Low-key outdoors experience in Portland/Rainier area
September 19, 2017 11:31 AM Subscribe
If you were starting the day in Rainier and ending up in Portland this Sunday, where would you go for an easy hike?
The boyfriend and I have Saturday night plans in Rainier, Oregon. We'll be leaving Sunday morning to go back to Portland, Oregon to do dinner and spend the night before flying out on Monday.
I've never been to the Pacific Northwest before, and would really like to enjoy a little of the scenery. The boyfriend is more of a walk in the park person than a serious hiker, so anything more than a couple miles and relatively easy terrain is going to be out of reach. But he likes driving, so we could go east to the coast or double back past Portland to the west for a particularly scenic drive to the right easy hike.
I know there are a lot of cool outdoorsy things to do in the area. But I am also aware of the recent wildfires, and not familiar enough with the area to know which internet recommended trails and parks might not be in need of clueless visitors tromping through at the moment. Maybe a pretty urban park is the better way to go at this particular time?
Given these parameters, what would you recommend?
Extra bonus points for recommendations for a breakfast spot around Rainier or on the way to your recommended trail/park!
The boyfriend and I have Saturday night plans in Rainier, Oregon. We'll be leaving Sunday morning to go back to Portland, Oregon to do dinner and spend the night before flying out on Monday.
I've never been to the Pacific Northwest before, and would really like to enjoy a little of the scenery. The boyfriend is more of a walk in the park person than a serious hiker, so anything more than a couple miles and relatively easy terrain is going to be out of reach. But he likes driving, so we could go east to the coast or double back past Portland to the west for a particularly scenic drive to the right easy hike.
I know there are a lot of cool outdoorsy things to do in the area. But I am also aware of the recent wildfires, and not familiar enough with the area to know which internet recommended trails and parks might not be in need of clueless visitors tromping through at the moment. Maybe a pretty urban park is the better way to go at this particular time?
Given these parameters, what would you recommend?
Extra bonus points for recommendations for a breakfast spot around Rainier or on the way to your recommended trail/park!
Best answer: Hit up Forest Park on your way into town. Any section of the Wildwood Trail would do fine.
posted by o0dano0o at 12:11 PM on September 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by o0dano0o at 12:11 PM on September 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
Best answer: It might be raining this weekend -- I'd keep an eye on the weather.
There might be some mushrooms out. You could find a wet, foresty area and look for chanterelles.
If it's raining and you want to stay dry, you could do the lower route of Ape Cave by Mt St. Helens.
The Lava Canyon trail by Mt St Helens is cool too. You can stop the car on the way there and see the (south, less-exploded) side of the mountain. The trail itself has awesome easily accessible old lava flows and waterfalls, and you can then hike out and back along the canyon as far or as little as you like.
posted by cnidaria at 12:15 PM on September 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
There might be some mushrooms out. You could find a wet, foresty area and look for chanterelles.
If it's raining and you want to stay dry, you could do the lower route of Ape Cave by Mt St. Helens.
The Lava Canyon trail by Mt St Helens is cool too. You can stop the car on the way there and see the (south, less-exploded) side of the mountain. The trail itself has awesome easily accessible old lava flows and waterfalls, and you can then hike out and back along the canyon as far or as little as you like.
posted by cnidaria at 12:15 PM on September 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Sunrise! There's a wide range of hikes an some of the best vistas of the mountain. Emmons Vista Overlooks (1 mi/1.6 km) looks like level you're thinking about. But Double check fire issues, for that a call to the ranger station would be best.
posted by sammyo at 2:36 PM on September 19, 2017
posted by sammyo at 2:36 PM on September 19, 2017
There are a bunch of waterfalls either right on the Columbia River Gorge or a short walk off of it. I believe Bridal Veil, Wahkeena, Multnomah and Horsetail are all really easily accessible, and there are many more if you walk little further. Lots of other great stops in that area as well.
posted by cnc at 2:54 PM on September 19, 2017
posted by cnc at 2:54 PM on September 19, 2017
Sunrise! There's a wide range of hikes an some of the best vistas of the mountain. Emmons Vista Overlooks (1 mi/1.6 km) looks like level you're thinking about. But Double check fire issues, for that a call to the ranger station would be best.
I'm pretty sure OP isn't talking about Mt. Rainier, but rather Rainier, OR. Regardless, while the fires seem to be abating and Sunrise has reopened, there's also about a foot of snow predicted in the next few days at those elevations.
posted by Special Agent Dale Cooper at 3:20 PM on September 19, 2017
I'm pretty sure OP isn't talking about Mt. Rainier, but rather Rainier, OR. Regardless, while the fires seem to be abating and Sunrise has reopened, there's also about a foot of snow predicted in the next few days at those elevations.
posted by Special Agent Dale Cooper at 3:20 PM on September 19, 2017
There are a bunch of waterfalls either right on the Columbia River Gorge or a short walk off of it. I believe Bridal Veil, Wahkeena, Multnomah and Horsetail are all really easily accessible, and there are many more if you walk little further. Lots of other great stops in that area as well.
