Friday Five: Local Hikes Under 5 Miles

5. Council Crest Hike

3.3 miles round trip | No permit required to hike

Located in NW Portland

Climb to the top of Council Crest you’ll be rewarded with views of Portland and a moderate workout. You can find the Marquam Nature Park Shelter Trailhead at the junction of Terwilliger Boulevard and Sam Jackson Park Road. You’ll see a square outdoor shelter at the trailhead. Take off to the left, then turn right where the signs direct you to Council Crest.

Climb up a trail that crosses streets, switches back, and will get your heart pumping. A portion of the trail heads through neighborhood streets, where you can check out rows of large houses. Watch out at some of the street crossings, as not all have crosswalks. Finish out the hike with a steep trek up the last portion of the trail to the crest of the hill, where you can pat yourself on the back for a climb well done. If the weather’s clear, you’ll be able to take in far off mountain tops as well as a top-down city street view.

Council Crest is also reachable by car, as the summit road goes all the way to the top, but climbing 820 feet up isn’t quite as rewarding on four wheels! The park closes to vehicles at 9 PM but is otherwise open until from 5 AM until midnight.