Search 
Tuck Woodstock
Tuck Woodstock wrote and edited content for Travel Portland from 2014–2020. Read More
Winter Walks in Portland
Grab a coat and take a stroll through one of the city's many walkable parks.
Tuck Woodstock
Tuck Woodstock wrote and edited content for Travel Portland from 2014–2020. Read More
Not everybody wants to try hiking up a mountain in the middle of winter, and we don’t blame you! Luckily, Portland offers plenty of ways to stretch your legs without crampons or ice axes — or even muddied boots. Bundle up and take one of these winter walks, then warm up with a cozy cup of coffee or tea.
Laurelhurst Park
The Walk
Located in the heart of Portland’s east side, 31-acre (13-hectare) Laurelhurst Park has plenty to offer in any weather. Circle the park on paved pathways, passing horseshoe pits, picnic tables and basketball, tennis, volleyball and soccer courts. Kids can explore the play equipment (if it’s not too slippery) and dogs can run in an off-leash area. When everyone needs a rest, sit by the spring-fed pond in the middle of the park to spot catfish, carp, ducks and turtles swimming in the water.
The Warm-Up
Walk a few blocks west on Stark Street to Oblique Coffee Roasters, a funky coffee shop set in a green Victorian mercantile building that dates back to 1891.
Hoyt Arboretum
The Walk
Home to 2,000 species of trees and shrubs, 189-acre (76-hectare) Hoyt Arboretum is entertaining and educational any time of year. Visitors can expect to see blooming yellow, pink and purple flowers in the Winter Garden, as well as colorful dogwood and witch hazel in the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Portions of the park are even ADA accessible, and the paved paths are a boon to all when the weather’s wet.
The Warm-Up
Head to Northwest Portland’s Portal Tea Company for one of over 100 hand-blended teas or steaming chai made from scratch.
Portland Parks
Find nature in these green spaces around Portland.
Bird Alliance of Oregon (formerly Portland Audubon)
The Bird Alliance of Oregon (formerly Portland Audubon) is a great starting place for hiking Forest Park and (of course) bird-watching.
Laurelhurst Park
Just north of Portland’s Belmont neighborhood sits Laurelhurst Park, one of the city’s most scenic escapes with over 300 trees, a duck pond and an array of free public events.
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
The Walk
Beat the winter chill by hiking to the top of Mt. Tabor, a volcanic cinder cone in the middle of Southeast Portland. Choose between dirt trails and paved paths as you climb your way past towering evergreens, basketball and tennis courts, a large playground and a series of gleaming open reservoirs. At the top of this extinct volcano, you’ll find breathtaking views of the city, plus a statue of Harvey W. Scott, who was editor of The Oregonian in the late 1800s.
The Warm-Up
The original Stumptown Coffee Roasters location is located less than a mile down Southeast Division Street.
Irving Park
The Walk
Memorialized in two local novels (Mitchell S. Jackson’s The Residue Years and Heidi W. Durrow’s The Girl Who Fell from the Sky), Irving Park remains a popular neighborhood destination for Northeast Portlanders. The 16-acre (6.5-hectare) park features a series of tree-lined paved paths that loop past play structures, baseball diamonds and soccer fields. Burn off any extra energy in the covered basketball court, or head to the center of the park to meet a few four-legged friends in the unfenced off-leash dog area.
The Warm-Up
Cross the street to unpretentious Caffe Destino, or travel a few blocks north to hip Extracto Coffee on Northeast Prescott Street.
South Park Blocks
The Walk
You don’t need to leave downtown Portland to enjoy a little nature time. Simply stroll down the South Park Blocks, the leafy stretch of Southeast Park Avenue from Salmon Street to Jackson Street. In addition to trees and other greenery, each block is complete with its own artwork, including bronze statues and limestone sculptures.
The Warm-Up
Pop into one of the cafés that dot the park blocks, or enjoy Japanese snacks and matcha tea at Behind the Museum Café, tucked behind the Portland Art Museum.
Walking Around Portland
Explore Portland with these trails and tours.
Soft Hiking in Portland
A collection of accessible soft hikes perfect for leisurely strolls, low-impact exercise and lots of meandering dilly-dallying.
4T Trail
The 4T trail is a self-guided tour that lets you explore the city — and see some of the best views — without a car.
Portland Walking Tours
These tours let you experience a street-level view of supremely walkable Portland.
Was this page helpful?