Portland's Powell Butte Nature Park Offers Families Scenic Hiking and Biking Trails

Powell Butte Nature Park offers over nine miles of well-marked and maintained trails and is perfect for kids of all ages. With a combination of paved, gravel and natural surfaces, this park has something to offer everyone, but be prepared for some hills! The paved and gravel trails allow you to create several types of loops and are ideal for stroller walking or jogging. Take the Mountain View trail up to the top of the butte for spectacular views of Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams and even Mt. Rainier on clear days. This paved trail is about 0.9 miles from the parking lot and offers a gradual, long switchback incline.

Bring a picnic lunch, hat, sunscreen and sunglasses and eat at the summit at the mountain finder, a structure that points out the visible summits and lists their elevations and distances. Most natural trails are single track and are best used for hiking, horse-back riding, baby carrying and biking. The natural trails involve some hills that dip down into shaded forest, bright green moss and carpets of ferns. If you’re not into some additional hill climbing, stick to the gravel and paved paths that wind around the summit. Some trails are not open to bikes and equestrians so take note of the trail markers which clearly indicate which trails are open to these activities. 

An entry gate and wide paved road at the main entrance winds partially up the butte and leads to three tiers of parking lots. These can get full on a sunny weekend so be prepared to potentially make some circles or consider parking in the neighborhoods near other trail access points. If you have a larger vehicle or trailer, parking can be found just before the three-tiered standard parking lots. There are two restrooms located in the visitor center at the main entrance with flushing toilets, running water and a dryer; however, they are only open when the visitor center is open, Wednesday through Sunday from 9am to 3pm. Make sure to bring soap or hand sanitizer and a travel changing pad. 

This park truly has something for everyone in the family. Take the older kids out on the mountain bike trails to get them ready for the longer rides in the future. Bundle your baby up in a carrier and let her observe the leaves and listen to the birds while you get a weighted hill workout. Take a picnic with your toddler and teach him about the several mountain peaks that can be seen during a clear day. Powell Butte truly offers the perfect nature escape without having to wander too far from home.