Views Up Front, Therapy in the Trees

This hike starts with a march up to Council Crest, which means we open with the views. Big ones. The kind that make Portland look like it is actively trying to impress you. City. Rivers. Mountains on a clear day. We get the bragging rights immediately.

Then we leave all that behind and head straight into the woods, because nothing says confidence like starting at the summit and disappearing into a forest on purpose.

From Council Crest, we dive down into Marquam Nature Park and onto the Marquam & Basalt Trails, trading panoramic drama for deep, leafy immersion. The city vanishes. The trees close ranks. Moss takes over. The trail becomes quiet, shaded, and satisfyingly serious about being a trail.

This route packs about 900 feet of elevation, offering hills that are friendly, firm, and committed to reminding you that walking uphill is still quite the thing.

This is a moderately challenging hike that opens with spectacle and finishes in deep green tranquility. You get views, forest, bathrooms, and the powerful sense that you hacked the city.

The Stats:
Trail names: Council Crest, Marquam, Basalt, Sunnyside, Broadway Trails
Meeting Point Location: 2766 SW Old Orchard Rd, Portland, OR 97201
Meeting Point GPS: 45.50274300194747, -122.70722664404487
Google Maps Meeting Point
Map of our hike
Distance: Approximately 3.9 miles
Elevation gain: 900 feet
Estimated time on trail: 2 hours
Difficulty level: Moderate
Trail type: Loop
Parking: Non-metered parking on the streets near the hike start
Additional Parking (ten minute walk): Portland Heights Park, Montgomery Drive, Roswell Avenue
Porta-potties at Council Crest Summit & Marquam Nature Park Entrance

You return to civilization refreshed, grounded, and just a little too pleased with yourself.