on the edge of town! We only ran into 3 people and were able to enjoy the serenity of nature.

It seems like many people have never heard of Forest Park, which in a way is too bad, but I guess it also keeps the park from getting crowded, which is one of its best aspects. It's beautiful, with miles of forested trails that seem to go on forever.

Definitely a challenge even for this experienced distance runner, as some of the hills are really steep and (again) go on forever. But for casual strolling it's perfect, and even on a hot day (so common during the Portland summer) it stays reasonably shady and cool. It's not even that far from the trendy part of the city, just a little to the northwest. Highly recommended - don't miss it!

Truly a beautiful park! Pick a trail. All offer an escape away from the city that's almost surreal. The path to the stone house is easy enough for beginners and branches off into other hikes for the more adventurous.

This 'park' is huge. I believe it's even bigger than Central Park in NY, and I know MUCH more woodsy. Great biking/hiking trails and the people are friendly from my experiences. I love coming here. Getting to the entrance of the middle of the park can be challenging, and it's crowded. The tip of the park by Washington Park is not the real park - don't kid yourself. Drive out to Linton and then find your way in. Leif Erikson trail is ginormous and great!

Very cool -- a forest in a city. We parked and spent some time walking through trails, enjoying mossy trees and looking for banana slugs and mushrooms. (We failed to spot any, but hear they're often abundant.)

If you need solace from the hustle and bustle of Portland, this is the place to do it. There are a ton of trees to wonder at and it can get chilly at night. But it was good to be one with the forest. It offers good views of the city, but sometimes, it is obstructed by the trees.

Forest park is one of the treasures of Portland. It is a great place for running and hiking and is surprisingly within the city. I loved getting lost there and marveling at the moss-covered trees. Seussian and magical.

This is an outdoor's person's dream. It is huge. We went down the handicap trail and it was dark (from the trees) and wet. Great for hiking. Different entry points for about a mile.

Great place to go for a hike, such easy access from Portland. Plenty of different trails to take, could definitely spend quite a few weekends just exploring all of them. It is dog friendly, just make sure you have it on a leash. There are plenty of signs and maps on the trail which makes it easy to follow.

This awesome 5,000 acre city park is one of a kind. Planned by the designer of Central Park in Manhattan, only bigger and better. Over 80 miles of hiking trails, with creeks and views of the city.
Great feature of Portland!

This park is awesome! It is huge and well maintained. You can choose to hike for just an hours or days. It is very easy to get to and a great place to spend some time surrounded by nature and friends (friends are optional!).

I love seeing all of the types of trees! I could have spent hours walking the paths! Breathtaking views and definitely a nice retreat from the city. Close enough to not feel like it's too far out of the way, but far enough away to be worth a drive.

This is a heavily wooded park with well-maintained paths that offer various levels of hiking opportunities. It’s best to use the paths early in the day because it can get quite busy as the day goes on and parking can be tricky. There are port-o-potty’s, but no water fountains. You can also mountain bike on many of the trails.

This beautiful forest is a short walk from Northup Inn. It is located in the city of Portland, a great escape to old growth forest without leaving the city. Trails are rustic and hilly.

Read the other reviews for so many descriptions. This is a can't miss if you have a few hours and want to unwind with a hike. Cool overhead canopy, easy inclines and paths, lots of birds if you are quiet and patient. This is one of my favorite places in the WORLD !!

Escape the city, commune with nature, and get some exercise at Forest Park. You won’t have to travelfar to get there. It is located just outside the city and is perhaps one of Portland least visited jewels.

My idea of a great vacation is lots of hiking, eating, and drinking. Portland is perfect for this, and this park was absolutely gorgeous. Several trail options from which to choose, so you can spend a little or lot of time here. Well maintained, and so enjoyable. Trails are also full of friendly people and adorable dogs.

Most people don’t realize that this is the largest urban park in America. It’s incredible and so we don’t like talking about it. The fewer people that know about it the better.

This is an amazing resource right in downtown Portland. The trailheads are not overly obvious, but I would recommend accessing from the Lower Macleay Park at 1905 NW 29th Ave. From here you can take a short walk (maybe a mile) along a stream through the woods to reach the "Witches Castle" stone house ruins. The hike does have an incline and some uneven ground but would be fun for families with small children. It is a well traveled trail and felt very safe.

This park was so beautiful and the tallest trees i've ever seen. Amazing views and also got to take some wonderful pictures.

By far the best city park that I've been! I hiked from the Lower Macleay Trail all the way to the Japanese Garden. I would have to the the trail from Lower Macleay through to Witches Castle, then Wildwood Trail to Pittock Mansion where the definite highlights!

Forest Park is the largest forested park in any city in America. This is an invaluable treasure to Portlanders. Hikes through Forest Park are one thing that makes Portland such a livable city. There are parking lots off of German Town Road (and near this area) where you can pretty easily access trails for most any level of walker. The Wildwood Trail would be for people a little more serious about getting deeper into nature. If you are taking a dog with you - you must put your dog on a leash! There are serious consequences for other hikers, the landscape and to you, if you do not follow the leash laws. Please respect this law and everyone will enjoy this amazing place. I also recommend that you bring water to hydrate along your way. Enjoy!

Lots of trails beautiful scenery very quiet very dog friendly parking is a bit challenging no public restrooms or water fountains

Portland is very blessed to have Forest Park Right in the city. It has numerous walking trails And is an excellent way to spend your time during a hot summers day. Some trails take you by the zoo others take you by the Rosegarden others you have a beautiful view of the city of Portland. Although you do have to watch out for homeless. Portland has become as bad as San Francisco when it comes to the homeless population. I would not suggest women hike alone but definitely go in groups for safety.

Probably one of the world's most wonderful, ecological and relaxing locations to visit. The environment of the Pacific NW woods within the city. It also offers scientists and amateurs a chance to study nature in place as in any natural wild wood environment.

Worth the visit, especially if you are needing a break from the city and don't want to drive far to get there. Short and long trails and just beautiful.

This place was interesting. Getting here we drove through all sorts of residential areas. I don't know if there is another way we were just following the GPS. We did the short hike to the little stone house. We didn't have a lot of time here so not sure what the rest of the park is like but this area was super pretty with one exception. The graffiti and homeless bedding. It was so strange to see these gorgeous trees and forest marred by irrisponsible people. When we got to the stone house it had a lot of graffiti and a homeless person had clearly been sleeping there. So sad.

