

Fall Hikes Near Portland
Admire autumn leaves and migratory wildlife on these popular local treks.
Zelos Marchandt
Zelos Marchandt is the artistic director of T & A Grand Theater and the Ten, Tiny, Talks artist in residency program. Read More
Portland earns praise for its perfect summers, but fall might be the best time to experience the Northwest’s natural beauty. Emerald-leaved trees seem to catch fire in slow motion as temperatures cool, and northern breezes tease out autumnal displays of gold and red. Meanwhile, wild critters in water and on land are easily spotted through the thinning flora as they prepare for winter. Hiking is one of the best ways to drink in the region’s beauty; read on for three great fall hikes near Portland.
Punchbowl Falls and Metlako Falls
A 45-minute drive east of downtown Portland delivers hikers to the popular Eagle Creek Trail in the Columbia River Gorge. Autumn is a prime time to visit — not only to avoid the crowds but also to spot Chinook and coho salmon spawning near the mouth of the creek.
From the trail’s lower junction, follow the path about 2 miles (3.2 km) to one of Oregon’s most iconic sites, Punchbowl Falls, named for the deep bowl-shaped basin at the waterfall’s base. On the way back, keep an eye out for a sign pointing to lesser-known Metlako Falls. This showstopper’s 100-foot (30 m) plume seems to shoot straight out of a cliffside before plunging into the pool below.
On your way home, detour slightly to the Hood River Fruit Loop, a scenic drive that connects several family-owned farms offering apples, chestnuts, and cider.
Where to Go
Columbia River Gorge
Starting just 30 miles east of Portland, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area offers amazing vistas, trails and more than 90 waterfalls.
Sauvie Island
Sauvie Island, the Manhattan-size isle is one of the largest river islands in the country just north of Portland, is where families can find an entire day’s worth of adventures with swimming, hiking, birding and local farms.
Bicycling the Banks-Vernonia State Trail
The small logging town of Vernonia has become a central hub for bike routes through the surrounding state forest.
Warrior Point
Sauvie Island has so much to offer, including beaches, farms, wildlife areas, and trails that seem to go on forever. Every autumn, folks flock to the island to harvest pumpkins, take hayrides and wander through corn mazes at several local patches.
Once you’ve had your fill of U-pick apples and fresh cider, visit Warrior Point Trailhead at the island’s northern tip. The mostly flat path winds its way along the Columbia River and through the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area. In fall, you’ll see migrating sandhill cranes, snow geese, tundra swans, and Canada geese. After 3 miles (5 km), trekkers will arrive at the 16-foot (5 m) Warrior Rock Light, Oregon’s smallest lighthouse.
Banks-Vernonia State Trail
A century ago, a mighty railroad curved over the hills northwest of Portland, hugging ravines and cutting across creeks. Today, 21 miles (34 m) of the dismantled railroads have been transformed into the scenic, multi-use Banks-Vernonia Trail. Six trailheads give hikers (and cyclists, joggers, and horseback riders) plenty of opportunities to customize their route. Each path is lined with deciduous trees (think cottonwood, Oregon ash, red alder, big-leaf maple, and sour cherry) that display some of the most splendid fall hues in the region.
Hiking Around Portland
Explore Local Wildlife
Wildlife Preserves
Experience nature not far from the city's hustle and bustle at these wildlife preserves.
Bird-Watching in Portland
Catch sight of 200+ types of birds at the Portland area's dozens of prime bird watching destinations, including sanctuaries, refuges and urban parks.
Audubon Society of Portland Nature Sanctuary
The Audubon Society of Portland Nature Sanctuary is a great starting place for hiking Forest Park and (of course) bird-watching.
Outdoor Events

Piano Push Play
Piano Push Play invites local artists to transform old, donated pianos into whimsical works of art which are distributed across the city.

