by Natasa Kvesic |
As we near the end of summer and prepare to take on fall, we feel the need to squeeze in some last minute adventures. Luckily, we’re located in a prime state for going on ultimate PNW hikes and excursions. Choosing a special spot for a day trip is hard, so we’ve narrowed it down to some of the best and most simple hike and adventure spots near Portland. So, put on your hiking shoes and explOregon!
Located on the Historic Columbia River Highway, the Horsetail Falls Loop is fairly easy and packed with some breathtaking views of the river. The path is clearly visible and easy to follow all the way through the trek, with signs leading you towards the waterfalls. If you start at the Horsetail Falls trailhead and go along the path, you’ll run into three waterfalls: Horsetail Falls, Ponytail Falls and Middle Oneonta Falls. Prepare to take a lot of photos during the hike, since the views are impeccable. Remember to pack some water, pace yourself and have fun.
One of the most popular destinations on the Historic Columbia River Highway after Multnomah Falls. Driving in from Portland, the Oneonta Gorge is one of the first sights seen. Once on the bridge, walk down the stairs on the right side -- and then, it’s pretty much up to you what you want to do from there. You can walk up the creek and climb over the logs or walk down and carve your name into the bridge. Once over the bridge on the gorge, you’re going to get wet but the water’s only three feet deep.At the end of all the walking, you’ll reach the Oneonta Falls -- which makes the failed attempts at climbing the rock and getting wet worthwhile.
If you’re looking for a great weekend barbecue spot or just a fun day adventure, head to Battle Ground Lake State Park. From Portland, take the I-5 N towards Vancouver and the exit for WA-502, continuing to follow the exits for Battle Ground. When you get there, you’ll have your choice of either hiking, swimming in the lake, or setting up a picnic/barbecue spot. The best spot for a barbecue is the bench right by the lake — not only is it the spot with the most shade, but it has a great secret path leading to the lake. Bring a frisbee, some speakers for music and enjoy a great day with friends.
One of the most popular parks for hiking and exploring in Portland. Full of beautiful scenery and over 70 miles of walking and hiking trails, this is the best escape within the city. You can download the park’s app and make your own custom trail, but if you want to do things traditionally, look up a random trail on a map and go. There are also hikes led by local experts and staff members each month — we’ve listed some of them on the calendar on the next page, and you can visit the park’s website to see more. Explore and learn some new things!
Tryon Creek State Park has plenty of activities available for a group of friends or family. From multiple trails all around the park to hosted events every weekend, you’ll never run out of things to do. But deciding on what to do is the hard part -- luckily, there’s some suggestions on the park’s website, along with PDF’s for every trail and activity that you could do at the park. For example, you can print out all of the different trails and they give you options for what to do on the trails. You can go bird watching, search for certain plants or just hike and enjoy the nature surrounding you. Make sure to check out their recommendations before heading out so you don’t get overwhelmed once you get there.
This park is not only a great hiking spot, but also chock-full of history. Within the park, the Lower Macleay Trail leads directly to the stone house ruins. The historic ruins on the trail are none other than that of the “Witch’s Castle.” It is believed that mysterious happenings have occurred in this home because of the ghosts of the people that once lived there. If you’re the least bit intrigued, look it up online and hike to the house. Other than being a major attraction because of the mysterious house, Macleary Park has wide trails perfect for hiking with friends and family. Most of the trails are near creeks and the branches are covered in moss, which makes the scenery all the more enchanting. The main trail connects to the Wildwood Trail which you leads you directly to Pittock Mansion, so you can pile as much history as you can in one hike.
Natasa Kvesic is a reporter for the The Beacon. She can be reached at kvesic19@up.edu.
