SWTrails Portland

3rd Saturday Walk, 5/15, 9-12
Name: Marshall and Tryon Parks HI-LO Link
Leader: Bonnie Birch, Deb Small
Start Location: SW 18th St. Parking Lot
Start Time: 9 am (arrive15 min. early so we can start promptly at 9am)
Distance: 3.6 miles
Elevation Change: less than 100 ft.
Average Pace: 2 mph
Bus Information: Due to schedule changes, check Tri Met for bus information
Special Notes: The route may have damp spots and certainly has roots, rocks, etc. Walking sticks are recommended for those that need them.

We will meet in the small parking lot on 18th Pl., which is south of Taylor’s Ferry Rd. If the lot is full, there is street parking on Collins Ct., just south of the park entrance on the other side of the road.

This out-and-back trek will continue our exploration of the new HI-LO Trail that we did last month. It will take us on the portion that connects Marshall Park to Tryon Creek State Park. We’ll walk through idyllic Marshall Park, past the playground and over the stone bridge.

Bring a snack, water, good footwear, and dress appropriately for the weather (raingear? sunglasses?). Note that smoking on our walks is not permitted for health reasons. Kids and well-behaved pets on leash are welcome. Restrooms are at times hard to come by but we will try and find one along the way. Check the weather before you walk. Right now rain is predicted for Saturday and cooler than it has been

Come find us at our booth at SW Sunday Parkways this Sunday, 11-4, at the top end of Spring Garden Park!

There will be an option for a self-guided walk and Tyler is offering a trail run at 3 pm.

Sunday Parkways Loop Run
Date: May 17 @ 3 pm
Starting Point: SW Trails Vendor Booth located at the top (South End) of Spring Garden Park
Pace: ~10 min/mile (estimated ~40 minutes)
Distance: 3.9 miles

SWTrails 2nd Saturday Hike, May 9th, 9am to Noon.
River Front Wander with Tilikum Bridge (new route)
Meet at 5221 S Corbett Ave, Portland, OR 97239, Elephants Deli out front

Name: 2nd Saturday Hike - River Front Wander with Tilikum Bridge over and back and more...
Leader: Dave Manville

Start Location: Meet at 5221 S Corbett Ave, Portland, OR 97239, Elephants Deli out front. The parking in this area is sketchy; I suggest carpooling if you can. There is on street parking on several of the side streets a block or so away from the Elephants Deli on Corbett. Do not use the deli parking.

Start Time: 9 am (arrive 10-15 minutes early so we can start promptly at 9am)

Distance: 6.3 miles
Elevation Change: 300 ft.
Pace: 2.5 mph avg (our faster paced hike)
Bus Service: give a call if you need transportation

Hi hikers. Our regular 2nd Saturday hike this month will be a new route that takes us to some places we have not been in a while. We will start at the Elephants Deli on Corbett and make our way down to the Willamette River trail heading north then cross the Tilikum Crossing Bridge and return and head further north down past the Poets Beach and to the River Place Marina and Shops. On the way back we will take the Gibbs Street Pedestrian Bridge and wander our way back to the Deli.
Join us! and remember this is our longer and faster paced 2.5 mph average speed hike with usually more than 6-mile distance and some moderate elevation change.

Bring a snack, water, good footwear, and dress appropriately for the weather (raingear? gloves? sunglasses? sunscreen? many layers?). Note that smoking on our hikes and walks is not permitted for health reasons. Kids are welcome and well-behaved pets on leash are welcome also. We always try and find restrooms along the way on these hikes, but sometimes it is several miles to find one so prepare accordingly.

Work Party with Portland Parks & Rec, Thursday, May 7th, 9-12
Help us help the trails for our regular 1st Thursday Work Party at Dickinson Park (10555 SW 55th Ave, Portland OR 97219). This month we are working on SW Trail #5 at the South end of Dickinson Park. We will be reforming and cleaning some trail drains, armor the trail surface, get out some weeds. Possibly we will work also up by the playground on the new trail placed earlier in the year. This is the normal Spring work getting trails in shape for lots of walkers and hikers as the weather warms up. Our partners and leaders for these work parties are Portland Parks and Recreation Natural Area Stewardship.

We will meet near the playground on SW 55th, parking is limited so park at a diagonal in that small area. The big white Portland Parks truck will mark our gathering spot.

If you plan to join in the fun, give me a heads up via text (503-753-8186) with your name and „I Will Be There“, I can then pass a head count to our Parks leaders. It is also OK to just show up on the workday. Please be at least 15 minutes early (8:45AM) to our work parties to get signed in and be ready to go.
As always, our work is guided by the Portland Parks Natural Area Stewardship folks. Parks will bring all the tools, gloves, and materials we need, and also, possibly, coffee, snacks and water. On these work parties it is not necessary to stay for the whole event, and you can work at whatever level your skill and energy allow. It is just great to meet the neighbors and get in a little trail work exercise.

