Search Outdoors
Portland is the perfect launchpad for outdoor activities and adventure.
Home to a sprawling urban forest, dozens of verdant public parks, gorgeous gardens and a sparkling river running through the middle of the city, there’s never a shortage of ways to explore Portland’s outdoors. Whether you’re a fan of flowers, tranquil gardens, urban hikes, or just looking to get some fresh air, Portland has something for every kind of outdoor enthusiast.
Hiking in Portland
Get out and explore the many trails and nature areas within and near the city.
Urban Walking Spots
Explore these verdant strolling destinations throughout the city.
Making the Outdoors Accessible to All
Visitors of all cultures, races, ethnicities and identities should feel comfortable basking in the magnificent natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Unfortunately, it’s not always so simple. Luckily, several fantastic organizations exist to help all people explore the great outdoors in and around Portland.
Friends on Bikes
Founded by Filipina cyclocross racer Gritchelle Fallesgon and Korean-born cyclist Molly Sugar, Friends on Bikes diversifies the cycling scene by connecting and hosting rides for women and non-binary people of color. Launched in 2017, this Portland-based group organizes monthly all-levels social rides, as well as “bike-packing” trips, workshops and happy hours. Follow Friends on Bikes on Facebook for details about upcoming rides and inspirational posts celebrating cyclists of color.
Latino Outdoors PDX
Dedicated to inspiring, connecting and engaging Latino communities in the outdoors, Latino Outdoors PDX organizes events and showcases how conservation roots have been ingrained in Latino cultura for generations.
PDX Climbers of Color
Through outings, skill session, and climb nights at local rock climbing gyms, PDX Climbers of Color levels the playing field by eliminating the social and economic roadblocks that typically make the sport inaccessible.
People of Color Outdoors
Portland’s Pamela Slaughter, the founder of the nonprofit People Of Color Outdoors creates safe and welcoming ways for Black, Indigenous and people of color to enjoy nature in and around Portland while learning about nature and the environment. Their educational events aim to create a safe space for those who have felt marginalized or even harassed while enjoying the outdoors.
Portland POC Hikes
Portland POC Hikes is a hiking group specifically for Black, Indigenous and people of color. Join their private Facebook group to learn about upcoming events.
Vive NW
Jorge Guzman immigrated to the United States from Mexico when he was 12 years old. However, he didn’t feel a strong connection to Oregon until he began surfing and snowboarding. Inspired by his experiences, Guzman founded Vive NW, a nonprofit organization that connects local Latinx communities with the great outdoors. The group hosts a wide range of dynamic events, including hikes, ski lessons, stand-up paddle boarding and snowshoeing excursions.
Wild Diversity
Wild Diversity provides safe and welcoming opportunities for people of color, low-income youth and those in the LGTBQ+ community to experience outdoor adventures. Events include all-level hikes and multi-day and backpacking trips. The group even offers scholarships for those who can’t afford the costs.
Seasonal Outdoor Fun
All four seasons in Portland offer their own unique set of fun events and experiences.
Outdoor Clothing and Gear
The great outdoors isn’t just a way of life for Portlanders, it’s also big business for local brands. For example, since its 1938 founding, Portland-based Columbia Sportswear has shielded adventurers from the elements with fishing vests and hats. Today, with the bug-repelling fabrics and wind- water- and cold-blocking garments available at Columbia Sportswear Flagship Store for winter, they stay true to their tradition of pushing outdoor sports further.
Similarly, whether it’s on the track, turf or trail, Nike, based in nearby Beaverton, has powered athletes with sneakers, sportswear and a “just do it” attitude since 1964. The company has many local spots for gearing up, including Nike Portland, their downtown retail flagship that’s also a museum of the brand’s cutting-edge designs.
As an alternative outdoor store selling both new and used products, Next Adventure has launched the passions of many paddlers, climbers, snowboarders and even disc golfers, with an avid staff that puts their products to the test in the company’s own kayak and outdoor schools. Nearby, Seattle-based evo opened its second location in Portland’s historic Salvation Army building in Fall 2014, where it offers more than 150 ski, snowboard, wakeboard, skate, surf and bike brands.
