3 Best Places to Run in Portland, Oregon for First-Time Visitors
Portland is one of those cities where packing running shoes actually pays off.
I’ve visited Portland dozens of times over the years, have plenty of friends who live there, and have run the Portland Half Marathon as well as Hood to Coast. Between all of those trips, I’ve covered a lot of the city on foot. For a runner visiting Portland for the first time, I keep coming back to three places: the downtown waterfront for an easy sightseeing run, Forest Park for a proper trail run, and Mt. Tabor for hills, trees, and city views.
I ran the Portland Half Marathon in 2025.
Those three routes also solve one of the bigger problems with running while traveling. You don’t want to spend your first morning in a new city making wrong turns, stopping at every other intersection, or discovering three miles in that the “nice running route” somebody recommended is actually a bike lane beside six lanes of traffic.Each of these is relatively easy to understand, genuinely scenic, and gives you a different look at Portland.
These are established places where people regularly walk, run, and recreate. For a first visit, I’d run during daylight, stick to the main paths, carry my phone, and use the same awareness I’d use while running anywhere unfamiliar.
1. Tom McCall Waterfront Park and the Eastbank Esplanade
Running the Portland waterfront allows you to see the heart of the city and makes it difficult to get lost.
Best for: First-time visitors and sightseeing
Surface: Paved
Suggested run: About 3–5 miles
Difficulty: Easy and mostly flat
If I had one morning in Portland and wanted an uncomplicated run that also showed me some of the city, I’d head straight for the Willamette River.
The classic route combines Tom McCall Waterfront Park on the downtown side with the Vera Katz Eastbank Esplanade across the river. The Eastbank Esplanade runs 1.5 miles between the Hawthorne and Steel bridges, with connections across the river to Waterfront Park.
That makes it very easy to create a roughly three-mile sightseeing loop.
Start on the west side of the river, cross the Hawthorne Bridge, follow the Eastbank Esplanade north, cross back near the Steel Bridge, and return along Waterfront Park. Depending on where your hotel is and how much wandering you add, you can easily stretch the run farther.
Why this is my top Portland run for visitors
This route does several things well at once.
You get views across the Willamette toward downtown, run underneath some of Portland’s bridges, pass boats and river traffic, and see a part of the city that would be easy to miss if you were simply driving around.
More importantly, you can settle into an actual rhythm.
When I’m visiting somewhere new, I don’t necessarily want a running route that requires checking my phone every five minutes. The waterfront is intuitive. Keep following the river and there aren’t many opportunities to get spectacularly lost.
The Eastbank Esplanade is also separated from regular vehicle traffic for much of the route. You will share it with cyclists, walkers, commuters, dogs, and other runners, so don’t completely zone out.
I’ve spent enough time in Portland to know that downtown can feel very different from one block to the next. For someone unfamiliar with the city, I’d favor the established waterfront paths during daylight over improvising a route through random downtown streets.
Best time to run it
Morning is my choice.
You generally get fewer people on the paths, cooler temperatures during summer, and a quieter version of the riverfront before the center of Portland gets moving.
If you are visiting during cherry blossom season, the Japanese American Historical Plaza beside the waterfront can also make this stretch especially scenic.
Where to stay nearby
This route is particularly convenient if you’re comparing hotels in downtown Portland because you may be able to start the run directly from your hotel.
Dossier is one example in the center of downtown. Its location near SW Alder and Park puts it within walking distance of the Willamette waterfront as well as Powell’s Books, Pioneer Courthouse Square, and other central Portland attractions.
For a first trip where you want to sightsee without spending much time driving, downtown Portland remains one of the easiest bases for this particular run.
2. Leif Erikson Drive in Forest Park
You can run for many miles in Portland’s Forest Park. It really is a choose-your-own-adventure outdoor space.
Best for: Trail running and Pacific Northwest scenery
Surface: Mostly firm gravel
Suggested run: 3–10+ miles
Difficulty: Moderate
If you’re coming to Portland partly because you like being outside, make time for Forest Park.
This is the run that feels most like Oregon to me.
You can be surprisingly close to the center of Portland and still find yourself running through Douglas firs, ferns, moss, ravines, and enough shades of green to make the previous ten minutes of city driving seem slightly improbable.
There are a lot of ways to run Forest Park. For somebody visiting for the first time, however, I recommend beginning with Leif Erikson Drive.
Portland Parks describes Leif Erikson as an approximately 11-mile route through Forest Park that is relatively wide, gently graded, and popular with runners, hikers, and cyclists. The southern entrance starts where NW Thurman Street dead-ends at the park.
It is not the most technical trail in Forest Park.
That’s precisely why I like it for visitors.
A Forest Park run that’s difficult to overcomplicate
Run out. Turn around. Run back. That’s basically the route.
If you want three miles, turn around after 1.5. If you want six, go three miles in. If you’re training for something and woke up feeling ambitious, you have plenty of road ahead of you.
There are connector trails all over Forest Park if you want to add more technical singletrack, but you don’t need them to have a good run.
Leif Erikson has a firm rock-and-gravel surface and averages about a 3.5% grade, although there are rougher patches and some short steeper sections. The footing is generally forgiving compared with narrower Forest Park trails, and the width gives runners, hikers, and cyclists room to pass.
This is another reason I would point a visiting road runner toward Leif Erikson before automatically sending them onto Wildwood Trail.
You still get the forest. You just don’t have to stare at your feet quite as much.
Do you need trail-running shoes?
Not necessarily.
If conditions have been dry, I’d be comfortable running Leif Erikson in normal road-running shoes. When Portland has been wet for several days, trail shoes become much more appealing.
