Trails

Forest Park has an impressive trail system, featuring 80+ miles of trails, firelanes and gravel roads serving 1 million people from the Portland metropolitan area. The expansive and varied terrain, marked by countless ridges and ravines, holds great appeal for hikers, runners, bicyclists, and equestrians. The abundance of native plants and wildlife draws a large number of nature photographers, birdwatchers and other naturalists to the park as well.

The Forest Park Conservancy takes primary responsibility for the maintenance and repair of all the soft surface/single track trails in Forest Park, while the City of Portland maintains the Firelanes and Lief Erickson Drive. If you'd like to help support our trail work in the park, click the "donate" button above, or click here to sign up as a volunteer!

Protecting, maintaining and enhancing Forest Park for the enjoyment of everyone for years to come is an ongoing challenge. Some of those challenges include:

  • Increased recreational pressure and extreme winter weather have taken their toll on the trail system. There is an on-going need to increase trail management efforts, to repair and improve existing trails and develop new trails as appropriate.
  • More public education is needed to prevent inappropriate Park uses such as allowing dogs off-leash, leaving pet or human waste in the Park, off-trail activity, and bicycling too fast or on hiking-only trails.
  • Invasive weeds, housing development, logging, and rock quarrying on lands adjacent to the Park are just a few of the threats to the Park's continued health and biodiversity.
  • The need to improve accessibility through existing park entrances, and to develop new ones.