For timeless styles, the wares available at the Filson flagship store in the Pearl District will keep you warm and dry for decades. That kind of rugged, well-hewn quality is important since their coats and creels are the kinds of things that you can hand down to your children. Likewise, the merino wool goods from New Zealand-based Icebreaker will last a long time. Offering items ranging from base layers to neckties, the international company has made its U.S. headquarters in Portland, which offers the perfect city, climate and customers to put their gear to the test.
Other national brands with retail outposts in Portland include Patagonia, Arc’teryx, Athleta and The North Face.
Water Sports and Adventure
From waterfalls to the Willamette River, Portland offers endless opportunities for aquatic adventure.
Upcoming Outdoor Events
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…
St. Johns Farmers Market
The St. Johns Farmers Market will be open 9 a.m.-2 p.m. every Saturday May 4 through November 23, the weekend before Thanksgiving. There will also be a Holiday Market on Saturday, December 14, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The market is held at the corner of N. Charleston Ave. and N Central St, next to the…
Mt. Tabor Art Walk
The Mt. Tabor Art Walk is a Portland tradition. This juried show and sale is a great opportunity to see quality visual art and meet artists in their studios and homes. Diverse media are represented, including photography, painting, ceramics, sculpture, prints, metal arts, photography, glass, jewelry, book arts and mosaics. The Mt. Tabor Art Walk…
Portland Saturday Market
Open every Saturday from March–December, Portland Saturday Market is the largest arts-and-crafts fair in the U.S.
East Portland Sunday Parkways
Celebrate National Bike Month and open streets during the East Portland Sunday Parkways event presented by Kaiser Permanente. The East Portland 3.3-mile down-and-back route will feature Gateway Discovery Park, Ventura Park, and Lincoln Park. Start anywhere on the route and bike, walk, or roll as you explore the neighborhood greenways and other infrastructure, parks, and…
Portland Sunday Parkways
Sunday Parkways Presented by Kaiser Permanente, promotes healthy, active living through a series of free events opening the city's largest public space – its streets – to walk, bike, roll, and discover active transportation.
Rose Festival CityFair
Considered the "hub" of the annual Portland Rose Festival, CityFair fills Waterfront Park with carnival rides, concerts, food and fireworks for multiple weekends during the festival.
Holi Spring Festival at Topaz Farm
Join a spring harvest celebration and Bollywood and Bhangra dance party in the grass featuring DJ Anjali & the Incredible Kid, Anjali's Gulabi Gang Dancers and Gurpreet Dhillon's PDX Bhangra Dance Troup. The last two years of sold-out Holi Fests were so much fun. This is going to be another great party featuring music, dancing,…
Pedalpalooza
Portland's cycling culture peaks during summer's multi-week Pedalpalooza, featuring 200+ local-led, themed rides, all open to the public.
Starlight Run
Portland’s most popular fun run, the Starlight Run, is the wacky warm-up act for the CareOregon Starlight Parade is starting and finishing on Naito Parkway at Rose Festival CityFair. The 47th Annual Starlight Run will start at 6:30 p.m. The traditional costume contest will be held at 5:30 p.m. The route will follow the path…
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 2024 Season. The market's goal is to lower barriers to market participation for beginning and under-represented vendors and to strengthen connections within…
Bike Summer Kickoff Ride
This is the official ride that kicks off the festivities every year. Volunteers will be selling Bike Summer merch from 3:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. There will be a limited amount of pennants and stickers for sale at the park, as well as shirts for you to try on before you buy online. There will also…
Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn
With acts that have ranged from Phoebe Bridgers to Stevie Wonder, McMenamins Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn are an annual rite of summer and a hot ticket for cool nights.
