SWTrails Portland

City Bike Bus Sept. 23! Commute to downtown with the City Bike Bus every fourth Wednesday of the month April through September! This event is organized by the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT).

The Grand Opening of the HiLo (Hillsdale to Lake Oswego) and inaugural hike and run is finally happening tomorrow (8 am, Ida B Wells HS Cafeteria)! A lot of work went into the making of the trail. Trails needed improvement, intersection safety increased, sigs designed, written, and put up. SW Trails Board members dreamed of the trail for a decade or so, and when we finally got grant funding to make it happen, we planned, organized, pushed and build for the last five years. We thank all our volunteers who helped build or improve trails, gave input and write the text for the signs, and our city and state partners to improve intersections and trails in state and city parks, and build a whole new underpass under Boones Ferry. There is always more to do (like a dedicated trail along Tryon Creek in the section of Tryon Creek State Park north of Boones Ferry Rd), but we hope to see you on the trail and at tomorrow’s Grand Opening!

An important part of the Hillsdale to Lake Oswego (HiLo) trail was the creation of 11 informational signs along the way that tell stories about the history, geology and biology of the respective neighborhood. We worked with the Oregon Historical Society, representatives from local Tribes, Geologists from Lewis & Clark College, city and state officials and others to put these together. They have been put up over the last few weeks as the last step before the Grand Opening on Saturday (Ida B Wells Highschool, 8 am).
Have you noticed any of the signs yet?

Third Saturday Hike, Saturday 9/19, 10 am: walk/run the trail with us at the Grand Opening of the HI-LO Trail

Ida B Wells Cafeteria

It’s finally here! The HI-LO Trail is complete, all way-finding and information signs are in place, the trails have been fine-tuned, and all is ready to go!

We are celebrating the completion of this major 5+ year project and honoring all who participated in bringing this about. Join us for snacks/coffee, door prizes, and informational booths. Special guests include U.S. Congresswoman Andrea Salinas, Oregon Senate President Rob Wagner, Lake Oswego Councilmember Ali Afghan, and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson.

Event Schedule
8am — Doors open for refreshments, door prize tickets, and visiting the booths
9am — Door prize winners and brief remarks from dignitaries
10am — Join us for one of three planned events: 2 walks and a run
4-mile out and back
6.3-mile full-length hike
12.6 mile round-trip run
Name: Walk/Run the HI-LO
Leaders: Deb Small, Don Baack, Brian Brady
Start Location: Ida. B. Wells High School Cafeteria
Start Time: 10 am
Distance: 4 mi (short hike), 6.3 mi (full length walk)., or 12.6 mi (Trail Run). Note: you can modify any for your own personal needs
Elevation Change: Varies by your choice
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.

Only one week to our Grand Opening of the HiLo (Hillsdale to Lake Oswego) Trail next Saturday. Hope to see you there!
Here are some sneak peek pictures from the trail.

2nd Saturday Hike - Sept 12th - Hillsdale to Lake Oswego Trail out -n- back

Leader: Dave Manville
Start Location: We will meet at the corner of SW Lobelia and SW 19th, approach from SW 17th and park along the 2-block section of Lobelia from SW 17th to SW 19th then meet down at the corner of SW 19th.
Start Time: 9 am (arrive 10-15 minutes early so we can start promptly at 9am)
Distance: 6.8 miles
Elevation Change: 900 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 for Saturday Sept 12 will be a route that explores a big segment of the Hillsdale to Lake Oswego Trail. We will start at the corner of SW 19th and SW Lobelia and head south onto the Frey Trail and into Marshall Park then down to the Boones Bridge, then enter Tryon State Park at the North Creek entrance and do the Cedar and Iron Mountain Trail for a way. We will then reverse the route back to our starting point. There is only 1 restroom I am aware of on this route to be aware. This hike will give us a chance to preview the mostly completed and most park-like sections of the trail to Lake Oswego (at least heading south). On Sept 19 there will be a grand opening celebration of the Metro Regional Trail #20 aka the Hillsdale to Lake Oswego (HiLo) Trail that you may like to attend.

Monthly Work Party with Portland Parks & Recreation, Thursday, 9/3, 9-12
Summer Furlow (Jul and Aug) is over and our 2026 - 2027 Trail Work Parties with Portland Parks Stewardship team begins this coming Thursday September 3rd, 2026, from 9AM to Noon meeting at the upper parking at Marshall Park approximately 9340 SW 18th Pl. The big white Portland Parks truck will be up there, this is not the lower lot near the playground.

This month’s work will be some final prep on the Hillsdale to Lake Oswego (Hi-Lo) trail route through Marshall Park. There is tread work to be done, some improvement of drains to get ready for winder, always some brush to remove, and other trail improvements. Our partners and leaders for these work parties are Portland Parks and Recreation Natural Area Stewardship.

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.

We will be using lots of time-honored trail tools, the Green Grubber, McLeod, Pulaski, and wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes, pruners, saws, and more. Tool use and safety will be covered as we start the work party.

These are fun community events, and we need volunteers in 2026 and 2027, please join us! Everyone is welcome and no experience is necessary. 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.

Here are more details for the Great Opening of the HiLo Trail event on Saturday, 9/19, 8-12 am, Ida B Wells Highschool Cafeteria
Come celebrate the official launch of SWTrails’ 6.3‑mile trail from Hillsdale to Lake Oswego. Be part of this major step forward for our community.

See below for the agenda (subject to change). After the opening ceremony we will offer several options: hike or run the full trail to Lake Oswego (a return shuttle will be offered for hikers) or a shorter out and back hike on a portion of the trail
Agenda:
8:00 AM — Doors Open Mingle, enjoy refreshments and explore vendor tables. Door Prizes tickets given out at the door.
Opening Remarks & Guest Speakers
9:00 AM — Welcome & Housekeeping – Brian Brady, Project Manager, SWTrails
9:05 AM — The History & Vision of the Trail – Don Baack, Founder, SWTrails
9:15 AM —Andrea Salinas, US Representative, Oregon’s 6th District
9:20 AM —Silent Door Prize Selection (winning names posted at SWTrails booth)
9:25 AM — Rob Wagner, Oregon Senate President, District 19
9:35 AM — Joe Buck, Mayor Lake Oswego
9:45 AM — Keith Wilson, Mayor Portland
9:55 AM – Q&A
10:00 AM– Sign unveiling

Trail Launches & Breakout Activities
Look for signs of the activity you are interested in:
HI-LO Trail Run Led by Brian Brady
Guided Full-Length Walk* Led by Don Baack
Short Walk (3.1 Miles) Led by Debbie Small
Trash Clean-Up at IBW – Led by Mayor Keith Wilson

* Important Transportation Note: > *Return transportation from Lake Oswego back to Hillsdale will be provided only for the guided full-length walk. All other participants will need to arrange their own transportation.