[Posted June 18, 2021]
Submitted by Nan Wagner, SW Trails PDX
We successfully re-emerged from a 14-month pandemic hiatus in June and plan to continue our monthly 2nd and 3rd Saturday hikes and strolls while adhering to CDC recommendations.
2nd Saturday Hikes are usually 5-7 miles in length with elevation ups and downs at a 2-2.5 mph pace.
3rd Saturday Strolls and Coffee are a shorter 2-3 mile walk with gentler hills and bit slower pace at about 2.0 mph with an optional coffee stop at the end.
With both hikes an experienced guide will help you discover the hidden parks and secret cut-throughs that wind through Portland’s southwest neighborhoods.
If there is a trail in SW Portland that you love, SW Trails probably helped establish and maintain it. We are completely volunteer based. If you’d like to participate in trail work, get more information, donate or become a member visit swtrails.org or contact walks@swtrails.org.
Upcoming group hikes
July 10, SW Trails 2nd Saturday Hike
9:00am start, meet at Ida B Wells High School by the Hillsdale Food Park
Route: The route continues to River Walk via George Himes Park and Seymour Ct and covers approximately 5 miles with 870 ft. total elevation change
Please arrive 10-15 minutes early to get signed in so we can leave promptly, rain or shine. We will walk over to George Himes Park on SW Trail #3, a well-maintained dirt path heading east to the river, taking in the early summer sights as we go.
It is 1.4 miles down to the river where we will then walk north along the flat, paved river path for nearly a mile before heading back up. Going up we will use the Seymour Ct steps installed as a SWNI grant project in 2018 and built by SW Trails taking us up to Corbett Ave.
From there we will proceed to Slavin Rd (future route of the Red Electric Trail) to a fire lane path that connects us up to Barbur Blvd.
After crossing at the flash-controlled intersection, we wind our way up the dirt trail named Buhler Cutoff, another SW Trails and Portland Parks project. We arrive at the Terwilliger paved path and head south over to Cheltenham St and up to the Hillsdale library then finish back at the high school.
There are no official restroom breaks along this route, but we usually find a blue room along the way (no guarantees). Our pace for this hike is 2.0 to 2.5 miles per hour with the expectation that we will finish the hike a little bit before noon.
Our COVID protocols remain the same, bring your mask, use it as CDC recommends
July 17, SW Trails 3rd Saturday Stroll and Coffee
9:00am start, meet at Ida B. Wells High School near the Hillsdale Food Park
Route: Backside of Marquam Loop; 2.4 miles, 285 ft. elevation change
Our walk follows part of SW Trails #6 that leads us through a neighborhood where houses are nestled among some of Portland’s natural forest area. We will walk through the west side of Marquam Natural Area and up to a lovely view of downtown Portland before returning back to where we started. The walk is 2.4 miles long with an elevation change of 285 ft.
Please be aware that COVID safety protocols are in effect in compliance with state guidelines. Bring a snack, water, good footwear, sunglasses and dress for the weather. Kids and well-behaved dogs on leash are welcome. For health reasons, there is no smoking on SW Trails walks. For more information or to volunteer to lead a future walk in your neighborhood, contact us at walks@swtrails.org. Co-sponsored by SW Trails PDX and the Hillsdale Neighborhood Association.
Questions? Contact us at walks@swtrails.org