Pride Ride
Join the ride at Director Park for National Bicycle Day. Poison Waters will be leading this family-friendly ride. All Wheels Welcome. Enjoy a stately (i.e., slow) parade of 1.5 fabulous miles that will ride past spots from Portland’s rich 2SLGBTQIA+ history. The parade will end at the Cart Blocks Food Cart Pod with a dance…
Kenton Farmers Market
The Kenton Farmers Market is located in the heart of the historic Kenton neighborhood in North Portland. Founded in 2012, the market’s live music and the festive street-fair atmosphere thrive in this growing business district. Proximity to a MAX station and easy access for bicyclists and those on foot make this market a lively and…
First Thursday in the Pearl District
Starting in 1986, First Thursday in the Pearl is a district-wide celebration on the first Thursday of each month. Originally a gathering of art collectors and dealers, the celebration has grown to a monthly event of over ten thousand people, including art enthusiasts, wine aficionados, and scenesters looking to see and be seen. Art galleries in…
Star Trek Ride
It's time to take the helm and shift gears to Warp 9. Explore strange new roads and seek out new pit stops and new destinations. Along the way, expect trivia, music, costumes, and prizes.
Portland Rose Festival Dragon Boat Races
The Rose Festival is proud to host the Portland Rose Festival Dragon Boat Races, an event that has been bringing an exciting Chinese tradition to Portland for more than two decades, beginning in 1989. Held on the Willamette River near the Hawthorne Bridge, the races feature exciting four-team heats held every nine minutes. More than…
Delta Park Powwow and Encampment
All are welcome and invited to the Annual Delta Park Powwow and Encampment at East Delta Park in Portland, Oregon. The event is a free and family-friendly celebration of Native American culture. The Delta Park Powwow and Encampment is an annual Portland tradition that draws Native American, and non-native participants and spectators from across the…
Water Lantern Festival
The Portland Water Lantern Festival brings people together to celebrate light and community. This unforgettable evening will be filled with tasty food trucks, fun music, activities, and thousands of lanterns lighting up the night with love, hope, and happiness. Use coupon code "ILLUMINATE5" for a $5 discount at checkout.
Northeast Cully Sunday Parkways
Celebrate Father’s Day and open streets during the NE Cully Portland Sunday Parkways event presented by Kaiser Permanente. The Northeast Cully 6.2-mile looped route rises significantly as one travels from north to south, stopping at Fernhill Park, Kʰunamokwst Park, Wellington Park, and Roseway Parkway. Start anywhere on the route and bike, walk, or roll as…
Festival of Balloons
The mesmerizing Festival of Balloons in Tigard brings more than a dozen brightly colored, colossal hot-air balloons to the sky every June.
Zoo Nights
Enjoy the magic of Portland summer nights with live music, food and festivities at the Oregon Zoo while relaxing among the lush gardens and wildlife at Zoo Nights.
Foster Summer Soiree
The 2024 Foster Summer Soiree will bring live entertainment and vendors to Laurelwood Park, special activations at several Foster businesses, sidewalk sales, and other festivities. This exciting event is back for its second year.
Rose Festival Royal Rosarians Milk Carton Boat Race
A classic Rose Festival event and family-friendly community tradition dating back to 1973, the Milk Carton Boat Race is a spectacle you won’t want to miss. Children and adults race and show off their handmade, human-powered boats that float only employing recycled milk cartons and jugs. Creatively constructed watercraft will compete in nine categories, with…
Bigfoot Adventure Cruise
Explore the history and lore of Bigfoot while traveling 80 miles (129 km) roundtrip on a high-speed jetboat from Portland to Multnomah Falls. See the landmarks along the Willamette and Columbia Rivers that make the Northwest famous while listening to exclusive narration by Cliff Barackman (star of Animal Planet‘s “Finding Bigfoot”) and a live tour…
Summer Free For All
Portland Parks & Recreation offers over 400 free events including free movie screenings, concerts and rock climbing.
