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  • Attractions
    • women dances with large fans outside on a city street surrounded by people in colorful dragon costumesView All Attractions
    • Museums
    • Parks & Gardens
    • Family Friendly
    • Shopping
    • On a Budget
    • EVEN MORE THINGS TO DO
  • Culture
    • people dining at picnic tables in front of a food cartView All Culture
    • Arts
    • Beer
    • Biking
    • Cannabis
    • Cultural Communities
    • Craft Spirits
    • Food
    • Makers
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Outdoors
    • Sports
    • Weird
    • Wine
    • MORE CULTURE
  • Neighborhoods
    • aerial view of downtown area with buildings and roadways, bridges crossing a river to a smaller set of buildings that expand into the distanceView All Neighborhoods
    • Alberta Arts District
    • Belmont
    • Central Eastside
    • Division/Clinton
    • Downtown
    • Hawthorne
    • Lloyd
    • Mississippi
    • Northwest / Nob Hill
    • Old Town Chinatown
    • Pearl District
    • St. Johns
    • Sellwood-Moreland
    • Williams
    • ALL NEIGHBORHOODS
  • Region
    • RegionView All Region
    • Near the City
    • Columbia River Gorge
    • Mount Hood
    • Oregon Coast
    • Willamette Valley
    • ALL REGIONS
  • Plan
    • Light rail train car driving past people shopping at an outdoor marketView All Plan
    • Portland Maps
    • Portland Visitor Center
    • Where to Stay
    • Tours & Itineraries
    • Transportation
    • When to Visit
    • Accessible Portland
    • Portland Weather
    • COVID-19 FAQ
    • Safety in Portland
    • Plan a Meeting
  • Events
  • Search
A family with two small children a hike along a tree-shaded stream. A family with two small children a hike along a tree-shaded stream.
i
Hikers of all ages enjoy exploring Forest Park.
Attractions / Family Friendly

Kid-Friendly Hikes

The whole family can enjoy Portland's greenery on these trails.

Updated Oct. 12, 2022 2 min read

Easy access to some of the nation’s most spectacular scenery often puts hiking near the top of the agenda for many Portland visitors. Having children in tow shouldn’t put you off. Here are some of our favorite hiking spots with trails under 4 miles (6 km) in length, in or close to the city and bursting with natural beauty.

Great views of the city await you at the summit of Mt. Tabor, and the park also boasts two playgrounds in case you need a rest but your children don’t!

Hike Around a Garden

Even the littlest legs will have no trouble wandering around Portland’s beautifully maintained gardens, including the Japanese Garden, Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden and Leach Botanical Gardens.

Hoyt Arboretum

Just a stone’s throw from the zoo in Washington Park lies Hoyt Arboretum. Stop off at the Visitor Center for a map and plan your own route along the many trails around the park. Great signage makes it hard to get lost, and markers on the trees will help improve your ability to identify the many species of trees showcased here.

Lower Macleay Trail

Starting at the parking lot on Northwest Upshur Street and 29th Avenue, just a few minutes north of the popular hangouts of Northwest 23rd, the Lower Macleay Trail takes hikers up along Balch Creek into the southeastern corner of Forest Park. Little legs may favor turning around at the Stone House (a great photo opportunity) or else looping back along Wildwood Trail. Those with more stamina could plow on to the Audubon Society or even as far as Pittock Mansion.

Adventure Begins Here

people look at koi in pond at garden

Portland Japanese Garden

A haven of meticulously maintained, tranquil beauty, proclaimed one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Japan, the Portland Japanese Garden offers meandering streams, intimate walkways and an unsurpassed view of Mount Hood.

A large stone mansion with red roof surrounded by trees

Pittock Mansion

High in the West Hills, the Pittock Mansion offers picture-perfect views of the city and interesting insights into Portland's history.

a person sits on a bench overlooking Portland at Mount Tabor Park

Mount Tabor Park

Mount Tabor Park, a century-old public space, is known for its open-air reservoirs, forested hiking trails, sunset picnics, epic city views, its annual Adult Soapbox Derby, and, yes, its volcanic cinder cone.

Mt. Tabor Park

Mount Tabor, an extinct volcano located just east of the Hawthorne neighborhood, contains many trails running around and up and down its steep slopes. Great city views await you at the summit, and the park also boasts two playgrounds in case you need a rest but your children don’t! See a trail map.

Latourell Falls

The closest waterfall to the city is also one of the prettiest. The looping trail to the upper falls is under 2.5 miles in length; when you return, the bowl of the lower falls awaits with its truly spectacular torrent of water. The falls are one of the most beautiful anywhere, far less trafficked than the popular Multnomah Falls further into the Gorge and only 30 minutes from downtown by car. See a trail description.

Know Before You Go

Before you head out, check with USFS for the most up-to-date information on alerts, conditions and trail closures.

Silver Falls State Park

Famous for its abundance of picturesque waterfalls, Silver Falls State Park is the largest state park in Oregon at 9,200 acres (3723 hectares) and one of the most popular.

Explore

Tryon Creek State Park

Located just a few minutes south of the city center by car (and still in Portland), Tryon Creek State Park offers one of the most beautiful hiking opportunities in the region. The many trails make it simple to plan a route suitable for your party, and whatever direction you take, you are sure to be surprised by the richness of the forest.

For Kids, Outdoors, Parks & Gardens

More Outdoor Activities for the Whole Family

Play Outside
A woman and three children find their way through the tall corn at the Corn Maize at The Pumpkin Patch on Sauvie Island.

The Corn Maize on Sauvie Island

The Corn Maize, located on Sauvie Island north of Portland, offers visitors eight acres of physical and mental challenges in a cornfield.

a large vat of apples on a sunny day

Apple Picking Near Portland

Freshly-picked Pacific Northwest apples are a local favorite, and many Portland-area orchards allow visitors to pluck the fruit right off the branch.

a wooden dock in a river with swimmers standing, sitting, or climbing out of the water, looks toward a city center in the fading light

Swimming Holes Near Portland

Stay cool all summer long at these serene swimming spots, surrounded by the stunning natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest — and all less than an hour away from Portland.

a red panda walks on a tree limb, surrounded by leaves

Oregon Zoo

Located near downtown Portland in Washington Park, the Oregon Zoo is home to more than 2,600 animals.

Smiling children riding the colorful, retro Disk’O at Oaks Amusement Park.

Oaks Amusement Park

In Southeast Portland’s Sellwood neighborhood, Oaks Amusement Park has been providing families with carnival thrills and family fun since 1905.

kids splash in the fountain at peninsula park

Portland’s Public Fountains

Cool off with free fun at these kid-friendly fountains in Portland.

an airplane with tubes coming out of the sides

Kid-Friendly Regional Attractions

Trips outside the city promise all-ages entertainment. Here are four must-see attractions within two hours of downtown Portland.

thousands of small birds swarm around a tall brick chimney at sunset

Chapman Swift Watch

Every September, spectators gather to see the world’s largest roost of Vaux’s swifts swarm and spiral into the chimney of a Northwest Portland school.

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