It was such a nice sunny day that I felt like taking a Hike up to Pittock Mansion via the trail that takes you by the Witch's Castle. This was a fantastic day to do this. and going early in the made made it a cooler Hike. I was expecting it to get into the lower 80's later in the day. So hiking early was a good idea.

I started at Lower Macleay Trail and followed it up to the road and got on Wildwood Trail on the other side of the road.

On the trail I notice people doing some work to improve the trail. Digging and replacing a drainage pipe. people carrying buckets of small gravel to fill in holes I guess.

When I got to the road and walked across it to the other side where Wild Wood Trail goes up to the Pittck Mansion. I swy a sticker saying on the sign saying Wildwood Trail was closed. But I was seeing other hikers hiking on it so I continued. I asked about this at the Pittock Mansion. that part of the Trail I took is open. The part of Wildwood Trail that is closed is where they are building a pedestrian bridge to cross Burnside. That area of the trail is messed up while this is being done. I think that taht part of the trail to goes to Washington Park will re-open in the Fall of 2019.

anyway it was a nice hike.
There is a marker on a tree at the Witch's Castle that reads 5 1/2 Miles. I wonder what is 5 1/2 miles from where? At this point it is only about a mile to where this trail comes to a park under a bridge at NW 29th and NW Thurman.

This hike seemed to be about 2.5 miles one way up to Pittock Mansion, all pretty much up hill. Maybe 5 1/2 is if you were to take the trail all the way into Washington Park? I am just guessing but that would make sense to me if would wanted to hike all the way to Washington Park.

I think it took me about an hour to hike down from Pittock Mansion. And I know hiking up to it must have taken a bit longer than an hour being uphill. and I stopped at the Stone house ruins to take photos and look it over. Nice place to take a rest.

Beautiful park in the heart of Portland. Well maintained trails and markers. You can easily spend the entire day hiking around. Pittock Mansion is located inside the park. Parking can be a problem if you are arriving later in the day.

We went for a city run from pearl district to the lower macleay park entrance, then run-walked up to Pittock mansion, looped back down. Being from the East coast, the long tall pines with the low, clean and dark ground made for a amazing views. It is great that the park is so close to the city and expansive. Definitely worth the time to visit. The trails were populated but not super busy on a Saturday afternoon.

Took our first hike into Forest Park. There are loads of trails and entry points. The biggest issues is generally parking. It fills up early and quick. There are several types of trails with differing degrees of difficulty. There are some old roads that are pretty well maintained that many bikers use along with the hikers. There are lots of streams and plenty of shade which is great when it gets hot. There are a couple of spots for picnics if you are so inclined. Views are spotty as you really are in the trees.

The largest city park ever. It is so big! It is gorgeous with lots of fir trees. What a beautiful place to see.

A group of 11 of us took the hike to Pittock Mansion. We had a couple of little ones with us and it took about 1 hour 40 minutes. The trails are well marked and in excellent condition. We took the lightrail to the zoo and started from there. We walked back down to 23rd street from the mansion.

Such a cool urban forest! We had a couple hours to spend on a rainy day, so we explored the southeastern part of Forest Park. We stopped by the Audubon Society of Portland, which has a gift shop and some neat taxidermy animal displays with info. Parking is free around here, so we went to the upper macleay trail parking lot. The wildwood trail leads to the stone house, which is definitely cool to explore. There’s a lot of plants, trees, and wildlife to look at and a beautiful stream and waterfall that runs along the trail as well. The trail is a little rugged and sometimes muddy, so make sure you wear shoes that can get dirty.

A pristine oasis in the middle of the city. Amazing hundred year old trees and many accessible trails for running, hiking or biking. GO!

When I visit Portland, I always have to do a run at Forest Park. They have miles of trails and my legs run out before the trail does! You can run up to Pittock Mansion, you can connect with the Hoyt Arboretum, there are so many directions you can go! The terrain is hilly but definitely doable. LOVE this part of Portland and recommend it to anyone looking for an outdoor day activity, any time of year.

One of the largest inner city parks in the US that creates a break from downtown to the westside. The park has lots of trails, but most run north to south and so there is very little opportunity for circular routes. So it is usually an out and back. Almost all of it is tree covered to it can make a great place for a run/walk even in the rain. There are some online maps and other sold at REI to help you navigate your way.

We just adore this park, especially after we discovered other trails less visited that we can enter and avoid the herd. We love that it's not far home home but you can still feel like relaxed and at peace walking together in a forest. I like that at the same time you can feel isolated and know you're in the city. The more northern trails are not as ventured as those that are near the Pittock Mansion so you don't have to fight the crowd in the summer time.

Clearly marked paths through an absolutely gorgeous forest. Perfect to take short hike or to spend the day. Different trails for different skill levels. Dog friendly.

A reason to put up with all the downsides of a major metropolitan area is this wonderful multi-use park with miles and miles and miles of trails--eve suitable for 2 and 5 year olds.

Went uphill about 2 miles to see mansion. Easy walk and beautiful views once up at mansion. Highly recommend.

We hiked Lower Macleary Park to Pittock Mansion on a Saturday in November. The fall colors were mostly gone, but some still stuck around (especially some Japanese Maples at the mansion The hike was maybe 5 miles and 900 feet in elevation, but you could have made it shorter by using a different trailhead. Make sure to look at a map for there are a few different junctions where you will need to know which way to go to navigate to the mansion. The reward at the mansion is beautiful on a clear day - a great view of Portland from the mansion grounds. We did not tour the mansion (I believe tickets were $11/adult). There was a drinking fountain and toilet at the mansion. Picnic tables on the mansion lawn. A great hike for being right in Portland!

I liked it, it was worth seeing. Would I go again? Probably not. If I lived there I would utilize it. But it claims it's the largest urban forest in America, but that is incorrect. The Trinity Forest (Dallas, TX) is more than a 1000 acres larger and is the largest in America.

Love this park but it does get quite busy. Parking is a little wonky but glad me and my friend that I was taking pictures of found a couple spots. Great area especially with the stone house and the little creek. It was gorgeous summer day. For more pictures please visit stunningportraitphotography.com

So many trails and nature to see. You can spend the entire day on different trails and not see it all. Easy to moderate almost throughout. Definitely a place to experience in Portland

This park is highly recommended. We could have spent way more time here. It felt like you were in the middle of nowhere. Even the drive itself there is worth it! Walk down to Witch's Castle!

