Trail Running in Willamette Mission State Park

Another beginner "trail run" that is great for both new and experienced runners - Willamette Mission State Park is near Keizer (just 50 minutes south of Portland) and has miles of paved and dirt trails.

For more trail running in the Willamette Valley, check out my other posts below:

• Trail Running in Oregon's Wine Country (a summary of my favorite parks)

• Chehalem Ridge Nature Park

• Miller Woods Conservation Area

• Champoeg State Park

(And check out my interactive list of my favorite trails in SW Portland here)

This is one of the paved paths at Willamette Mission State Park - so beautiful at sunset, and you don't even need trail runners to enjoy it.

Miller Woods at-a-glance

You can read on for more of my thoughts, but here are the fast facts on the Miller Woods Conservation Area.

• About 50 minutes from Portland - see Google Maps pin

  
  

• Trail map

  
  

• Trail Policies

  • Dogs, horses, and bicycles are all allowed - but it depends on the trail

  • Oregon State Parks pass is required, and there are self-pay kiosks at the park

  • There are both vault toilets and pit toilets around the park

    
    

• Official website

• There are 15 miles of trails in the park, so you can make a loop of almost any distance - and no hills!

• Trails are either paved or dirt

  
  

I've usually stuck to the paved bike path, but every trail here is worth exploring.

Exploring Willamette Mission State Park

This is one of the largest parks with the most trails to explore. It's just a few minutes off I-5, and I've stopped here to stretch my legs on the drive up from California or central Oregon. An Oregon State Parks annual or day pass is required.

I think I've run on every trail in the park at this point, and I don't have a preference. Sticking to the paved bike path is nice and easy, and you won't run into as many horses. There is a disc golf course, an off-leash dog park, and boating/fishing access here too.

One of the dirt trails - nicely packed and easy to run on, even in street shoes.

Let's make a day of it!

Willamette Mission State Park is an hour away from Portland, or just a few minutes from Keizer. It's conveniently close to I-5, making it a perfect road trip stop. To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of Salem or the surrounding area (too suburban for me), but there are a few stops I like.

If you're going to Willamette Mission State Park, add these to your list:

• In N Out Burger (15 minutes away): I can't not mention In N Out Burger... for several years, this was the closest location to Portland. The drive through line is not as insane as it once was, but it's always still busy. I'm not really a fast food person, but even I can't resist a cheeseburger with fried onions, cheese fries, and a chocolate shake after a long run.

• Archive Coffee Bar (20 minutes away): When I am in Salem, I always stop here for the coffee and vibes. It's a more upscale place (and serves alcohol too) but I like the quirky vibe and taxidermy goat head. It's in downtown, so there are some antique stores within walking distance.

• Deepwood Museum and Garden (20 minutes away): This is a historic Victorian house on a public garden. You can tour the inside if you call ahead and sign up (it's only $6 per person). I believe the garden and grounds are free to walk around from dawn to dusk. I visited during a Christmas vintage sale event and was able to enter for free.

There is literally no better post run meal than In N Out. Even better, take your food back to the park for a picnic lunch!

Thanks for reading!

And now for my favorite part! A carefully selected one-star review of our beautiful public lands. Jordan Howard says, "$10 fee is ridiculous for a parking permit... Started to leave and Ranger Rick hurried over to smugly ask if we had paid for a parking ticket. Don't worry, I won't ever be back to bother your expensive parking space and grass."

If you'd like to donate to the Oregon State Parks service so that proud Oregonians like Jordan can continue to enjoy our expensive parking lots, you can do so here.

Thank you for your service, Ranger Rick.