Hello. I’ll be in PDX for a few days and am looking for some nice running trails. I’d like to do a 2.5-3 hour run one day without having to repeat too many trails. Does such a place exist in/very near PDX? I’ve been to Mt. Tabor a few times but am hoping to find someplace new. If it helps, I’m staying about 10 minutes south of the airport and will have access to a car. Any suggestions are very much appreciated. Thanks!
Portland actually has an ASS load of trails to run on! Try Forest Park… it is actually on the NW side of town. head down 84W to I-5N then get off on I-405 S (i think). go over the Willamette River and take your next right twd the 23rd Ave/st. exit. Take a Left on 23rd then take a **right **on the first street that begin with an “R”. I know, seem vague but the streets are alphabetical so it makes it easy! after you take the right head down that street until you see a “Y” in the road, take the LEFT fork and continue. The street will essentially dead end at the Leif Erickson Trail head. You can run either up the long open old logging road (which begins with a rough surface, smooths out to pavement for about 200yds and then back to dirt/rock) and will continue for 12 miles if you wish. OR, you can take any number of the trails which bifurcate in every direction. Fire Lane #3 is especially fun if you want some vertical gain. Enjoy!
Wow, that sounds like fun. I’ll try it! Thanks!
I second Forest Park, but I wouldn’t follow those directions. From NW23rd you want to go west on NW Thurman. Follow NW Thurman to the end. It’s ~1.5 miles to the Leif Ericson gate. You’ll have to park on NW Thurman.
Leif Ericson is a hard packed gravel road that’s ~13 miles long. Marked every 1/4 mile.
If you want to run on dirt (mud) single track. Take the first trail to the left off of Leif. It will be a steep climb up to Wildwood Trail. Wildwood is over 30 miles long. Well marked at trail crossings and there are blue triangles on trees every 1/4 mile.
On NW Thurman between 23rd and 24th is the “Friends of Forest Park” HQ. They have maps there. I think you can pick them up at the food coop that’s in that same block, and I’m pretty sure Fat Tire Farm (NW Thurman and NW 27th) has maps as well. You can also get maps at REI.
Scott
All good suggestions thus far. Please allow me to offer another that is much easier to access with a car.
From the east side of Portland, find your way to I-405 and then Hwy 26 (westbound toward Beaverton). Once you pass through a tunnel, take the next exit (Oregon Zoo). Pass the main zoo parking lot (which will be on your right), pass the Oregon Forestry Center, and then park in the next small parking lot on your right. It will take about one minute to get to this parking lot from the Hwy. 26 exit.
Just across the street from this lot you will find the start (Mile “0”) of the Wildwood trail–mentioned in other posts.
Every 1/4 mile is marked with a blue diamond on a tree and an accompanying mileage marker that faces the trail. When you approach any trail junction, just follow the Wildwood Trail signs or ask a hiker/runner the way. Alternatively, let adventure be your guide and run any damn direction you feel.
Welcome to the Rose City. Enjoy your stay. Leave no trace.
Definitely Forest Park. Here’s a link to free downloadable maps. Depending on where you want to start there are countless options. Feel free to PM me if you want any specifics. I will be around this weekend if you want to run with a local. I am NOT going 3 hours though.
http://explorepdx.com/forpark.html
Other options for you would be in the Columbia River Gorge if you want something a little more Wild and Wooley. For bark chip trails sort of near the Airport, check out the 2 mile loop around Glendoveer Golf Course off NE Glisan. It’s a nice no brainer if you want something short. Otherwise, definitely get up in to Forest Park. The trails are very well marked, and if you carry one of the maps you’ll be fine. That’s where I’m headed right now.
Scott and others, I took your advice and did a long trail run on Friday afternoon at Forest Park. Sweet! I had a blast and got muddier than I’ve been in a long, long time 
I’ll recommend these trails to my parents for a hike in April. Thanks again!
My sister is training for a half marathon, and runs in Forest Park every weekend. She loves it! I plan to check it out when I visit her this summer. Let us all know what you think. She says you can get pretty isolated out there, though, so be careful! She tries not to run there alone unless she goes at a popular time when she knows others will be out there too.
Sorry about the crappy weather and trail conditions right now. We had an incredibly nice February, but sucky March, colder than usual by about 10f and wet. Oh well, there’s a reason why it’s so green. Did you see all the Trilliums starting to bloom? In another two weeks the whole forest will be ablaze with those beauties.
Seriously, Press, what do you know about running trails in PDX? You’re half european now, no? BTW, how are those flatter than pancake bike paths in Holland?
All kidding aside … if anyone on this forum or any forum knows more about the trails in Forest Park, I will put money on it that they don’t. Press has run every trail, beginning to end, forwards and backwards, in the day and in the night, in rain and sunlight … hell, I even think he’s actually stopped, picked up a big handful and actually eaten some of the dirt on those trails!
Hope you are well my friend. The trails await your return.
Matt, glad you enjoyed our city and its trail running. Truly spectacular. Come back in the summer - excellent views of the city and mountains.
Dennis
Dennis … Greg,
You young pups. I did all of this … in one day … and night … a decade ago while you were still taking algebra and reading “Mad” magazines 
Yes, slow day so I am looking in on you two whelps.
Joe F