Most of that area is affected by the fire.
posted by OHenryPacey at 3:23 PM on September 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Most of that area is affected by the fire.
posted by OHenryPacey at 3:23 PM on September 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I have two standard recipes that fit:
Mount St. Helens:
Take I-5 down to Woodland, and exit.
There's a Ranger station there. Stop in and get a day pass, which you'll need to park anywhere near the mountain. Look at maps, pick up a "Volcano Times" newspaper, chat with the ranger.
Drive to the mountain, and all the way north to Lava Canyon . This is for the view: you don't get out of the trees until you get up there. Lava canyon itself is great but don't use up too much time or energy.
Once you've seen the mountain, drive back down to visit the trail of two forests. The Trail of Two Forests only takes fifteen minutes to see but is worth it.
Finally, try the Ape Caves, just up the road. I put this last because the caves properly take an investment of one or two hours, plus flashlights and warm clothes. You can rent a lantern there.
Forest Park:
Germantown Road runs through the North end of the park, and has two trailheads. Drive up to the second, higher trailhead. That's the Wildwood trail.
You can just go out the Wildwood and back, and it's flat.
But if you can, go (South) on Wildwood about 3/4 of a mile to until you get to Waterline trail, and go down to Leif Erickson (It parallels Wildwood) and come back that way. You'll have to go back uphill to return to your car, but that way it's a loop.
posted by Rich Smorgasbord at 4:53 PM on September 19, 2017
Mount St. Helens:
Take I-5 down to Woodland, and exit.
There's a Ranger station there. Stop in and get a day pass, which you'll need to park anywhere near the mountain. Look at maps, pick up a "Volcano Times" newspaper, chat with the ranger.
Drive to the mountain, and all the way north to Lava Canyon . This is for the view: you don't get out of the trees until you get up there. Lava canyon itself is great but don't use up too much time or energy.
Once you've seen the mountain, drive back down to visit the trail of two forests. The Trail of Two Forests only takes fifteen minutes to see but is worth it.
Finally, try the Ape Caves, just up the road. I put this last because the caves properly take an investment of one or two hours, plus flashlights and warm clothes. You can rent a lantern there.
Forest Park:
Germantown Road runs through the North end of the park, and has two trailheads. Drive up to the second, higher trailhead. That's the Wildwood trail.
You can just go out the Wildwood and back, and it's flat.
But if you can, go (South) on Wildwood about 3/4 of a mile to until you get to Waterline trail, and go down to Leif Erickson (It parallels Wildwood) and come back that way. You'll have to go back uphill to return to your car, but that way it's a loop.
posted by Rich Smorgasbord at 4:53 PM on September 19, 2017
Best answer: Yeah, I'm not sure I'd recommend the gorge area, due to all the fires. I think Forest Park is a good idea. There's also Washington Park, I particularly like some of the trails in the Hoyt Arboretum, which is in Washington Park. These parks are great for a short weekend trip.
posted by FireFountain at 5:37 PM on September 19, 2017
posted by FireFountain at 5:37 PM on September 19, 2017
Best answer: I believe all trails on the south side of the Columbia River Gorge are closed due to the fire. I don't remember any easy trails on the North (Washington) side of the Gorge.
Check the VolcanoCam for low clouds before considering driving to Mt St Helens, and also be prepared to turn around if there's snow on the road!
All in all, Portland's Forest Park is likely your best bet!
posted by monotreme at 9:25 PM on September 19, 2017
Check the VolcanoCam for low clouds before considering driving to Mt St Helens, and also be prepared to turn around if there's snow on the road!
All in all, Portland's Forest Park is likely your best bet!
posted by monotreme at 9:25 PM on September 19, 2017
Response by poster: Thanks for all the advice! I like the idea of Mt St Helens a lot, but Forest Park may be more appealing to the boyfriend, so we'll see what the weather's like and make a decision that morning. I marked references to those as "best answer," but also really appreciate the rest of the input. And any other recommendations yet to come!
posted by the primroses were over at 7:09 AM on September 20, 2017
posted by the primroses were over at 7:09 AM on September 20, 2017
If you need a pretty urban park, The Portland Japanese Garden is lovely.
posted by foxfirefey at 5:12 PM on September 20, 2017
posted by foxfirefey at 5:12 PM on September 20, 2017
Hey, another thing... going into Forest Park for the first time, or any of the woodsy suggestions here for that matter, can be disorienting. Who needs anxiety on a walk? So whichever way you go, absolutely look it up on maps beforehand. Yesterday I went for one of my usual spins on Wildwood myself and I noticed little things like: It's not obvious from the road what is a trailhead and what is just a parking spot, and sometimes signs are missing.
posted by Rich Smorgasbord at 4:06 PM on September 21, 2017
posted by Rich Smorgasbord at 4:06 PM on September 21, 2017
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by OHenryPacey at 12:10 PM on September 19, 2017 [1 favorite]