Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
7
FOREST PARK: HOUSE ON THE
HILL
BOUNDARIES:
NW 29th Ave., NW Upshur St., Forest Park, NW Pittock Dr.
DISTANCE:
5 miles
DIFFICULTY:
Moderate-strenuous
PARKING:
Lot and street parking (both free)
PUBLIC TRANSIT:
TriMet Bus 15 (numerous stops along NW Thurman St. near the
park)
It would be crazy not to recommend a walk in Forest Park, the largest and one of the
richest urban parks in the country. It's essentially a huge wilderness right in Portland's
backyard: some 5,000 acres of untouched forest laced with well-maintained trails of
all lengths and levels. And many of its entry points are, like this trek to the historic
Pittock Mansion, incredibly easy to get to from the city. It sounds cliché, but it's true:
within minutes you can feel like you're miles away from anything resembling pave-
ment, trekking through deep dark woods with sunlight filtering through a canopy of
trees. (Or, perhaps more realistic, a faint mist hanging in the gray air—but even bad
weather looks pretty in the woods.) This hike's accessibility makes it a popular
choice, so it can get a little busy on weekends; go early in the morning or late in the
afternoon to avoid any crowds. But even on a crowded day, it's well worth sharing the
trail to reach those incredible views at the top.
Start at the Lower Macleay Trailhead, where you'll find a small parking
lot, restrooms, and a picnic table or two. Find it by following NW Thur-
man St. to 29th Ave., then going down the hill and turning left on Upshur
St. (signs can be a little tricky to spot).
From the parking lot, walk under the Thurman Street Bridge toward the
red sculptures where the trail begins. You'll see a series of crumbling
wooden structures on the left—this is where Balch Creek (which you'll
follow for much of the walk) heads underground for a few miles on its
way to the river. Balch Creek is named for Danford Balch, an early Ore-
gon settler with quite a story. Balch and his family settled on 350 acres
near Portland in 1850. In 1858, Balch's 16-year-old daughter, Anna, ran
off with a ranch hand who went by the Gothic-literary name of Mor-
