Trail difficulty
Green
Elevation Gain
655.00 ft (199.64 m)
Trail type
There-and-back
Distance
22.60 mi (36.37 km)
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Looking for a location close to downtown Portland for an afternoon or after-work ride? Leif Erikson Drive is just a few miles from Portland's downtown and provides a 22.6-mile there-and-back ride along a wide and maintained path.

Starting from NW Thurman Street just on the outskirts of the Historic Northwest District, the ride is scenic from the beginning. Houses with unique architecture line Thurman Street, which abruptly ends and leaves you surrounded by the lush Forest Park terrain. From here the path winds around steep hills while remaining wide and flat for the entire ride. On a clear day, you can look out through clearings along the trail to see Mount St. Helens and Mount Hood rising above the Portland skyline. For a rainy-day ride, the dense trees of Forest Park provide a bit of shelter from the elements.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

Moderate

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Riding close to Portland Metro. Great views. Nearby amenities.

Cons

Pedestrians (often with dogs) can be on the trail in significant numbers.

Pets allowed

Allowed

Trailhead Elevation

95.00 ft (28.96 m)

Features

Historically significant
Bird watching
Wildlife
Big vistas
Wildflowers

Suitable for

Hiking

Location

Comments

07/23/2016
We did the 2.7 mile loop
Leif Erikson Dr. ➡ Wild Cherry Trail ➡ Wildwood Trail ➡ Dogwood Trail ➡ Leif Erikson Dr. Perfect kid hike.
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