We went to visit our kids in Portland and they took us out hiking a few times. it is wonderful how many parks are in close proximity to the city. Forest Park is a good example of how city folks can go hiking easily. the hills are pretty steep and quite lovely.

Highly recommended for a walk, hike, or run - well-groomed trails, spectacular forest, painful parking.

My girlfriend and myself went to this park together and it was great. Beautiful scenery with nicely maintained trails. Will make it back next time we visit Portland.

We had a wonderful 7 mile hike despite the weather being very Pacific Northwest. Don't be deterred if it looks as if it will rain. There are so many trees, they provide a thick canopy to help protect you somewhat. It absolutely poured the last hour of hike, but instead of being completely soaked to the bone, we were just wet (and there is a difference). Absolutely beautiful, peaceful hiking here!

A very large city park that makes you forget you are in the middle of the city. It is home to numerous facilities that in each of their own right are worth traveling from far away to see.

It was a rainy Portland day so we took the afternoon to drive the huge park, turning this way and that. I look forward to its many hikes when the weather permits.

Peaceful park that's kind of like the many other parks in PDX. Good stroll for all ages whether active or not.

We were prepared for Forest Park. Had our backpacks, water, granola, and we were ready to go. Did we need all of that in hindsight? Not at all. It was a great stroll in a lively park, that featured a cast of insects, birds, and other creatures. The tall trees offered a reprieve from the warm day. The trails themselves are not very challenging, making the park accessible to most people. I would love to come back!

Get a trail map. It may help. There are lots of trails, miles of trails. Dogs on leash but not always. Leash law protects the resident wildlife habitat. Not many toilet facilities. Just one port a potty at Leif Ericson and Lower Cherry Trail. Trails have muddy spots after a rainy period. Wear layers, a lot of the park is in shade. Lots to see, trails, trees, birds, streams.
Love it!

Such a big park located right next to the downtown. Good for taking a short walk, going for a long hike, or trail running. Fores Park's longest trail is about 30 miles, but there are also many other trails of different length.

A great place for a hike or bike for an hour or all day. This is the home of the 31 mile Wildwood Trail which winds it's way from Northwest- Southwest Portland near the Oregon Zoo and Vietnam Veterans Memorial. It does get busy near trailheads during the summer and there have been some car break-ins where things were left in the cars.

what a great discovery! so lush and easy to walk and get lost. needs more parking options. Covers a large part of the city

Beautiful forest/park. Lots of (well-maintained) trails of varying lengths. Great for all ages (the little ones in our group loved looking at the trees, finding slugs, etc.).

Not to be missed if you're a nature lover.

Great way to spend a few hours hiking and enjoying nature. YOU can drive up to a walk path and then start your journey, there are trails and maps to follow. Many volunteers work at keeping trails clear of debris and safe to walk through. Maps and directional signs help guide you. It's a great way to spend time alone or with friends and family. Very safe and fun. Little Fido can enjoy the trails also. Bring water and good walking shoes with good grip. May need light jacket in the summer as the Trees block the sun.

Went for a walk with a friend and our dogs and it was breathtaking!! Went to the witches house which was pretty cool and enjoyed every second of our hike

A great place to run, hike, jog alone or with families. Best to go on weekdays (crowded on weekend. Commune with nature and get aerobic at the same time

Word to the wise: in the winter, wear good hiking boots! That said, our adventure was so beautifula nd lush. Everything was packed with mosses and ferns. I wish I had a hiking trail into a magical forest in my backyard like the lucky Portlanders!

The park has huge trees of various kind, such as pine and redwoods. There are brochures to take along as you hike. Also hiking trails are displayed on large metal signs near the trails, along with the length of the trail.

Great place to explore - large trees, some hills to climb, various length of trails to hike. You can make this an hour visit or an all day thing!

My daughter and I enjoyed a morning hike and run in this inner city park while we were in the area recently. I would definitely recommend this if you are in the area. Parking is somewhat interesting at the entrance.

Basically if you're in this forest you could imagine yourself to be Bilbo Baggins. Every hike is magical and beautiful. Truly a wonderful hike which never gets boring no matter how far you walk

Went here to see the Witches Castle, was a nice hike in the morning. Was a very pretty park, with lots of trees.

Forest park is really a forest, with quite a few miles of well-marked trails. You can be out of sight of the city - but back in it as soon as you're at the end of the trail. Get a map before you go - you may not be able to get one at the park.

Great park, close to Portland. Great for hikes and runs. Especially early mornings or later in the day are special when the sun shines through the trees

Forest Park is beautiful! We visited in July and the view and the trees are amazing. You literally walk down a steep-ish mountain trail with huge trees all around you. Truly in the midst of the forest! I made the mistake of bringing a stroller, not a good idea for dirt trails, and an unstrollered 3 year old, not a good idea for unfenced trails. So, without little kids, it's perfect!!

Love this place. This location is perfect for all level hikers. So close to town and convenient. Feels like a mini-escape.

I walked on the trail that starts at Lower Macleay Park. I walked for about a mile to the stone house, turned around, and came back. It took me a little over an hour. The first part of the trail was paved, and then it turned into a dirt trail. There was a small bubbling creek, lots of people with dogs, and lots of trees. It was very pleasant and peaceful. The walking wasn't hard, and my shoes didn't get muddy :)

We took the buss to the Saltzman road trail head - Very nice series of well marked trails. Trails were over all very well maintained and well marked. Two "roads" also make it easy to short cut between trails. We did a 10 mile loop and really enjoyed it. I recommend contacting Forest Park Conservatory ahead of time and investing in a detailed map (shows all the trails in great detail). The hiking feels like you are way out in the wild - not 20 minutes from downtown. Bring lots of water - these are real hikes (not just a walk in the park).

Beautiful exercise park with amazing views! Perfect venue for walking, running, and biking. I walked 5 miles and the foliage was gorgeous!

My family has been hiking Forest Park for 20 years and we keep coming back for the convenience of starting a wonderful forest hike within 15 minutes of getting in the car. and we do not have the luxury of living on the west side. great for running or easy strolls.

