Portland, OR: Terwilleger Trail

Escape to a luscious enclave of rolling hills covered by mature hardwoods and trickling streams just seconds from the city on this 6-mile out-and-back.

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Trail Facts

  • Distance: 4.8

Waypoints

TWT001

Location: 45.5029106140137, -122.691802978516

From Marquam Shelter Trailhead, bear L @ 3-way on Shelter Trail and climb gravel maintenance road.

TWT002

Location: 45.501781463623, -122.693801879883

Straight on Shelter Trail @ T. L trail leads to the nearby campus of Oregon Health & Science University, the state’s only health and research university

TWT003

Location: 45.499439239502, -122.695198059082

Continue straight and join Marquam Trail to climb 10 steep switchbacks. The Marquam Nature Park was named after Philip Marquam, a state legislator in the 1880s and regarded as a prominent pioneer of the city

TWT004

Location: 45.4977912902832, -122.694396972656

Cross Marquim Hill Rd, veer L to continue uphill on Marquam Trail

TWT005

Location: 45.4962310791016, -122.692901611328

Trail curves in downhill S shape with two intersections. Continue on signed Marquam Trail alongside healthy maples and rhododendrons

TWT006

Location: 45.4962005615234, -122.691398620605

Cross small wooden footbridge then climb stairs

TWT007

Location: 45.4929504394531, -122.688903808594

Cross footbridge

TWT008

Location: 45.4910888671875, -122.68920135498

Last footbridge over lazy but murmuring creek

TWT009

Location: 45.4910583496094, -122.687103271484

Cross Terwilleger Blvd., proceed 1.3 mi. uphill and parallel with road on Terwilleger Trail (George Himes Trail). Look L through trees for distant view of Portland’s Willamette River and Ross Island

TWT010

Location: 45.4804382324219, -122.686897277832

Cross SW Capitol Hwy. and continue straight down the paved path next to road.

TWT011

Location: 45.4771919250488, -122.684204101562

Turn L @ SW Nebraska, the entrance to George Himes Park, home to a variety of bigleaf maples, western red cedar, black cottonwood and Norway pines. Pack a good book to read while overlooking the mighty Willamette River before returning on same route.