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

Dahlia Festival
Celebrate the season of DAHLIAS. A Rainbow of Color. Stroll through almost 40 acres and a beautiful display garden of stunning dahlias featuring over 370 varieties. The beautiful fields are open from August to September each year, closed on Monday and Tuesday. Pick out and order your favorite dahlias for Spring delivery and planting. Purchase…

O- Tsukimi, The Moonviewing Festival
Moonviewing, or O-Tsukimi in Japanese, is the custom of gazing at the full moon and enjoying its sacred beauty. Portland Japanese Garden schedules this beloved annual tradition to coincide with the harvest moon from September to early October. During Moonviewing, people gather to appreciate the moon’s beauty and pray for good fortune and an abundant…

O-Tsukimi Moon Viewing Festival
Moonviewing, or O-Tsukimi in Japanese, is the custom of gazing at the full moon and enjoying its sacred beauty. Portland Japanese Garden schedules this beloved annual tradition to coincide with the harvest moon from September to early October. During Moonviewing, people gather to appreciate the moon’s beauty and pray for good fortune and an abundant…

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.

Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn
With acts that have ranged from Al Green to ZZ Top, McMenamins Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn are an annual rite of summer and the hottest ticket in town.

Hollywood Farmers Market
Year-round on Saturdays, the Hollywood Farmers Markets hosts 50+ vendors, bringing you the best of the region’s agricultural bounty. In addition to amazingly fresh, local food, you’ll find live music, children’s activities, and fun events throughout the season. April through September, every Saturday 8 AM to 1 PM,October and November, every Saturday 9 AM to…

Rocky Butte Farmers Market
Rocky Butte Farmers Market, an iconic urban neighborhood market featuring affordable locally grown foods and artisan products, weekly children's activities, live entertainment, and a dog-friendly, energetic block party vibe, is back for the 2023 Season. The market's goal is to lower barriers to market participation for beginning and under-represented vendors and to strengthen connections within…

Dogtoberfest
Celebrate the fall with a day full of pampering and dog-friendly activities at the annual Dogtoberfest – Portland’s pet-friendliest Oktoberfest party and biggest dog wash. Enjoy music, food, beer–including a special brew made just for DoveLewis–and pet-loving vendors, all while your pup receives a wash and nail trim. Donations and proceeds from the event go…

Portland Marathon
The fast and beautiful Portland Marathon presented by OHSU Health is the best way to experience the Rose City. With four epic bridge crossings, a downtown start and finish, and a tour through some of the most iconic landmarks and neighborhoods in town, the Portland Marathon, presented by OHSU Health, offers the most unique race…

Lents International Farmers Market
Lents International Farmers Market opens on Sunday, June 4, 2023, and is open every Sunday through November 19, 2023. The Lents International Farmers Market (LIFM) is the only one in Portland with an intentional international focus. LIFM provides fresh, affordable and culturally appropriate produce to the diverse community of Lents neighbors. Founded in 2006 by…

Hood River Hops Fest
The Hood River Hops Fest returns for its 19th year, celebrating the fresh-hopped beers of this beloved region. Awarded silver medal for best beer festival from the Willamette Week, Oregon Beer Awards, the Hood River Hops Fest is an annual celebration of beer’s bitter friend, freshly harvested hops. World-renowned hop-growing regions surround Hood River County,…

Hood River Valley Harvest Fest
The valley’s best farms and orchards bring their bounty to Hood River Harvest Fest with stands full of produce, giant displays of apples, pears, squash, raw honey, beautiful flowers, local plants, herbs, and more. Stock up for the season with basketfuls this autumn’s harvest. The artists and makers you will find at Hood River Harvest…

Matsutake Hunting at the Oregon Coast
Join fellow Friends of JAMO on a field trip to hunt and gather matsutake mushrooms on the Oregon Coast. Trip Details: Meet at Adobe Resort in Yachats on Saturday, October 21, 9:00 a.m.The event fee covers orientation, guided mushroom collecting in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, Saturday dinner, and Sunday breakfast. Participants are responsible…

West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta
This annual race series consists of paddlers piloting a gaggle of gigantic gourds through a watercourse.

Run Like Hell Half Marathon
Join in for this fun, family-friendly, Halloween-themed event on Saturday, October 28. Dress in costume and join in for a Half, 10k, or 5k run/walk. 2023 theme: Saturday Night Live. Come dressed as your favorite character from the iconic tv show. This event is fun for the whole family, with live music, a costume contest,…

Howloween
The zoo provides a fun and safe setting for this Halloween tradition, where costumed trick-or-treaters learn about healthy habitats for wildlife with engaging activities throughout the zoo. Complimentary treat bags are available for participants. In keeping with the zoo's mission, all the treats come from companies that are committed to using deforestation-free palm oil. Bring…

