Portlands Best Parks

34 Reasons to Love Portland’s Parks

We crafted a list of parks in Portland to visit if you want to fly a kite, catch some views, spread out a picnic, ride a mountain bike and more!

05/06/2022 With Julia Silverman, Fiona McCann, and Margaret Seiler Illustrations by Anna Rogers

Camping

5 Places to Camp within an Hour of Portland

Pitch a tent at Milo McIver, rent a cabin at Stub Stewart, book a yurt at Champoeg—so many Oregon State Parks are close to the city.

05/06/2022 By Michelle Harris

Where to Live Now

Neighborhood Guide: Brentwood-Darlington

Home to religious cemeteries and standout food carts, the Southeast Portland neighborhood Brentwood-Darlington was annexed in 1986.

03/30/2022 By Margaret Seiler

Outdoors

Metro Debuts Two New Portland-Area Nature Parks

Newell Creek Canyon and Chehalem Ridge Nature Parks offer hiking and mountain biking trails.

12/23/2021 By Gabriel Granillo

Hiking

5 Post-Thanksgiving Hikes around Portland

Skip Black Friday this year and spend your morning at Forest Park, Mt Tabor, and elsewhere

11/23/2021 By Gabriel Granillo

Outdoors

Looking for a Quick Trip Outdoors? Don’t Sleep on Portland-Area Nature Parks

Explore nature and wildlife at Marquam, Powell Butte, Canemah Bluff, and more.

08/19/2021 By Gabriel Granillo

Summer Picks

Summer 2021 Picnic Guide

Bring chicken feet salad or a muffuletta for a pre-hike lunch or simply a lazy day on the grass.

07/20/2021 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Parks and Recreation

In Portland, Summer 2021 Will Include Public Pools

After closures in 2020, summer camps, splash pads, and pop-up concerts will also return.

02/18/2021 By Julia Silverman

Where to Live Now

Neighborhood Guide: Cully

Namesake pizza, textile heaven, and the coolest new public parks

01/29/2021 By Fiona McCann

Rocky Mountain High

Pandemic Travel: Montana’s Glacier National Park, as Packed as Ever

In Big Sky Country, things are more social than distanced.

12/15/2020 By Jason Notte

Eating Out

10 Places to Picnic in Portland Right Now

Make the most of the sunshine with these outdoor delights.

09/29/2020 By Ainslee Dicken With Fiona McCann

Cool for the Summer

A Volunteer-Built ‘Summer Park’ Sprouts in St. Johns

Hay bales, a movie screen, and a silent disco transform a gravel patch while it waits in construction limbo.

08/15/2020 By Margaret Seiler

Protest Geography

A Guide to the Buildings around the Main Portland Protests

Justice means jail, federal means fenced, and parks used to be single-sex.

07/23/2020 By Margaret Seiler

Outdoors

Here’s What You Need to Know about Outdoor Recreation during COVID-19

Should I wear a mask outside? Which trails should I avoid? Here’s our brief guide to outdoor etiquette in and around Portland.

07/10/2020 By Lauren Carlos, Gabriel Granillo, and Julia Silverman

Birds of a Feather

A New Study Aims to Learn the Impacts of Social Distancing on Birds in the Pacific Northwest

Join in on the citizen science project and reap the cathartic benefits of bird watching from your own backyard.

04/09/2020 By Gabriel Granillo

City Commission

Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish Dies at 61

The long-serving commissioner had announced his intention to resign just two days ago.

01/02/2020 By Fiona McCann

Pop-Up Pianos

This Organization Brings Rescued Pianos to the Streets of Portland

The orphaned instruments—which are tuned up and then decorated by artists—return for an eighth summer of impromptu, al fresco playing.

06/25/2019 By Shannon Henderson

Film Frenzy

9 Can't-Miss Portland Summer Movie Events

Whether you're looking for al fresco offerings or air-conditioned respite from the heat, here's where to soak up all the celluloid.

06/19/2019 By Brendan Nagle and Conner Reed

Insider's Guide 2019

75 Things Every Portlander Must Do

We tapped art aficionados, food fanatics, entrepreneurs, and outdoor enthusiasts for their picks of things every Portlander must do.

03/26/2019 Edited by Fiona McCann

Insider’s Guide 2019: Outside

An Expert Urban Hiker Shares the Portland Parks, Bridges, and Landmarks You Need to See

Laura O. Foster—author of eight Portland guidebooks—knows exactly where to go for the views.

03/26/2019 By Benjamin Tepler