Favorite Running and Walking Routes

Downtown Portland Area

These routes are used as Monday night group runs by the Nike Running Club:

• Portland Waterfront – North (.pdf)
• Portland Waterfront – South (.pdf)
• Terwilliger (.pdf)
• Esplanade Loop (Submitted by Dave Cook) (.pdf)
• East Esplanade Review by Julia Reisinger (.pdf)

Close-In SW, Portland

• Duniway Trail Terwilliger, Review by Julia Reisinger (.pdf)

Close-In NW, Portland

• Forest Park NW
  • Forest Park Running Maps
  • ForestParkReview by Julia Reisinger (.pdf)
• Hoyt Arboretum NW
• Rock Creek Review by Julia Reisinger (.pdf)

Close-In SE, Portland

• Springwater Corridor SE
  Springwater Corridor Review by Julia Reisinger (.pdf)
• Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge SE
• Smith and Bybee Natural Wetlands Area SE

Outer Areas SE

Mary S. Young Park, West Linn
Glendoveer Golf Course SE
There is a two-mile bark chip trail around Glendoveer Golf Course at NE 148 & Halsey. It is marked every quarter mile (except the half mile mark in the forest). It is not flat, but it is fun. Depart the parking area at 148/Halsey and counter clockwise to the 3/4 mile mark. Turn around and pass through the start area, then continue clockwise to the next 3/4 mile mark and return. This gives you a little flat, a slight uphill, a slight downhill, a little more flat, a good burning uphill, some flat through a forest, and once you turn around, a blitzing downhill for the finish!

There are many modifications of this, even 5 times around for a ten-miler. There is a porta potty and a drinking fountain there. It is very walker and runner friendly, and easy on the feet. Be careful of the squirrels, though!

• PilotButte Review by Julia Reisinger (.pdf)
• Phils Trail Review by Julia Reisinger (.pdf)
• Ruth Bascom-Review by Julia Reisinger (.pdf)
• Amazon Trail-Review by Julia Reisinger (.pdf)
• Pre’s Trail-Review by Julia Reissinger (.pdf)

Outer Areas NW

• Banks Vernonia Trail-Review by Julia Reisinger (.pdf)

Outer Areas NE

There is a paved multi-use trail adjacent to the Troutdale Airport along with some shorter dirt trails that all border the Sandy River.  It is about  2 miles, but a runner can  extend the run to Sundial Road or even Marine Drive and return on the road next to the airport.  I like this run because there is very little traffic.

The Sandy River Delta Park is nearby, off route 84 exit 18 and has various dirt trails to make as many loops as you want.  There is a rest room there and plenty of parking.

These are good if you need some flat runs.  Avoid them if there is an east wind!   Submitted by Eileen Holzman

Other Resources

• Trail Running in Portland (.pdf)
• More trail runs via Portland Running Company
• Rip City Runners
• “Volcano” Running
• Trail Factor Running
• Portland Marathon Training Club
• ORRC facebook page
• Run Oregon blog
• Rainshadow Running
  (based in northwestern Washington, but they have a few further south – these races typically sell out in days, so be on the lookout for when registrations open
• Run Wild Adventures Trail running based in Salem.