Silverton Christmas Market
Join an awe-inspiring light display and market at the Oregon Garden Resort. This annual event offers a joyous and magical holiday experience for all ages. Stroll along immersive paths draped in more than one million lights. Explore the authentic German Christmas Market for gifts from artisan vendors and imported German nutcrackers, smokers and ornaments. Visit…

Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony
Portland’s Tree Lighting will be live in person at Pioneer Courthouse Square the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 24th. Featuring a joyful sing-along with Portland’s own Thomas Lauderdale from Pink Martini, local musicians and chorale singers, this event is the highlight of the holiday season downtown. Join in the celebration as Santa Claus flips the…

City of Inspiration: A Walking Tour of Downtown Portland
Explore downtown Portland, and learn about the history and culture of one of this country's most talked about cities. During the ~1.5-mile (2.4 km) walk, you will experience famous historical sites, vibrant public squares, hilarious trivia, hidden artwork, innovative parks, magical city-planning concepts, the tiniest park in America, and more. Pick up in front of…

Fresh Hop Pop-Up Beer Fest
The Portland Fresh Hop Pop-Up Beer Fest returns for its 8th year in 2023 at Portland’s Prost! Marketplace on N. Mississippi Ave. The beer garden features ten food trucks and ten rotating taps. Each day of this 17-day fresh hop marathon will feature rare seasonal beers with special tappings nearly every day celebrating some of…

Montavilla Farmers Market Thursdays on the Plaza
A bite-sized Thursday evening market for the summer season. Pick up mid-week groceries while enjoying Threshold Brewing's beer garden and live music on the public plaza! You’ll find local fruit and veggies, sweet and savory baked goods, and frozen treats every week. Family-friendly | Dogs welcome | Take-out food from Montavilla businesses welcome EBT is…

Fall in Love with Lents: Really Free Night Market
The Fall in Love with Lents Friday Really Free Night Market is inspired by the “Really, Really Free” Market (RRFM) movement, which is a temporary market that aims to counteract capitalism by sharing. Sharing includes resources, caring for one another, and improving the collective lives of everyone in the community through giving and receiving. This…

Last Friday Markets
Shop from local makers and get your farm fresh produce. Triskelee Farm will have food vendors and local beer and wine on tap. Bring a blanket and hang out on the lawn. Free admission. Every Last Friday of the month. From May through September.

Live Music on the Village Green
Enjoy the sounds of talented local artists while exploring Bridgeport Village's new storefronts, restaurants and community gathering spaces. The highly anticipated Live Music on the Village Green series runs on weekends through the end of September. Plus, bring the family to enjoy Portland's top children's musical entertainers during Summer Saturdays in July and August on…

Oregon Zoo Fall Beer and Cider Festival
Introducing the Oregon Zoo Fall Beer and Cider Festival. Welcome autumn with more than 40 of the best breweries and cideries the Northwest offers. Plus, enjoy live music, keeper chats, and more. Delicious local food carts and dinner options will be available throughout the zoo – discover perfect culinary pairings for beer and cider.

Fall Harvest Celebration
Farm admission on Saturdays and Sundays (and select weekdays) will be $10 per person ages 2+ with advance purchase, with entry periods every half hour. For the same price as a movie ticket, create some great memories, have fun and stay for hours. Why purchase tickets in advance? Like last year, many of the entry…

St. Johns Farmers Market
St. Johns Farmers Market, a program of St. Johns Center for Opportunity, is proud to announce that the opening day of its 15th season will be on Saturday, May 6, at the intersection of N Charleston Ave and N Central St, located two blocks north of James John Elementary School. The market will be held…

Widmer Brothers Brewing Oktoberfest
The 19th Annual OKTOBERFEST is here. Join Widmer Brothers and PROST! at Moda Center for a day of food, fun, live music and, of course, BEER. Featuring Widmer Brothers' legendary brews and, of course, the not-too-bitter and not-too-sweet Festival Ale — OKTO. Tickets will be available soon. See website for updates.

Take a Train Ride
Get your tickets for an open-air train ride. Pulled by the UP96 diesel locomotive, these last about 45 minutes, traveling along the scenic Willamette River in the heart of Portland. Trains depart at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 & 4:00 each Saturday from 8/12/23 thru 10/14/23. Rides depart from and return to the Oregon Rail Heritage Center….

