Powell Butte Nature Park
Powell Butte Nature Park is an amazing place to hike, bike, run and enjoy the outdoors. This 611-acre extinct volcanic cinder cone in outer East Portland has an incredible system of trails amongst scenic vistas.
From the Visitor Center, a paved universal access trail leads to a Mountain View Trail that loops around the summit of Powell Butte. Keep left onto gravel Pipeline Lane as it passes below buried 50 million-gallon reservoirs. You’ll be glad you read this!
Hiking Trails
Powell Butte Nature Park is situated on an extinct cinder cone volcano, the terrain is mostly made up of open meadows and forests. This makes it a pawfect place for hiking with your pup!
From the parking lot by the visitor center, you can walk on one of the main trails that switch back up to a panoramic viewpoint. There are a total of seven trails in the park including a paved universal access trail that is wheelchair friendly. The Mountain View Trail, Summit Lane, and other trail options explore more of the mountaintop and are paved and unpaved.
From the Mountain View trail, you can turn around and hike down a meadow to the paved Trail of the Wildflowers which is covered with lupine flowers in late April and early May. Other trails take you into coniferous woods of Douglas fir, big-leaf maple, Oregon white oak, western hemlock, and the stately groves of Cedar Grove. All trails are shared with other park visitors, mainly mountain bikes and horseback riders. Hikers are asked to yield to other park users but always use your best judgment.
Equestrian Trails
The park has a lot to offer equestrians. Several trails provide varied terrain, including smooth singletrack and wide multi-purpose trail. Riders should be mindful that the trails are shared with hikers and follow trail etiquette to yield to the other users.
Hikers and equestrians alike love this unique nature park with abundant wildlife, a lava flow, and historic sites within an extinct cinder cone volcano. The park’s 611 acres also support a diversity of habitat types, including open meadow, mature Douglas fir forest, and oak savanna.
The park is located on the east edge of Portland and is accessible by public transit via TriMet bus #9 or bus 74 to SE 162nd Ave at Powell Blvd. Park in the visitor center parking lot (please note that vehicle access is restricted to seasonal hours at the entry gate). Parking for horse trailers is available in a separate lot. The park is closed during freezing temperatures. Browse around this site to check more places to visit.
Birding Trails
Powell Butte Nature Park is one of Portland’s best birding hotspots. The extinct cinder cone volcano’s slopes host forest and grassland habitat, and its diverse ecosystem attracts over 150 species of birds. This is also a prime location to see hawks and eagles.
The park is easily accessible from the road at 162nd Avenue, or via TriMet bus #9 or 74. From there, walk uphill a half mile to reach the parking lot and new visitor center.
From there, you can start on the Mountain View Trail or Summit Lane. Both trails will offer you panoramic views of the surrounding area and, on clear days, even Mount St. Helens to the north. You will also traverse large meadows of thistle and lupine where you can often find wildflowers in late spring. The meadows are utterly tranquil and the perfect spot to observe common wildlife like groundhogs, rabbits, and raccoons. This is a pet-friendly park as long as they are leashed.
Visitor Center
If you want to learn more about the flora and fauna that inhabit Powell Butte Nature Park, be sure to visit the visitor center. The center offers a number of amenities, including a self-guided nature trail and picnic areas with playgrounds for children. The park also features hiking trails that offer scenic views of Gresham and the Portland city center.
The main entrance to the park is located at 162nd Ave and Powell Boulevard and is easily accessed by car. Once inside the parking lot, there is a three-tiered structure with adequate spaces. The park is open all year, and dogs are allowed if they are on a leash.
From the parking lot, hikers can start on the paved Mountain View Trail or take the unpaved Summit Lane to explore more of the mountaintop. The trails are suitable for all abilities, and both offer great views of Mount Saint Helens and Mount Hood. Hikers should be aware that the trail can get crowded with runners and dog walkers, so they might want to hike the trails early in the morning or at night to avoid crowds. Click here for more interesting articles.
Driving directions from Rise and Shine Cleaning Service to Powell Butte Nature Park
Driving directions from Powell Butte Nature Park to Happy Valley Nature Park
