A Local's Guide to Portland's Best Nature Parks

After years of exploring Portland and its suburbs, I've compiled a detailed list of my favorite parks close to the city. I have my gripes about living here, but I must admit we have the best access to nature within city limits of any major city I know of.

A foggy path in Forest Park on the way to Pittock Mansion

You can download the .pdf below to read about 14 of my favorite parks, mostly in southwest Portland, but with a few surprises thrown in. As a sneak peek, here are my winners for my imaginary Portland Parks awards show:

🏆Overall Winner: Forest Park (duh)

🏆Best Place to People-Watch: Mount Tabor

🏆Best Kayaking: Cook Park

🏆Best (Flat) Trail Running: Tualatin Hills Nature Park

🏆Best Super-Secret Hidden Gem: Camassia Natural Area

🏆Best Birdwatching: Tualatin River Wildlife Refuge

🏆Best Dog Park: Sandy River Delta

🏆Best Historical Furnace in a Park Located Next to a Racially Insensitive Apartment Complex in a City with a Private Lake and No Chain Restaurants Allowed: George Rogers Park

Happy park-ing, my friends, and may you keep the SADS at bay until springtime! Download the local's guide to Portland's best nature parks below:

A Local's Guide to Parks in Portland.pdf

Download PDF • 3.70MB