Pink Warrior Zumba Fundraiser
Portland’s annual Pink Warrior event is more than just a dance party and a fundraiser. Hundreds of Zumba instructors and fans from Oregon, Washington, and beyond gather in Pioneer Square to share hope, spread joy, and raise funds for the fight against breast cancer. After a three-year break, it is back and better than ever…

Creature Feature in the Dark
Drive-in Movie with live Haunted House Performances at Mary S. Young Park in West Linn, OR. Saturdays In September. Come see a different film each weekend: Addams Family Values, Arachnophobia, and Night of the Living Dead in the Deadly Outdoors from your car at Mary S. Young Park in West Linn.

Weekly Hiking Group with Adventures Without Limits
Grab a friend and join in for a weekly hiking group meetup throughout the month of October. Each week, meet at a Portland-area location for a group hike to get outside to spend quality time building relationships. The trip is open to the public, inclusive, and accessible to people of all abilities. Adventures Without Limits…

Mondays on the Mall
Portland Mall management partners with Pioneer Courthouse Square and local businesses to bring free events and performances to the transit mall each Monday.

Peak Touring Club
Find out what makes Portland the remarkable and beautiful, progressive and controversial city it is. The seasoned guide will take Peak Touring Club members on 6 (six) exclusive, specially-themed van tours, the first Tuesday of each month, May through October (adjusting to the second Tuesday in July due to Independence Day). Visit iconic sites, enjoy…

Dinks and Donuts Pickleball Tournament
Join the Dinks and Donuts Pickleball Tournament. This will be the second pickleball event this year, Dinks and Donuts at Sellwood Park this fall as part of the Kelly Johnson Foundation tournament series. The original Johnson Summer Classic Tennis Tournament was hosted in Madison, WI, in 2014, and the event series is bringing back the…

Portland Tent Revival
The Portland Tent Revival is a church meeting to bring hope and healing to the community. There will be gospel music, speakers, food, and activities for children. All are welcome.

Tipsy Spooky Farm Tour
Bring your Best Gals and Ghouls. Embrace the spirit of the season at the Tipsy Halloween Tour. Get ready for a unique evening that combines the thrill of Halloween with the rustic charm of a farm setting. Wander through the farm guided by a friendly g-host. Keep your eyes peeled for eerie surprises along the…

Chill & Cocoa Yoga in the Park
Fill your body and soul with the magic of the fresh, crisp autumn air while practicing yoga in charming Sellwood Park. This mindful, self-care practice is for people who want to nurture their minds and bodies while in chillax mode – along with a fun twist. It is an all-level yoga practice that focuses on…

Fall Foliage Kayak with Adventures Without Limits
Join Adventures Without Limits for a Fall foliage kayak tour of the Tualatin River. Paddle along calm, flat water, around bends, and through colorful autumn leaves and meander up and down the Tualatin. This event is open to the public, inclusive, and accessible to people of all abilities. Adventures Without Limits specializes in creating a…

Triskelee Farm Fall Fest
Come for fall activities in the covered space. The Farm will have a trick-or-treat walk, bounce house, games, pumpkin decorating, food and drinks. Activities will include: Trick or treat walkCorn playingBounce HouseHay PyramidCarnival GamesPopcornPlease stay as long as you'd like. Only one trick-or-treat walk per child. All kids actively participating will need a wristband. Carried…

Haunted Mini Golf
Join Friday + Saturday nights for HAUNTED MINI GOLF. Play 18 holes on the spine-chilling course for just $18. Live actors will be "haunting" the holes, looking to make your game a real nightmare… Snacks and beverages (adult ones, too) will be available for purchase and can be enjoyed on the course. *Strobe lighting +…

Bridge Tour
This downtown Portland walking tour will take participants around, across, under, and inside the unique and storied spans that shape the experience of those living and visiting Portland. The route will include several bridges (with specific spans TBA), and on one of those, the tour will plan to meet a Multnomah County bridge operator to…

Fall Mushroom Show
The Oregon Mycological Society is holding its annual Fall Mushroom Show after two years of being gone. Join in to identify locally found fungi, books, displays and a tasty culinary treat from Morchella Restaurant. Tickets are available for the public now.

Free Reiki in Laurelhurst Park
Free Reiki from 3rd Generation Therapist @ Laurelhurst Park every 3rd Saturday Reiki and Guided Yoga Nidra afterward. This is a great way to meet the therapist and see results.
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