30 min
Overview
This loop takes in a couple salient features of Southwest Portland: the leafy lower slopes of the Southwest Hills, the pleasant verges of the Willamette River, and neighborhoods tumbling down the incline, in places offering wide-ranging views to Mount Hood and Mount Saint Helens. The route generally follows parts of SW Trails Routes 3 and 4 (SW Trails is a neighborhood organization that has plotted several interesting walking routes through this part of the city). The hike begins at forested George Himes Park on Terwilliger Boulevard: George Himes was one of the original Oregon pioneers and arrived in the state in 1853. He was the first curator of the Oregon Historical Society. To get a view of Mount Hood, walk down Nebraska to where it meets Parkhill Drive (but there will be other, better views of the mountain as you close this loop). Find the trail leading down past a picnic table into the George Himes Natural Area. At a junction, go right and traverse down a slope under Douglas-fir and cedar with an Indian plum, snowberry, sword fern, Oregon grape understory. Ivy has been cleared from some of these slopes but is still a major presence in other areas. Reach a trail junction and go right to descend some steps into the bottom of the gully at a topless cottonwood. A wide trail leads down the gully and under one of the big trestles supporting Barbur Boulevard. A graveled tread denotes the recently reopened (2014) section of the trail where it drops down more steps and under the I-5 freeway. A set of older rail tie steps leads to View Point Terrace in the Fulton neighborhood. Cross View Point Terrace and head straight down Iowa Street. In a couple of long blocks, reach Macadam Avenue and cross it. Go right one block and, at Carolina Street, turn left to cross the rail tracks. An access road leads right here into Willamette Park (If you have a dog, there is an off-leash area along the railroad right-of-way). Walk towards the river to get views across the water to the south end of Ross Island. Look for the grea
Trail Stats
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149 m
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Photos
400px-GeorgeHimesWillametteParkLoopMap
400px-GeorgeHimesWillametteParkLoopMap
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250px-Community_garden%2C_Fulton_Park
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250px-The_alley%2C_Fulton_Park
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250px-Sailing_class%2C_Willamette_Park
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250px-George_Himes_plaque%2C_George_HImes_Park
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400px-Magnolia_and_Mt