PORTLAND, Ore. — This week's "Let's Get Out There" takes us to the Wildwood Trail in Portland's Forest Park. Did you know there are many ways to get to the trail and over 30 miles to explore?
Tucked away in Portland’s Forest Park is the Wildwood Trail. It’s by no means a secret, but it’s a hidden gem right next door to busy city streets.
“It's sort of like a… what do you call it on the computer?” asked Lyn Neeley of North Portland. “A reboot! It’s a reboot for me, it really is.”
There are many places to pick up the trail, but we started at the Newberry Road end in Northwest Portland near Linnton. It’s technically a trailhead, but the parking is limited to the road’s shoulder, and there are only a few spots, so get there early.
The entire Wildwood Trail stretches over 30 miles and gains a total 3,300 feet of elevation. It’s the longest soft-surface trail within a city’s limits in the country. If you keep a solid pace, you could complete the whole thing in a day.
Neeley loves coming out here with her dogs just about every day.
“It's just the sound of the creek it's cool, you know?” she said. “It’s just a nice environment."
The other end of the trail is at the Washington Park MAX station near the Oregon Zoo. There are many things to see including the Stone House (or Witch’s Castle), the Bird Alliance of Oregon (formerly Portland Audubon), and the Pittock Mansion.
No matter how far you travel, make sure you’re prepared with enough food, water, and navigation as there are sections where cell service is unreliable. If your idea of a great day is to unplug and recharge, enjoy this hidden gem in the heart of the city.
“It's really a break in the day, and it keeps your mood high," Neeley smiled. "Physical activity and all that.”
"Let's Get Out There" airs once a week on KGW's 4 p.m. newscast and "The Good Stuff," which airs Monday-Thursday at 7 p.m. We're including viewer photos for this series. You can text your photos to 503-226-5088 or post them on the KGW Facebook page.