Portland Forest Hikes: Twenty Close-In Wilderness Walks

Here are 20 wilderness hikes within 20 miles of downtown Portland, Oregon, less than a half hour's ride from the city. The proximity and beauty of the labyrinthine networks of trails, fire lanes, and logging roads will surprise even those hikers who are familiar with the region's legendary natural areas.

With this pocket-sized companion, walkers of all ages and levels will find it easy to escape to the woods, slip down a hidden trail, and emerge on a wide vista with soaring eagles overhead. Hike descriptions capture the allure of each adventure, with essential information about location, bus access, basic conditions, length, and grade, as well as easy-to-read topographical maps and flora, fauna, geology, and local history. Half the trails explore little-known wooded hillsides along the Tualatin Mountains in Forest Park. Other trails venture north into rarely described prime Oregon hiking country that is nearly as close to Portland. There are short walks suitable for kids, like the McCarthy Creek Loop, and rugged routes like the Fire Lane 12 loop with its spectacular views of mountain peaks and rivers.

A devoted advocate for Portland's wilderness areas, James D. Thayer has surveyed the Tualatin Hills from Forest Park to Scappoose and halfway to Vernonia — on foot.

Here are twenty wilderness hikes within twenty miles of downtown Portland, Oregon, less than a half hour's ride from the city. Adventurers at all skill levels will be surprised by the remoteness and remarkable beauty of these easy woodland escapes. This pocket-sized companion includes maps, bus access, basic conditions, flora, fauna, and local history. Choose the shorter walks for kids or rugged routes for the ambitious. Half the trails explore lesser-known wooded hillsides in Forest Park. Others venture farther north into rarely described prime Oregon hiking country in the Tualatin Mountains for the thrill of the wild at the city's back door.