Explore the city
a pedestrian on the waterfront consults a large wayfinding sign on a sunny day
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Walk Portland, a partnership between the Portland Bureau of Transportation and Travel Portland, seeks to use wayfinding to make it easier than ever for pedestrians to explore the city.

Walk Portland: Discover Downtown

With its compact downtown blocks and abundance of attractions, Portland is the perfect city for a stroll or a roll. Walk Portland seeks to make it easier than ever for pedestrians to explore the city.

2 min read Downtown

The Downtown Portland Walking Route

In the summer of 2025 (August–October), we launched a short-term pilot wayfinding system to help people explore Portland as pedestrians: the Downtown Portland Walking Route. The route was created to be a cohesive downtown walking loop connecting Portland landmarks — think top destinations like Powell’s City of Books, Pioneer Courthouse Square and Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Signage along the walking route also encouraged pedestrians to discover other local attractions and easily connect to public transit.

The 2025 pilot was developed by Walk Portland, a partnership between the Portland Bureau of Transportation and Travel Portland, which seeks to make it easier than ever for pedestrians to explore the city. It has been funded in part by a grant from Travel Oregon and made possible with support from Oregon Walks.

a map of a walking route through downtown Portland

Walk Portland Summer Pilot

a person in an urban setting places a finger on a large sign with a map
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Walk Portland, a partnership between the Portland Bureau of Transportation and Travel Portland, seeks to use wayfinding to make it easier than ever for pedestrians to explore the city.
Credit: Tom Cook Photo
a large sign with a map on a pillar in an urban park
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Walk Portland, a partnership between the Portland Bureau of Transportation and Travel Portland, seeks to use wayfinding to make it easier than ever for pedestrians to explore the city.
Credit: Pioneer Courthouse Square
a blue MAX train passes by a directional wayfinding sign.
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Walk Portland, a partnership between the Portland Bureau of Transportation and Travel Portland, seeks to use wayfinding to make it easier than ever for pedestrians to explore the city.
Credit: Tom Cook Photo

Wayfinding in Portland

Wayfinding is a system of signs, maps and other visual tools to help pedestrians feel safe, comfortable and confident navigating a city on foot. The Walk Portland pilot, conducted from August–October, included downtown pedestrian wayfinding signs along the Downtown Portland Walking Route, with printed maps available at the Portland Visitor Center. This pilot and its temporary signage were designed to see what works and what doesn’t in helping people navigate downtown.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is wayfinding and why does Portland need it?

Wayfinding helps people navigate physical spaces using tools like signs and maps. Modern wayfinding also promotes a sense of place, enhances the walking experience and highlights local destinations. In a city that prioritizes pedestrians, it’s an essential tool to help people navigate comfortably and confidently.

What is a pedestrian?

A pedestrian is a person travelling on foot or with mobility aids.

Why did Walk Portland pursue a pilot instead of a permanent system?

In 2024, Travel Portland, the Portland Bureau of Transportation, and sparks+sullivan began a strategic planning process for pedestrian wayfinding in Portland. The strategic plan established a wayfinding framework with multiple elements: the sign system, digital tools, operations, landmarks and paths, and visitor center services. To make sure a future system is serving visitors well, the plan recommended a temporary pilot to test the utility of the different elements. The strategic plan also earned an Honor Award from the Society of Experiential Graphic Design (SEGD). The strategic planning and pilot both bring Portland one step closer to a permanent pedestrian wayfinding system.

Why was the pilot route located downtown?

This temporary pilot focused on downtown because it’s a natural destination for visitors to Portland — it also has a demonstrated need for both wayfinding and revitalization. A future permanent system could extend the system to other neighborhoods.

How was the downtown walking route developed?

Public input identified landmarks like the Willamette River, Pioneer Courthouse Square and Powell’s as key destinations. The route, which is fully accessible and offers nearby connections to public transit, was selected to link these destinations. While signage was limited to the route during the pilot, one goal is to help people feel confident exploring the broader downtown area, using these tools as a starting point.

What happens after the pilot?

After the pilot, an evaluation is being conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of all the various pilot elements: the signage, route, sidewalk decals, printed maps and more. The evaluation, scheduled for completion in early 2026, will also recommend next steps for Walk Portland in pursuit of a permanent pedestrian wayfinding system.

The long-term goal of this project is to create and implement a cohesive, user-friendly wayfinding system that helps pedestrians navigate Portland, enhances the pedestrian experience for visitors and locals alike, and promotes a sense of place. We’ll apply what we learn from this test to a more permanent system in the future.

Contact the Walk Portland Team

Send us your questions or feedback to help shape the future of wayfinding in Portland.

Send Us an Email

The City of Portland is committed to providing meaningful access. To request translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, or other auxiliary aids or services, or to file a complaint of discrimination, contact 503-823-4000 (311), Relay Service & TTY: 711.

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