Mississippi Street Fair
Bustling North Mississippi Avenue closes down for a day of food, vendors, music and fun at Portland's largest street fair, Mississippi Street Fair. This year the fair will have the following: Three Music Stages, Kids Zone, Grandfathers Rib-Off Competition, Hundreds Of Vendors, Shopping and Dining,
Montavilla Street Fair
Montavilla Street Fair will bring 120+ local arts, crafts, food and retail vendors, community organizations, live music and family activities to Historic Downtown Montavilla. Stroll down Stark Street and enjoy district businesses, a farmer’s market and family-friendly entertainment and activities. Vendors will be present at the event selling food and drink, art, handicrafts, and clothing…
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 a beautiful bunch…
St. Johns Art Walk
This neighborhood-wide event celebrates St. John's community, small businesses, local artists, food carts, and more. The art walk unites the artists living in the St. Johns area and showcases all the creative makers and fine artists in this unique community. The St. Johns Art Walk is an indoor and outdoor event in the St. Johns…
Bridge Pedal
Portland's annual Bridge Pedal is a community celebration of the city's iconic bridges and biking culture. Join your friends and neighbors for the one opportunity each year to bike or walk on Portland’s car-free streets and bridges (including the upper decks of both the Marquam and Fremont bridges). Portland’s Bridge Pedal is one of the largest…
Portland Adult Soapbox Derby
The PDX Adult Soapbox Derby at Mt. Tabor Park pits grown-up kids against each other every August in pursuit of speed and laughs.
Multnomah Days
This beloved annual event incorporates a one-day open-air, family-friendly street festival with scheduled musical acts, a community parade, an art fair and over 125 vendor booths, and food and beverage services available via outdoor street dining and food carts — plus outdoor street dining.
Kenton Street Fair
For over a decade, the Kenton neighborhood has hosted a lively street fair with multiple live music stages, 80+ vendors, food vendors and plenty of great businesses on the block. Join the Kenton neighborhood for food, music, crafts and fun.
Viking Beer Fest
Beer tastings meet Viking re-enactors and combat in this festival, featuring music, a Viking Ship, Nordic food, and more. Embark on a mesmerizing journey to the heart of Viking heritage at the 2023 Viking Beer Fest, where frothy brews and Nordic traditions meld into a singular, unforgettable experience. Revel in the exhilaration of last year's…
Hawthorne Street Fair
Visit one of Portland’s original “shop local” districts every August for the Hawthorne Street Fair. You can explore over 200 businesses while enjoying Vendors, Food, Music and Entertainment in a car-free zone from SE Cesar Chavez to SE 30th Avenue on Hawthorne. 2024 is the 41st Anniversary of the Hawthorne Street Fair. Enjoy great food, music and…
Art In The Pearl Fine Arts & Crafts Festival
Portland’s Art In The Pearl Fine Arts and Craft Festival celebrates 27 years of bringing art to the community. The distinctly artist-run event has long been a favorite in Portland, and it’s the perfect Labor Day destination to gather and celebrate the end of summer. Art In The Pearl is Portland’s largest outdoor art fair,…
Mt. Angel Oktoberfest
In the heart of Oregon's hop-growing region, Mount Angel's Oktoberfest brings 350,000 people to the Bavarian village every September. The Northwest's oldest and best-loved folk festival celebrates the fruits of the harvest with a nice focus on hops. German-style biers, Northwest craft brew favorites, lots of wine, and a bit of cider are served in…
Belmont Street Fair
The Belmont Street Fair is one of the largest-attended street fairs in Portland. With food and retail vendors of all kinds, show-stopping performances and live music on 3 different stages, and the first-ever Kids Zone, there are activities for all ages, the Belmont Street Fair is fun for everyone.
Southwest Portland Sunday Parkways
Celebrate World Car-Free Day and open streets during the SW Portland Sunday Parkways event presented by Kaiser Permanente. The Southwest Portland route will feature a 2-mile multi-modal route and a separate 1.5-mile walking route. Start anywhere on the route and bike, walk, or roll as you explore the neighborhood greenways and other infrastructure, parks, and…
Hood River Hops Fest
The Hood River Hops Fest returns for its 20th 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,…
West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta
This annual race series consists of paddlers piloting a gaggle of gigantic gourds through a watercourse.
Parks and Gardens
Known as "The City of Roses," Portland is home to over 275 public parks and gardens.
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