This hidden gem is right in town! Nestled onto a hillside that delivers views, calm and nice trees to wander around underneath. Check it out.

poorly marked signs hard to see from roads, a little hard to find and navigate roads to get to the different trails...once there the hikes are nice and the witches castle is fun a really nice short hike easy for all ages~all in all nice trails if you can actual find what you are looking for....

My husband and I went to Forest Park on Memorial Day. The park itself is absolutely beautiful and extremely peaceful. However, because we did not rent a car, we took a local bus. This would not have been a problem on a weekday, a Saturday, or a non-holiday but because it was a holiday, the buses were running limited schedules. A bus driver advised us to take a particular route and bus, only to find out that the bus was not going all the way to Forest Park that day. Not a big deal to us-we happily walked the remaining mile and a half to the park. However, something to be aware of if you have mobility issues ore are traveling with smaller children.

If you like the outdoors-this is a great park to explore!

Seriously, this whole area has to be some of the prettiest hiking anywhere, BUT Especially for a city park!!! This is part of the city of Portland...and it's some amazing scenery! And...it's huge! Lots of areas, I mean lots of areas to hike around in...would take forever to see it all! Amazing!!!

Forest Park is a gigantic forest right in the middle of the city. It's beautiful any time of the year, but my favorite is spring when the trilliums are blooming. The Wildwood Trail is so iconic there's a book series named after it. Start at the Lower Macleay Park trailhead and walk up to the Witch's House, and if you're up for a long walk, hike all the way up to Pittock Mansion for stunning panoramic views of the skyline and mountains in the background.

A gorgeous, lush and green place to hike. Trails are wide and well maintained. The scenery is stunning. What a jewel for the city of Portland!

Portland is blessed with many parks, with Forest Park being one of the crown jewels. It is the largest urban forest in the nation and definitely worth taking some time to visit. Explore the many hiking paths to get out of the city.. Or, enjoy the more urban aspects in Washington Park, with the Arboretum. Rose Garden, Japanese Garden, Oregon Zoo, and Vietnam Memorial.

This place was great and so close to the city. We hiked up to the Pittock Mansion using the Wildwood trail. Such a great view of the city once you get to the top, amazing place to take some photos! The hike is very easy, anyone could do it!

It’s wonderful to have a large forest area In your town. Lots of walking trails can take you close to the zoo the Rose park and the Vietnam Memorial. Because she’s of homeless. To go with a group especially for women. Not as safe as it used to be.

My family vacationed in Portland for a couple of weeks, and visited Forest Park 3 times--twice for morning runs, and once to spend several hours hiking the trails together. The 10 or 12 total miles of trails that we covered were all well-maintained and well-marked, and completely beautiful. I'd run here every week if we lived in Portland.

Quite an amazing park in the middle of a busy city. I believe there are over 70 miles of walking trails through this beautiful forest. There are streams that flow through certain parts of the park which blend perfectly with the beautiful sights and sounds of nature. It is well worth taking a couple of hours to explore this attraction. If I lived in the area I could see myself coming here quite often and exploring different trails

If you want to go to Portland, feel free to skip this place. The park is poorly marked, so we did not even know where to get in! A half hour later, we were winding up a narrow mountain path that will make you claustrophobic just thinking about it. When we finally got up, the place was so poorly marked that we didn't even know what exit to take into the park! We had to turn around twice. After 2 hours, we gave up. That's 2 hours of my life that I won't get back.

This is a beautiful park, filled with walking paths and hiking trails. It offers an abundance of flowers and mostly, a big slice of the true Oregan green space,

Completed the Redwood trail in half and hour or so. Wife was in heels and the kids were not too into it. There was a big bag of Doritos from Costco in the car at the end of trip so they were definitely into that.

We were looking for a nice walk with our son, and it was idyllic. It was like an enchanted forest with some views, but also very wildernessy. I love the moss hanging from trees, and the coolness.

When you're walking in Forest Park, it feels like you're in the amazon or something! I'd never seen banana slugs until Forest Park! One of the best nature walks we've ever taken with our girls. Everyone was in awe of the size of this "park" We then found out how large it really was and how you could take weeks walking the trails and never walk the same trail twice.

We only left because we were taking a tour later but we could've stayed there all day. Definitely take the kids with you.

If you don't have the time to venture out of the city for some good hikes, Forest Park is great. Accessible from a variety of points, you can mesh together different routes to make everything from a short jaunt to a full-day (10+ mi) trip. I did an 8-miler that featured some good hills and certainly served its purpose.

Not like Central Park. It is a forest with trails. Great place to trail run and hike. We noticed a few gaps in the signage but overall it was marked. Get a map on your smartphone if you want to be certain. This is a huge park with crazy topograghy and many trailheads The trees are impressive and the understory is lush. The trails we were on were well maintained. Lots of room for two way traffic (runners). A must for a runner visiting Portland. A nice hike for those of us on our way to the next food cart.

Highly recommended for a hike or walk. I hiked on about 6 different trails with varying scenery and terrain, all good to great.

The trails through this park are extensive and serene. Enjoy a hike on the edge of humanity, so near to housing but so isolated.

An amazing urban park - if you are visiting Portland, and you want to get outside and maybe get some exercise - hit this park. Tons of trails, always runners and hikers out, so it feels very safe. Recommend running the trails, no matter the weather, others will be too.

We are privileged to have Forest Park available in the city. We live downtown and I use Forest Park for a lot of my marathon, ultra-marathon and triathlon training. I also take full advantage of fun hikes with a loved one. If you get a chance, you must try one of the hikes on the many trails. You'll be glad you did.

The trail is lovely, surrounded by lush trees. The trail has some hills so be prepared for some uphill climbs when returning to your car.

Our kids train for cross country up here. They run we walk. Wide paths, bikers can be annoying . Not very fun on rainy days as it gets muddy.

We went on Christmas day and there were many people on the trail, which is through a forest, a wild place in the middle of a large city. The "Witch's Cottage" is a folly that was once used by a fraternity, falling down but still charming and a great place to turn around, by way of measuring progress.

If you are visiting or live in Portland Forest Park is a must. It is a beautiful forest with great hiking, biking and dog walking trails.

It's so wonderful to have a park just a short Uber from downtown! We loved our hike here: the trees were beautiful and old, SO GREEN. It was super muddy, though; be sure you bring boots that you don't want to keep clean! The signage is a little lacking at times...

This is a great park for novice and advanced hikers alike. Beautiful setting and plenty of parking near major trails.

