Portland, Oregon - discover Portland

Join us in exploring Portland, Oregon. We'll spend two days visiting some of Portland's best hiking trails via foot and mass transportation. We'll rent a car for three days of exploring other hiking areas outside the Portland area.

http://www.planetware.com/photos-large/USOR/us-portland-washington-park.jpg

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Mount Hood National Forest with over a 1,000 miles of hiking trails - we'll discuss several hiking options with the group to decide which trails we want to hike. Also visit historic Government Camp along the way.

• Exploring the Columbia River Gorge/Multnomah Falls via the Historic Columbia River Highway (www.columbiariverhighway.com), stopping at a former highway rest stop, Crown View Vista House, perched 700 ft. above the river to see some of the best views of the entire gorge (www.vistahouse.com). We'll see the Bonneville Dam and natural landmarks like the Beacon Rock the on to Hood River for dinner before returning to Portland. We will be hiking up to the Multnomah Falls and several lesser known waterfalls.

• Forest Park has 5,100 acres (www.forestparkconservancy.org) ranks as one of the largest urban green spaces in the country. There are over 80 miles of hiking trails throughout the park. We'll start out early and spend the day hiking and enjoying the trails, stopping to picnic along the way.

• Cannon Beach - still in planning stage

• Portland's unique 4T Trail loop - a self guided urban nature tour that uses hiking trails, the MAX light rail train, a trolley (aka. the Portland Streetcar) and the Portland Aerial Tram. The circuit takes about 4-5 hours and requires TriMet fares ($5 adult). We'll begin in downtown Portland's Pioneer Courthouse Square and take the MAX train, then we'll hit the trail and hike to the city's highest point to Council Crest Park, at 1073 feet. Heading back down to a 2.2 mile hike through hilly Marquam Nature Park to catch the aerial Tram offering a panorama of mountains and the Williamette River.

• Time to shop Portland's tax free shops with a trip to the Portland Saturday Market for 'only-in-portland' shopping (its also open on Sunday's) which is along the Williamette River waterfront park. If time permits, a trip to Oldtown/Chinatown and the Lan Su Chinese Garden, and endless possibilities of hiking in and around Portland.

LODGING: We'll stay in Portland's most centrally located hostel (http://nwportlandhostel.com), in the Northwest/Nob Hill neighborhood, just a few blocks from many popular shops, cafes, pubs, cinemas, and some of the city's best restaurants. The hostel is also within walking distance of many area attractions, including downtown Portland, Saturday/Sunday market, the famous Powell's Bookstore, numerous art galleries, the Classic Chinese Garden, museums, and Pioneer Square. The Rose Gardens and Japanese Gardens are a short bus ride or a 25-minute walk away.

From the airport there is light rail (MAX train) service to downtown. The MAX stops only five and a half blocks from the hostel (exit at Providence Park).

TRIP PRICE INCLUDES: Six nights lodging at the NW Portland Hostel (2 dorm rooms, one for 4 persons and one for 6 persons - bunks). One private room with 2 beds may be available for a couple at a higher rate. We'll provide six light breakfasts and five sack lunches for each full day of hiking, and group car rental for 3 days for trips to Mt. Hood, the Columbia River Gorge, and Cannon Beach.

Evening meals will be at each participant's expense at one of the local pubs or restaurants of interest. Or you can prepare your own meal in the hostel kitchen. Local evening events are also available. Price is $550 for Sierra Club members and $575 for non-members.

Each participant will purchase their own Day Pass for travel via MAX light rail and the city bus system to various hiking trails within the city and to and from the airport ($5 day pass). Airfare and public transportation are not included in the trip price.

Questions about the trip should be e-mailed to Janis or Kathy at portlandSC2015@hotmail.com

DEPOSIT AND REGISTRATION: To request to register for this trip, download, print, and complete the Sierra Club’s REQUIRED medical (http://files.meet-up.com/1589422/individual_waiver.pdf) and individual liability waiver forms. Mail both documents with your $100 deposit, to Portland Hostel/Hiking Trip, 11701 Running Fox Trail, Austin, Texas, 78759. (To find these forms - click on the hotlinks above or go to top of Meet-up home page and click on 'More' and look for Medical form and Individual liability waiver form.)

It’s important to note that your RSVP on Meetup does not reserve you a spot on the trip. You will not be registered until your trip application has been approved and payment received. We will notify each participant as soon as their application has been approved and payment received.

Participants should be able to hike 4-7 miles per day on a variety of terrains some of which could be strenuous. We will spend most of each day out on the trails hiking, regardless of trail mileage.

Payment / Cancellation Policy

Full payment must be received by Saturday, May 23, 2015. After all forms have been received and approved, and payments received, the following cancellation policy will be in effect.

• $100 deposit is non-refundable
• 50% of the trip price will be refundable (less $100 deductible), if cancellation occurs on or before Saturday, June 6, 2015.
• No refunds for cancellations made after June 6, 2015.

PRE-TRIP MEETING: A pre-trip meeting will be held so that trip participants can meet each other. At this meeting, the trip leads will answer last-minute questions about the trip. Time and location provided later.