The road can develop mud, puddles, loose gravel, and uneven sections. Portland Parks specifically notes seasonal springs, wet surfaces, exposed rocks, and rougher terrain near parts of the southern entrance.
Basically, don’t wear the pristine white shoes you were hoping to keep pristine.
This is Oregon.
Getting to Leif Erikson Drive
The southern trailhead is just past 4015 NW Thurman Street. Parking exists nearby, but it is limited, particularly during busy periods. Portland Parks also lists TriMet bus access within walking distance of the trailhead.
If you’re staying relatively close, I wouldn’t build the morning around finding the perfect parking space.
Consider transit or a rideshare, run your miles, and head back into the city.
Before any longer Forest Park outing, check the city’s current Forest Park trail closures. Portland Parks maintains an updated page for closures, damaged trails, and access issues.
Where to stay for running Forest Park
If Forest Park is high on your list, look at hotels in Northwest Portland, Nob Hill, or the Pearl District rather than automatically staying downtown.
The Inn at Northrup Station is one option in Northwest Portland. It is an all-suite hotel in the Nob Hill/Slabtown area and sits along the Portland Streetcar line.
That puts you on the right side of town for reaching the southern portion of Forest Park while still staying close to restaurants, shops, and central Portland.
3. Mt. Tabor Park
Mt. Tabor is one of my favorite outdoor spaces to visit in Portland, and the surrounding neighborhoods are fun to explore.
Best for: Hills, views, and shorter scenic runs
Surface: Pavement and dirt paths
Suggested run: About 2.5–5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate to hard
Mt. Tabor is what I’d choose when I don’t necessarily want a long run but do want my legs to get worked out.
The park sits on an extinct volcanic cinder cone in Southeast Portland and mixes paved roads with unpaved paths, forest, open reservoirs, and viewpoints.
You don’t need a complicated route.
Enter around SE 60th Avenue and Salmon Street, start working your way uphill, loop the reservoirs, explore some of the side paths, and eventually make your way toward the summit.
If you’ve run three miles and somehow avoided climbing anything, you’ve been unusually creative.
Why Mt. Tabor works so well for travelers
Forest Park is enormous enough that you can disappear into it.
Mt. Tabor isn’t.
You’re inside a defined city park surrounded by Southeast Portland neighborhoods, yet you still get plenty of trees and enough elevation to feel like you’ve escaped the city for a while.
For a traveler, I think that’s a nice middle ground.
You can get in a legitimate workout without making the run a half-day expedition. Run for 30 or 45 minutes, take in the views, head downhill, and go find breakfast.
Portland Parks lists both paved and unpaved paths throughout Mt. Tabor, so you can adjust the run according to the weather, your shoes, or how adventurous you’re feeling.
If possible, run Mt. Tabor on Wednesday
Here’s the local detail I’d actually plan around.
Mt. Tabor is closed to motor vehicles all day Wednesday. On other days, vehicle access is generally allowed from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
If your trip happens to line up, Wednesday is an especially good day to run here because the paved park roads become much more pleasant for runners and walkers.
You still have trails available on other days, of course. I just wouldn’t complain about having an extinct volcano in the middle of Portland mostly to myself and without cars.
Make Mt. Tabor part of a Southeast Portland morning
Finish at Mt. Tabor and you aren’t stranded at some remote trailhead. You’re surrounded by Southeast Portland, with Hawthorne and other restaurant-heavy neighborhoods nearby. Travel Portland describes Mt. Tabor as a low-key neighborhood beside Hawthorne, while the park itself is known for its forested trails and city views.
Run. Find coffee. Find breakfast.
This is a system Portland handles pretty well.
Travelers who prefer Portland vacation rentals or VRBOs in Portland may also want to search Southeast Portland, particularly if neighborhood restaurants and a more residential feel matter more than being within walking distance of downtown.
So, Where Should You Run in Portland?
For a first-time visitor, the answer is pretty simple.
Run the Waterfront and Eastbank Esplanade if you want an easy, flat sightseeing run. Choose Leif Erikson Drive in Forest Park if you want the best combination of trail running and Pacific Northwest scenery. Run Mt. Tabor if you want a shorter route with hills, trees, and views.
If I were visiting Portland for three days, I’d be perfectly happy running one each morning.
They don’t feel redundant.
The waterfront shows you the city. Forest Park shows you why people who live in Portland can get a little smug about having access to the outdoors. Mt. Tabor sits somewhere in between.
Tips for Running in Portland as a Visitor
Portland is an easy city to enjoy on foot, but a little preparation makes these runs better.
Run during daylight when you’re unfamiliar with the area. I follow this rule in most cities I visit. The waterfront and parks also look better when you can actually see them.
Expect other trail users. Cyclists use the Eastbank Esplanade and Leif Erikson Drive heavily. Stay predictable and keep enough volume out of your headphones to know what’s approaching.
Check Forest Park conditions before leaving. Trails and access points sometimes close because of maintenance, weather damage, landslides, or other issues. Portland Parks maintains current closure information.
Don’t fear a little rain. Portland weather is part of the deal. A light shell can be useful, but you probably don’t need to cancel a run because the forecast contains a cloud.
Choose your shoes based on the route. Road shoes work well for the waterfront and Mt. Tabor’s paved roads. Leif Erikson is generally runnable in road shoes when dry, although trail shoes make more sense when things get muddy.
See More of Portland
Want to get otu and explore more of the Rose City? See our articles on the best streets to walk in Portland and the best hike to do in town.