If entering from NW and don't have a car, it's about a 2 mile walk to the entrance off Thurmann. After seeing reviews regarding trails not being marked well, we asked a local as we approached the park. She suggested if we don't know the park to take the Lower Macleay Trail which follows the creek. It was a lovely walk that ends at the Audobon Society where you can visit the Wildlife Care Center. Hiking shoes not needed. Sneakers are sufficient. This walk is approximately 40 minutes each way. Would suggest a detailed trail map if you wander in. The map we had was not that helpful. Enjoy

As a PDX native I love getting lost in this city "forest" it's like an oasis in the middle of the city.

We went on two hikes in the parking during our time in Portland. What a beautiful landscape within the limits of a major city. This is a true gem. I recommend the 5 mile hike from Lower Macleay trailhead up to the Pittock Mansion. It is a moderate hike and yields picturesque views of the city and beyond.

If you like or love nature and want to get out of downtown Portland, this is a great place to do and a wonderful outdoor experience. There are both paved paths and hiking paths to take in the greenery all around you.

One tip, make sure you plan where you want to go if you are going to visit this attraction. It is large and has multiple entrances, so depending on what you want to see there, do your research. We took a Uber to the back entrance and missed out on some of the interesting parts, but enjoyed it all the same. Taking an Uber from the city is cheap and quick to this back entrance and would assume it is a bit more to go to main entrance where some points of interest are.

It can be damp, so wear good walking shoe and bring an umbrella or poncho with you just in case. The paved path does have lots of joggers and speeding mountain bikers, so pay attention because they were kind of rude in their presence and seemed to pop up unexpectedly at times.

Seriously, bring a map or your phone and use gps, that's how beautiful and big this hiking, running, biking, dog walking adventure of a park is. Enjoy...but bring water with you, and a shell, weather can change and there are no outbuildings to hunk under. We just LOVED the arboretum too!

Such an amazing place within a city... Lots of hiking and beautiful scenery... A great way to spend a day with friends and family

Such a treat to have such a nice hiking spot so close to the city. Enjoyed a short hike to the Stone Cabin.

I use Forest Park trails 2-3 times a week, minimum. I can take different, interconnecting trails for a different route each time, or redo favorites. So much beauty, and it's right in the city's backyard!

Wow!! We drove by this place one day, and then ventured in the following day.
It's dense and pristine. A few trails, but lots of 'deer trails' and untouched wood.

We didn't see any large charasmatic fauna, but we heard they're here.
Lots of slugs - banana, brown and white.

Our adventure had us on Rt.30 West, left on NW Germantown Road (up the hill). Then left down NW Skyline Blvd. Then turn left down Newton Road to the parking lot.
The walk into the woods along the fire road took about an hour and was great.

Walk was pleasant!

Would recommend: Yes
Would re-patronize: Definitely

This is the best urban park that i have been to. It really is America's premier urban forest. The trails are great and offer a modest workout. An the different species of trees are incredible.

What a gem. Running, walking, hiking in a deep forest right in town! It's not isolated, you will see many others, but it's very peaceful with the feel of being miles out of town.

I spent about 4 hours walking around the trails and taking pictures. Trails are nice and there are signs and maps along the way to let you know were you’re going. Things look absolutely stunning in the spring and the trees block out the rain if you’re planning on taking your camera for a spin. Not very many birds out, but it’s the first day of April, so no surprise there.

Decided to try to hike the trail from the Lower Macleay Park to the Pittock Mansion. Never made it that far (we had to drive to the mansion on another day). The hike was beautiful and somewhat difficult for a couple of seniors in their early 60s. We decided to turn around at the Upper Macleay trailhead.

Absolutely beautiful
Sooooo green. Maybe the weather is worth the beauty? I don't know. I guess it has to rain so often in order to be so green!

What can one say when standing in the presence of majesty, this is one place I have been where I really wanted to hug a tree. You can walk endlessly throughout the park and just feel this gentle spirit come over you there. Being a native Oregonian I suggest taking in a good hearty breakfast around the park area and begin walking because its hard to leave a place like this( The serenity and calm ) worth a thousand words, but here you just enjoy quiet.

Well if you think central park in NYC is big and you like.....then you need to check this out for sure. Take a backpak with goodies to eat and just enjoy.

We hiked the trail from NW Thurman to the Pittock mansion and back, but there are many options. Trails are clearly marked, you will see many tree varieties, small birds and possibly animals, (although we didn't at the time we walked). You can find details, including a map, online. We were there in Summer, but I'm sure it would offer great experiences in any season.

some say this park is officially the biggest park inside the city limits of any town in the u.s. this park is certainly unique in many ways. you can hike, run, ride, drive through and if you're a regular commuter from the west side of town you're driving through the park one way or another every day. great trees, gardens, paths and trails.

Wonderful way to learn about Forest Park!! My tour guide was filled with an abundance of information and goes at your pace. Would highly recommend this tour!

This is a very beautiful park, worth you while to visit. We just took a really long walk and enjoyed nature.

This park is really nice. I think in hindsight we should have gone to Washington park instead. The trail we took to get in is definitely for seasoned hikers. I prefer nice walks in a pretty setting. But we had a nice hike and enjoyed the trees. I like parks with water or something more to see... but it was a nice peaceful place and we enjoyed our time there.

There is a clealry marked trail that allows you to have forest walk steps from a neighborhood. It is well maintained. Lots of folks walking so it feels safe for a person alone.

Very foresty, this one. Every person I talk to wishes there was more parking for cars, which is the reason for one star down. For some, it is their go-to cyclocross training grounds. Quite muddy, even sometimes in summer! Awesome. Perhaps has a spot or two for some slack lining adventures. Lots of creaks from the old trees reminds you that nature is the almighty power, but rest easy knowing that the noise is most of the time not a tree falling down.

Wonderfully large park that just doesn't see as much traffic as you would expect. lots of paths to choose from; all mostly moderate in intensity with fairly solid tail base and excellent trail labeling. Get. good set of maps or a local guide book to help you select your hike, and take a map with you as you go on the walks.

Forest park is in a word, serene... There are lots of walking/hiking trails and it offers a quick little 'get away from it all' feeling, located directly above downtown Portland in the SW hills. Science tells us now that 'forest bathing' (walking or spending time in forested areas) is directly and measurably related to better health and better immune system activity. Forest park is the equivalent to 'an apple a day' for health, without the sugar. Absolutely worth the visit.

