Portland’s Best Spots for Fall Color

Autumn is peak season to enjoy a stroll in these six leafy wonders.

Updated Oct. 13, 2021 2 min read

Tuck Woodstock

Tuck Woodstock wrote and edited content for Travel Portland from 2014–2020. Read More

Autumnal beauty abounds in Portland, and there are plenty of prime places to revel in leaf-crunching relaxation. From rural Sauvie Island to downtown’s South Park Blocks, the historic Pittock Mansion to the exotic Japanese Garden, these destinations deliver fantastic fall colors on demand.

Hoyt Arboretum

Packed with 2,000 unique species of shrubs and trees, Hoyt Arboretum provides a local passport to a globe’s worth of leaf-peeping. Grab a map and look for Japanese maples, magnolias, holly, fir and much more as you wander down one of the park’s 21 trails.

Hoyt Arboretum has more species of shrubs and trees than any other arboretum in the country.

Pittock Mansion

Built over a century ago by Portland’s original newspaper tycoon, Pittock Mansion’s 46-acre plot showcases the Rose City’s natural beauty. Savor the elegant gardens’ last blooms, soak up panoramic views of the Cascade Range and explore miles of hiking trails leading from the grounds to Forest Park — itself a must-see for fans of falling leaves.

Pittock Mansion

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

Portland Japanese Garden

Tucked in Washington Park, high in the West Hills, the Japanese Garden is a standout in any season. But autumn is especially gorgeous thanks to fiery-hued Japanese maples woven among a curtain of native evergreens.

Sauvie Island

Only minutes from downtown Portland, Sauvie Island is a rural haven of farms, sandy beaches and wildlife refuges. Choose from an unmatched array of autumn harvest activities, from pumpkin picking to a haunted corn maze and enjoy a spectacular view of Forest Park’s fall colors.

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.

Cathedral Park

Once a fishing site for Indian tribes and legendary explorers Lewis and Clark, Cathedral Park still provides a tranquil refuge for visitors of all stripes. Photographers flock to the park in fall to frame autumn leaves juxtaposed with the gothic spires of the St. Johns Bridge.

South Park Blocks

Short on time? The arching canopy of the South Park Blocks provides a stately, leaf-strewn oasis in the heart of downtown. Stroll between Southwest Salmon and Jackson streets to marvel at an array of oaks, maples and ash trees towering above historic statues and public art.

Fall, Outdoors, Parks & Gardens