Parks with Trees Around PDX

I have found that there are a few genres of parks, these following parks are some of my favorite “tree parks”. Now to be fair, most of the parks around Portland are shrouded in forestry and that is one of the best things about Portland, urban forestry literally everywhere but there are some parks that also offer small hikes and networks of trails. I love this for me and all of my fellow mom/dad/parent patrons. 

1. Mt Tabor

I am pretty partial to Mt Tabor because it fills a large nostalgia yearning for me. When I lived in Portland in my 20’s I would run the stairs and train with my friends and roommates here. I also caught up with a few college friends a couple of times and did a different style of yoga that I can't remember with a coworker nearby. I only have fond memories of Mt Tabor, which obviously isn't a reason for you to like Mt Tabor but I promise it's a beautiful, wonderful space, outside of just being really cool since it is a volcanic cinder cone. I really don’t know what that means even after reading a bit more about it but it seems neat.

Why we LOVE it:

• The STAIRS! Mostly I just love a good staircase and Mt Tabor has a million stairs lol. People run them all the time or walk them and workout on them daily. I had fun walking to the top with the kids, talk about wearing them out! There are 282 steps for your exercising pleasure! A real dream come true if you ask me. By default because this was the entrance I remembered, we ended up walking all the way up the 282 stairs thinking the playground was at the top. The playground is in fact not at the top BUT conveniently located just a ways down to the left. If you get turned around you can go one case down to the road and go left to run into the playground.

• You can walk to the top or drive to the parking lot/visitor center located near the bathrooms and the playground. 

• The playground is modest but has great visibility so I can watch both kids play in different areas. Angus really enjoys the slide and main playground but it's a tiny bit more challenging for Marigold, she's not a fan of the bridge, a bit too wobbly. All three slides are doable for both kids and every kid I have seen there loves the tractor structure and the faux merry go-round. 

• There are swings but for whatever reason the kids are never very interested, they would rather go down the slides or play in the tractor. 

• There is not a lot of car traffic, though there are lots of pedestrians and located in the middle of multiple giant, beautiful trees. It is a very peaceful park with restrooms nearby.

Overall we rate this park another 9/10 only because unlike a park like Spring Garden, there isn’t a lot of extra open space to explore. It is a smaller, more intimate park, which has its own perks but with the energy of my kid, more open areas does us good. I parked near the bathrooms and visitor center last time, putting us right near the playground. I prefer to park on the street off of SE Salmon Way and SE 69th so that I am right at the base of the stairs. I highly recommend doing the stairs, taking in the view and then going down to the playground. You just walk from the top staircase down one flight and to the path on the left. It takes you immediately to the playground. You can see it right away. There is also so much more to explore, the cone is cone shaped after all. Next time I plan to take the kids to the dam. 

2. Marshall Park

Why we LOVE it:

• A short hike to the park! Honestly, the park/playground itself is kind of awkward, a little big for the smaller kids but mostly it just wasn’t as interesting to the kids as the stream that runs by it.

• They sat and played in the water for an hour. Just throwing rocks, exploring what floats and what sinks and looking for mushrooms. 

• Parking was your traditional, park off the side of the road at trail head, parking and worked out fine for us though a bit stressful unloading and loading the kids with traffic so close. There is a roundabout entrance at the park itself but I was not able to find it on our first trip there. I think you take a left at SW 18th instead of a right but honestly it worked out better for us to go to the trail head on SW 18th because we were then able to do the small hike in. We went left at the trail head over the big bridge and then stayed right and right at the fork to head towards the playground. I didn’t set my watch but I think it's roughly .25 miles in maybe a little more. I also am pretty sure this is a loop but haven't done much research because I am excited to do more exploring with the kids.

• There is a traditional port-a-potty at the playground and lots of picnic tables.

• The playground, though aimed for older kids, was beautifully curated with lots of beautiful mosaics in the surrounding rocks, which just felt nice. 

Overall we rate this park a 9/10 because we went, and will go in the future, more for the hike than for the convenience and comfort of a park. This is definitely more of a hike/exploring trip though the path is simple and straight forward the kids were in full rain gear and boots so as to comfortably play in the mud and water. I am sure the summer is beautiful here and cannot wait! The trail was perfect for the kids to run freely and the multiple bridges added a fun element, we are in Bridge City after all. We love Marshall Park and highly recommend it!

3. Pier Park

Why we LIKE it:

• Another beautiful park with forested paths/trails! Pier Park like a lot of St John’s is mostly beautiful and pleasant and can also be a bit sketchy depending on the time of day. Mornings are best at Pier Park.

• We love all the trails, it’s roughly 1 ½ around the park not including the skate park. The trees are giant and beautiful. Park workers are often maintaining the trail and outside of some dog poop here and there it's a wonderful space!

• It’s also a disc golf and dog park so there are lots of fun and friendly people present at most times. Again, we enjoy the park the most in the morning.

• Rolling hills, beautiful trees and a modest playground. The blue swing for littles has awkwardly small leg holes and the kids don’t play much on any one structure other than the giant slide, monkey bars and swings, sometimes the spinny things, so in terms of a “good playground” it is fine. We go more for the experience of going, to look at the trains and and often play at the dinosaur structure at the bottom of the playground.

• The best part about this park is that it is set in so the kids can literally run free and it is not a safety issue. 

• You can walk up the path to the bridge that is right before the dog park to snack and watch the trains. 10/10

• There is a parking lot near the skatepark and one of the nearer, nicer port-a-pots right as you enter the park. If you park in the parking lot and are looking out to the park, the path to the left takes you to the bridge and train near the dog park and the path to the right takes you to the playground. 

• We weren’t able to explore the community swimming pool yet but are excited for summer when it opens again. 

Overall we rate this park 8/10 because sometimes it is a bit sketch and the playground itself isn’t life changing. With that said! Pier Park is a wonderful park for exploring without the stress of your kid getting lost or being too close to cars. This simple park has its place and makes for a fun open space to explore. It’s a wonderful park to run (like for adults too) and a huge plus to go snack and watch the trains in a safe environment. Plus when it has rained, it is great for the kids to splash around.

4. Washington Park

Why we LIKE it:

• Beautiful BIG park that looks like a castle located near the Rose Garden and the Japanese Garden.

• I really loved this park because it is easy to keep an eye on both kids, there are enough swings for multiple kids, which if you know you know, and it was a pretty big space and structure that the kids had lots of fun just running around. 

• There are multiple slides for all age groups, a bathroom located nearby and it is set in enough so as not to worry about traffic going by.  

• You do have to pay to park, which was my biggest knock for this park but at the end of the day it is what it is. Street parking is just on the right side of the street and you pay via parking kitty app.

• There are lots of trails nearby that I wasn’t able to convince Angus to explore yet but I am hopeful we will in the future. 

•  There is also a fun sand pit with an elephant sculpture to climb on.

Overall we rate this park a 8/10 because though large, there isn’t a lot of open space or a field like at Spring Garden, which I really prefer so that the kids can really run free with lots of visibility. The bathroom is fine but a ways down from the playground itself so everyone has to go if you're going, and ultimately I am just not stoked on paying for parking for a playground. BUT! This is located in such close proximity to the Rose Garden that that added a plus for us. Running around the amphitheater, playing on the stage and going up and down all the stairs (we know how I feel about stairs) was a lot of fun for the kids with a beautiful view of the city.