Forest Park is one of America's finest urban refuges. I hiked with my baby daughter through the park, run with friends, and simply enjoyed the amazing views nested in a dense forest.

We had a very pleasant 2 hour hike in deep forest. We could not find the trailhead to hike #1 so we had to cobble a couple of paths together. Recommend bug spray.

This is an incredibly beautiful forest to walk around in. If you have the time you can easily spend the whole day there. Lots of undulation so if that’s a difficulty walking need to be considerate of that. But the walking trails are really well paved. Overall rating 9.7

We stayed overnight at a bnb and went out to nearby Forest Park via North Germantown Road. There are several trails on this windy road. They come up real quick so keep your eyes peeled for a turnoff. The terrain can be inclined but nothing too steep. Moss is everywhere and babbling brooks come out of no where. It is truly beautiful!

This was a nice hike to do on a Sunday afternoon. It goes by Pittock Mansion, which was where we were going and wasn't too hard to do.

I hesitate to share a review, as the last thing forest park needs is more visitors. It's so magical though. With 30 miles of trails, you will forget you are in an urban setting. I've been coming here for 25 years and my soul feels better every single time I make it.

Thanks to google maps I happened to cycle through Forest Park on my way to Hilsboro. Despite an incredibly long incline I loved Forest Park. It's beautiful, you will instantly feel relaxed and calm when coming here. There green and yellow colors (fall) will make you feel at peace instantly and the air just felt really nice for a change from city air. I also read, that REI recommends a few hikes for families in Forest park including maps etc. so check it out too if that's of any interest to you. Given current weather conditions I highly recommend stable and waterproof foodwear, there were quite a few puddles and mud. Also, if cycling here, you may wanna use a mountain bike, no chance with roadbikes on these paths.

We were a group of 2 moms, three boys ages 6, 6, and 13 and one dog. We hiked from the Pittock Mansion to the Witches Castle in a few hours on a beautiful day. The hike was easy enough for the little boys, but interesting and challenging enough for all.

Not only was the fall day one of the most beautiful and lush experiences I can remember, but we learned some great stories from our tour guide, Sarah. about the people who once lived here and the spirits who may still haunt the place. The hike itself was exhilarating and the views from the Pittock Mansion at the end of the hike extraordinary.

Hike to the Witches Castle, is really "the hike". The castle is just an old brick building filled with graffiti. I still enjoyed seeing it. However, the hike (if you don't hike) is not flat as described and the lower level trail was closed (we didn't know that until we got to the castle. This meant we had to go back uphill the way we came (didn't want to do that) or find our way out another direction (which we did with the help of a local). beautiful forest.

Get a Map of Forest Park (Powells Books). Other Places have the maps as well. There are plenty of options, long and short walks/hikes.

Great trails to run on. There were a group of 6 of us and it was great and challenging. Recommend getting there early to beat the crowds.

This is really a great escape. You can go up here and get lost in trails where you feel like you are far away from the hussle of the City. You can do a hike, go home shower, just in time for a business meeting! I used to live in Marin, and this reminded me a lot of the trails you can find in Marin. I couldn't find a good trail rating system on line, but don't let it stop you - get lost in the woods, and you will eventually make your way back!

I loved that within Forest Park exists within Portland. Miles of trails and once you are going through the park, you can easily forget that you are still in the city. I recommend a visit to all new to Portland. Beaufiful

Make sure you plan your route before going into the park. There are no exits along the way, so you will have to keep walking till the end, or prepare to walk back the same route you came from. The park is huge and easy to get lost in. I enjoyed it but we walked 16km until we found a way out.

Feels like you are hiking in the deep, lush woods, miles away from civilization (except for the occasional train horn or car sound way off in the distance). Trails are well tended and marked. Everything is lush, verdant and quiet. Went for an early morning hike from Forest Lane parking area, which is off Skyline Blvd, about a 15 minute drive from my hotel in Beaverton. Took Firelane 1 to Nature Trail to Chestnut to Wildwood back to Firelane 1 - about a three mile loop through two ravines with streams, small cascades, etc. Took about 1.5 hours with frequent stops to take in the quiet and the beauty. There was a washout near the end of Chestnut that required a little detour and some agility, but nothing too treacherous. Great place for a hike or a trail run, close to downtown Portland or Beaverton. Plenty of online resources for ideas about loops, etc.

This park was wonderful! It made me think of a place in Ohio I used to hike at all the time. There were various levels of difficulty. Wildwood trail was a bit easier than the ridge trail. The Hardesty trail was the steepest and most challenging for me as it was mainly uphill, and I am out of shape. No horses, bikes, or motor vehicles allowed, tho it would be challenging for them to get up from the entrance point I came in at...the stairs at the base of the ridge trail close to the water front/train. What an exhilarating hike. Not over crowded. In fact, I only saw 4 or 5 people my whole hike. Trails are well marked and maintained, however it is good to have some sort of map, as one could still easily get turned around if not paying attention. Good idea to bring plenty of water. I got pretty thirsty on my 2.5 hr hike. I hiked the Hardesty trail and ridge trail, plus a portion of the Wildwood trail in that amount of time. I was pooped! The road from the entrance near Helen and bridge at the base of the ridge trail gets a lot of through traffic. There is a place to park near the entrance, but only enough spots for 3-4 cars to safely park away from through traffic. This park is a new favorite of mine!!

Over seventy miles of trail in this urban forest. What a great getaway if you're in the city for business and need to clear your head.

We so enjoyed hiking in Forest Park- the trail is well maintained and we managed to hike to the very top in about an hour. It was quite crowded with what appeared to be club groups, school groups, etc. and many people walking their dogs as well. My favorite part of the hike was that most of the trail was shaded by magnificent tall trees- just beautiful!

.If you happen to be driving a car, you can park it after entering Lower Macleay Park. Its entrance is at NW 30th Avenue and NW Upshur Street. Parking is allowed between 5 AM and 10 PM.

I happened to be on foot exploring NW 23rd when I decided I might as well go hike up to Pittock Mansion and enjoy Forest Park. So I walked down NW 23rd and then walked up NW Thurman. I came to a metal bridge a block after NW 29th and NW Thurman. Then I walked down the stairs down into Lower Macleay Park. There is a large grassy area here and some benches. This is where I started my hike up Lower Macleay Trail. This trails is alongside Balch Creek. After about a mile you come to the Stone House (ruins of a stone building also know as The Witch’s Castle). At this location you come to the WILDWOOD TRAIL. There is also a plaque with a map indicating where you are and all the various trails in Forest park. This is very handy to use before continuing on. This is roughly about a mile to this point.

