Moon: Take a Hike Portland: Hikes within Two Hours of the City

Portland and its surroundings are home to some of the most spectacular scenery in the West - it is a hiker's paradise. Because of the abundance of unrivaled scenery around the city, hiking in Portland is more than just a trek around the town. Outdoor expert and Portlandite Barbara I. Bond shows you the best hikes in and around Portland. All hikes within the guide take less than 2 hours to reach by car, with details on public transportation options and clear directions on how to reach the trailhead. Theresa has compiled lists of her favorite hikes including:

Best For Hiking With Children

Best Waterfall Hikes

Best Wildflower Hikes

Best Bird Watching Hikes

Best Butt-Kickers

Best Views

Let Barbara show you all the worthwhile hikes, from short, flat routes suitable for families to day-long, steep treks for more advanced hikes. Each hike profile contains practical information including point-by-point trail navigation, contact information, facilities, fees, parking instructions, and an easy-to-use map for each trail. From the 70-miles of trails in Forest Park, through the alpine meadows of the Cascades, up to the highest peak of Mt. Hood, your trip begins with Moon Take a Hike Portland.

Barbara I. Bond discovered a love of the outdoors at an early age. Growing up in Californias San Francisco Bay Area, she camped, backpacked, and hiked in the Sierra Nevada and Santa Cruz Mountains. She has continued exploring the outdoors on trips to Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, mountain hiking trips in France, Italy, and Switzerland, and hiking in Peru. Barbara has explored Oregon extensively, and hiked and climbed in Washington, Idaho, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

Barbara served in the US Navy and worked as a deputy sheriff before receiving a degree in Biology and Chemistry from San Jose State University. She also attended graduate school at University of Texas Southwestern before moving to Portland, Oregon and discovering the beautiful Pacific Northwest. After joining Mazamas, a non-profit mountaineering organization established in 1894, Barbara used her love of the outdoors to expand her career as a freelance writer and photographer.

In addition to hiking, climbing, and backpacking, Barbara enjoys an extremely active lifestyle that includes long-distance running, biking, skiing, and kayaking. Barbara has taught rock climbing in the Catlin Gabel School Outdoor Program and volunteered with other organizations such as the American Lung Association's Reach the Summit program. Barbara enjoys sharing her enthusiasm for outdoor activities and if she is not spending time with her family, she can usually be found outside on a trail with friends.

Barbara is the author of 75 Scrambles in Oregon, and has written for several publications including The Oregonian, Backpacker, Walk About, and Outdoors NW. Her photographs have been shown in the Portland area and in ads for the Campaign for Americas Wilderness in Time, Newsweek, and US News and World Report.