When you join us, please wear work clothing, sturdy closed toe shoes, long pants, long sleeved shirts. It is the Pacific Northwest who knows what weather we will get but several layers are always a good idea. If you like, bring your own water and snacks. We may walk up to a 1/2 mile out and back to our work location, but usually it is much less.

SWTrails Early Morning Urban Trail Run, May 6, 2026
Meet at SW Salmon and 20th

Name: Timbers Half-Time Run
Leader: Tyler Weber
Start Location: SW Salmon and 20th
Start Time: 5:45am (arrive 10-15 min. early so we can start promptly at 5:45am)
Distance: 6.5 miles
Elevation Change: Approx. 1175ft.
Average Pace: ~10 min/mile
Bus Information: Check TriMet for bus information

Come join us for an early morning run to start your day. Daylight is now beginning, but lights/reflective clothing is still a good idea.

We will start at the corner of SW Salmon and 20th and will run through the Goose Hollow, Southwest Hills, Sylvan-Highlands, and Arlington Heights neigborhoods.

Wear running-appropriate shoes and bring water and a snack as needed.

Hope to see you there.
Tyler

20 hikers joined us on this beautiful day for a hike through Marshall Park

3rd Saturday Walk - April 18th, 9-12

Name: ‘Scht Wiwnu Park, HI-LO Trail Loop (pronounced “Ish-chit Way-el-noo”)
Leader: Deb Small
Start Location: Street Parking on Capital Hill Rd
Start Time: 9 am (arrive 10-15 min. early so we can start promptly at 9am)
Distance: 3.05 miles
Elevation Change: 525 ft.
Average Pace: 2 mph
Bus Information: Due to schedule changes, check Tri Met for bus information
Special Notes: We will be walking the trails. Bring walking sticks if needed.

We will meet near the park sign on Capital Hill Rd. Please arrive by 8:45am to start at 9:00am.

We will be walking along part of the new HI-LO trail through Marshall Park, then loop around to Marigold HydroPark before heading back to where we started.

Bring a snack, water, good footwear, and dress appropriately for the weather (raingear? sunglasses?). Note that smoking on our walks is not permitted for health reasons. Kids and well-behaved pets on leash are welcome. Restrooms are at times hard to come by but we will try and find one along the way. Check the weather before you walk. Right now it is saying cloudy but fairly warm (50 deg.)

2nd Saturday Hike, 4/11, 9-12
Name: Barbur Transit Center to Maricara - Marshall and Woods Park
Leader: Dave Manville
Start Location: Meet at the Barbur Transit Center 9660 SW Barbur Blvd, Portland, OR 97219 Park in the back by the Overpass/
Start Time: 9 am (arrive 10-15 minutes early so we can start promptly at 9am)
Distance: 6.6 miles
Elevation Change: 700 ft.
Pace: 2.5 mph avg (our faster paced hike)
Bus Service: give a call if you need transportation

Hi hikers. Our regular 2nd Saturday hike this month will begin at the Barbur Transit Center and take us through several Parks in a loop route. We should see lots of spring flowers both wildflowers on the trails and some nice yard flowers along the way. Come on out and join us

Our next Early Morning run will be on April 8th this month because Tyler is out of town this week.
Date: April 8 @ 5:45am
Starting Point: Multnomah Arts Center
Pace: ~10 min/mile (estimated ~1 hour total duration)
Distance: 5.1 miles
Link to Strava event: April 2026 Morning Trail Run | Strava Club Event

Monthly Work Party with Portland Parks & Rec, Thursday, April 2nd, 9-12 am
Help us help the trails for our regular work party at Council Crest Park (1120 SW Council Crest Dr). This month we are working on the trails up near the top of Council Crest Drive. We will be doing the normal early spring work, benching trail sections, reforming and cleaning drains as necessary, brushing out a few areas and generally making the trails at the top ready for increased hiker traffic as we head into hiking and walking season. Our partners and leaders for these work parties are Portland Parks and Recreation Natural Area Stewardship.

We will meet up on the Circle Drive and there is usually plenty of parking up there. Look for the big white Portland Parks Pickup as our gathering point. Please be at least 15 minutes early (8:45AM) to our work parties to get signed in and be ready to go.

Tool use and safety will be covered as we start the work party. These are fun community events, and we need volunteers in 2026, please join us, everyone is welcome and no experience is necessary. So, give some thought to joining us or just stop by and say hi. Youth participants must be at least 14 years old without a guardian and at least 10 years old with a guardian.

As always, our work is guided by the Portland Parks Natural Area Stewardship folks. Parks will bring all the tools, gloves, and materials we need, and also, possibly, coffee, snacks and water. On these work parties it is not necessary to stay for the whole event, and you can work at whatever level your skill and energy allow. It is just great to meet the neighbors and get in a little trail work exercise.

When you join us, please wear work clothing, sturdy closed toe shoes, long pants, long sleeved shirts.

Exploring Heritage Trees on our latest 3rd Saturday Walk. The tree is as old as the US constitution!