I continued on Wildwood Trail and started to notice the sounds of civilisation– cars. The trail came to a road with white cross walk style bars painted on the road. The Wildwood Trail continued on the other side of the road. This is NW Cornell Road. Cross the road to continue hiking up The Wildwood Trail.

From time to time you will encounter other trails. Stick to the Wildwood Trail and keep your eye out for the signs that read: WILDWOOD TRAIL to Pittock Mansion. Eventually you will come to the Parking area for the Pittock mansion. If you look across the parking lot you will see that the Wildwood Trail continues on the other side of the parking lot. That heads toward Washington Park where Japanese Garden, the Rose Garden, Hoyt Arboretum, And the Portland Zoo are located.

I was wearing a pedometer. The full hike from where I had started to the Pittock Mansion parking lot was about 2 and a half miles. And that took me about an hour to hike with just a brief stop at the stone house to take some photos of that. And most of the hike is an up hill grade. It would be a good idea to take a camera, a bottle of water, and also a general map of Forest Park. It never hurts to be prepared and have information at your fingertips.

The Pittock Mansion is open from 10 AM till 5 PM during the summer

We specifically walked a trail in Forest Park to find the "old stone house" (which we heard were old, deconstructed bathrooms once?) We found it and felt it was worth the short and easy walk!

We stopped at Forest Park to see Witch's Castle while visiting Portland. The internet site we found this free activity on didn't prepare me for what this actually was.

To get to Witch's Castle isn't as easy to get to as we first thought. It is a hike down and back that took us over 2 hours. We had small kids, the wrong shoes and we didn't take water. If you are in good shape with no kids in tow, it would be a very enjoyable free activity.

For me, by the time we got to the house with our kids, it wasn't as exciting and not worth the hike down. If you love to hike, this place is great. The trails are well marked and it looked like you could hike around this area for days and not see it all.

Great park nestled in the middle of the city. Such a fantastic place for trail running. Lots of trails and a range of terrain from single track to nice walking trails.

So many options in this gorgeous park. You can hike, walk, hangout, or drive through....beautiful in all seasons.

Hiked with a group of friends for a short distance in the park. This park is a gem located in Portland with some good views and the Stone House is a must to visit if you're visiting the park for the first time. However, more upkeep could be done with amenities such as the restroom and a small visitor center could be added to enhance the experience

I had only a few hours in Portland, and decided to stop by Forest Park.

Beautiful setting, amazing views. Definitely worth the stop. The pictures already posted tell the story!

I just want to say that I am a local and Forest Park never disappoints! The trails are well-marked and well-maintained. Lief Ericksonn and Wildwood trails run parallel and have tons of connecting trails so it's easy to pick a loop! You want to hit Wildwood! It's so beautiful with ferns, trillium and tons of trees with moss growing on them.
I go alone mostly and feel safe during the day. I usually don't see animals but did see a lone coyote cross about 50 ft in front of me. I kept looking back but he was not interested in me! That was probably the 100th time I've been out there and the only time I've seen one.
A must-see if you are a tourist:)

Trying to explain Forest Park as one place is like saying Old Faithful when you mean Yellowstone Park. People have gotten lost in there and there are stories of people living there for years before anyone found them. True? Yep.
The first time I went for a hike with my daughter in Forest Park was supposed to be a nice hour long trip over the hill to the Rose Garden. 8 hours later we found our car but never found the Rose Garden. But we did find lots of trails, interesting places, restful stops, but never a place to get a cool drink. Okay, actually we did, but by the time we found it, it was closed for the night. Later we found out this was only the tip of the iceberg known as Forest Park!
Now that I've scared you, let me tell you there are lots of maps and I'd advise you to get one. When I went on the "adventure" with my daughter was before Goggle maps was around to help pinpoint our location.
Like Yellowstone, you can spend days in Forest Park and still not see it all, or travel around it by car stopping every so often to ooh and aah along the way.
I belonged to a hiking group for a while that would make a weekly hike though a different trail at Forest Park every week and we never did see half of it. There's easy trails for the family, harder trails for those wanting a good workout and just darn long trails for those that think they can't get lost in the city. What ever trail you take, have fun but make sure your smart phone battery is charged so you can find your way to a cool drink before they close.

Just kidding. But it is really like a deep forest basically n town. A multitude of tracks that can be hiked by anybody.

Great park for walking the dogs. It has been in episodes of Grimm and it definitely lives up to its name. Tons of trees and trails. Try it out... you will love it.

Enter the park at the south east side (Lower Macleay Park) for a nice walk without a lot of hills. This way you can see an old structure and the stream. If you want, keep going for a more hilly climb. Don't forget to look for the park when your plane takes off to see just how huge it is!

This is a must for anyone visiting or living in Portland. The trails all go through an incredible Forest. Beautiful

access to trail head was very close to our condo - 29th and Thurman so was easy walk out and up in to the wilderness... all the way to Pittock Mansion.

This is a great park that is almost hidden, unless you get off the beaten path. Heading north next to the Willamette River on Highway 30 toward the St. Johns Bridge, the park sits on the bluff to the south. From there it appears to be a forested area, but instead it's one of Portland's greatest hiking parks.

Altogether, it covers about 5,100 acres. There's a wide main path and other trails that take off from there. It's mostly undeveloped, so if you need to rest, you pretty much have to sit on the ground. Which isn't a bad thing. There are porta-potties spread out along the way.

The trailheads have maps showing the way. There are also doggie poop bags to take with you if you brought your pet.

This is a very peaceful place and even though it's on the edge of civilization, it's very quiet and peaceful.

the most amazing, largest forest park I've been, very large, a lot of fun, for just walking in raw nature or heave hiking.

This place is a treasure. The hardest part is figuring out on the GPS how to get there, even though it is in plain sight. Our in-car GPS took us to a dead-end road that apparently once went into the park. You'll find here a variety of hiking trails without ever leaving the city. Right now, check the city parks and rec website for information on trail closings.

Pick a trail, any trail. You will not be disappointed. We started on the tunnel trail, connected via cumberland to the wildwood trail and followed that up to the mansion. It was a clear, very cold and sunny day with impressive views of the city and Mount Hood. We then wandered back through the woods to the stone house and then meandered back to our car. The trails were icy in spots and we witnessed 3 people falling during our 5 mile trek. Would love to go back and do more exploring. The park offers over 70 miles of trails. The trails we were on were well maintained, mostly flat. An easy walk.

We are blessed in Portland to have this urban sanctuary with acres of natural landscape and wildlife, and miles of trails four outdoor recreation. Forest Park is a true treasure.

We took the steep stairs down below the Thurman Street bridge to the trail. It is a paved path until you cross the bridge over Balch creek and enter this enchanted forest. We took the Lower Macleay trail. The conditions are wet in the woods and the trees and fences have become covered in moss. It creates a beautiful carpet look throughout the woods. There are many trees down from the harsh winter they had this past year. We hiked up to the stone house (now in ruins) built as a public restroom in the 1930's. There are many picturesque areas on the trail. I am sure they are used as a backdrop for many photo shoots and were even used in the TV show Grimm.

Forest park was beautiful. Only a few minute drive from Portland. If you park near the saloon bar, you are at the trail head.

Loved the different trail options for hiking. So much peace and quiet near a big city. Be careful with valuables as my son's car and others have been broken into.

Basically in town and a bus ride from anywhere. Great park for an easy walk or long hike. There are a lot of people on parts of the trails (near parking and bus stops) but it doesn't take long to get away from them if you're willing to hike a bit.

What a nice spot in the middle of a great city. Several people had told me about the park and I love to "get my feet on the ground" everywhere I visit so I knew I didn't want to miss this park. Some wide carriage roads and a lot of nice wooded hiking trails with good elevation changes. Nice mix of people without being crowded. Incredibly dense, green forest. Did the Wild Cerry Trail which led to Wildwood Trail for a little more than 4 miles. Nice escape after a busy day tasting wine in the Willamette Valley and before a casual dinner at Kell's Brew Pub, both also very good. I'd be in this park all the time if I lived in Portland.

Walking and biking trails through this forested area in Portland Oregon. It is not really a "Park" as much as it is an outdoor adventure. Not sure how many acres it is, but it is huge! Beautiful and serene!

It is a wonderland for hikers. It is a convenient, popular hiking spot filled with interconnecting trails, which are challenging and satisfying. You will not be disappointed. Take a camera!

Wow! One of the reasons I'd want to move to Portland is the availability of the outdoors right in the city. This is a beautiful place with plenty of hiking for you and the family to do. Pack a picnic and some cold local beers for a perfect day. Enjoy

So many beautiful flowers and so lush -- and wonderful that you can access it so close to the city. I wish we had taken a tour, as it was a little confusing to figure out which trailhead to start on and I saw someone else on a tour as I was walking. Still -- with what information I was able to find online -- I loved the place, the energy in the trees is amazing.

I love Portland, and Oregon in general, for it's beauty and all the opportunities for hiking and just admiring the beauty of the outdoors and the gorgeous city. However, if you are planning to hike Forest Park, make sure you know where to park, where to hike and where to avoid. I was following someone else's directions and I seriously felt that I was in the middle of filming the Blair Witch Project part 3. I entered on a road that wasn't marked for the park (first mistake), then jumped a little barrier (second mistake) to get to the park and it was very gloomy from there. There was a macabre vibe and even my dog didn't want to go further, so I ended up retreating and going to Mt. Tabor instead. I know. I'm a chicken!

I haven't explored all of the trails here but I've loved the ones I've done. I have hiked to the audubon society several times and that's a busy but enjoyable hiking trail, especially in summer when it's a shady reprieve from the sun. I've also hiked to Pittock Mansion from Burnside and then down past the audubon and to the entry at lower Macleay park and that's a steep path with lots of switchbacks, but also busy and enjoyable. Be very very cautious crossing Cornell to the Audubon because the visibility isn't great since there are curves in the road there and cars tend to be driving much too fast. I am not sure I'd do that with kids.

The most recent hike I did was from the Zoo to Burnside street. I had wanted to continue on to Pittock Mansion and down to lower Macleay but Burnside was way way too busy, no crosswalk and cars whipping by very fast. I wasn't able to cross safely, so I walked about 1/3 mile down the street to catch a bus. The hike itself was great. There was a bit of climbing at Hoyt arboretum, where I had a great view of the fall leaves. Then there was down hill and I got to see some of the work going on at the currently closed Japanese Garden and there was a neat but small winter garden. All in all it was a nice walk where you felt secluded but were never very far from civilization should you need that.

Definitely a park worth exploring.

This is my all time favorite hiking in Portland. The Wildwood trail goes right up to the Audubon House and animal rehab center.

We came with small children & enjoyed our hike. It's a beautiful forest with lush greenery. Adequate parking options. A variety of trail options. Spent just under an hour here because it's a lot of walking otherwise for young kiddos. Sad to see graffity covering a couple trees. Some people are really lame.

The Wildwood is 30.25 miles of wilderness in the middle of a city. It is lovely and not strenuous. Get a good map of the park and you can find spots to get on and off the trail. My husband and I have walked the entire trail twice, breaking into segments of 5-6 miles per hike. We usually leave one car at the end point and drive back in another car to our start point.

I love hiking in the early mornings.
Bring water and expect to see people, this is a city park after all, but appreciate how remote parts of the park feel, and alllllways pack out your trash n poops!

We enjoyed this great outdoors park that has lots of walking trails some of which are pretty rough and definitely rugged. Lots of great views. Not for the faint of heart as trails are often thin with major drop offs beside them. Port a potties available if needed. A great place for a walk with lots of options some of which are noticeably steep. Recommended!

This hike is recommended especially for those without a car - you can easily access the trail and gives you a chance to see local flora - ferns, moss etc. The view when you get to the top/the mansion is amazing. Wear appropriate footwear. Expect to take several hours.

There are wonderful hiking trails within easy reach of downtown Portland! Get away from it all. Walk, run, or ride a bike.

This park is located right beside and somewhat inside a fairly good sized city...you would think you were very far away from all of that hustle and bustle...There are miles of bike trails, nature paths and flora and fauna everywhere that your adventuresome spirit takes you..long hikes,short hikes or easy walks..very beautiful and well kept but still very natural...congratulations Portland ....this does you proud...