13 min
Overview
Powell Butte Nature Park is east Portland's largest natural area. The system of trails here underwent an extensive remodel during construction of the 50 million-gallon Reservoir #2, and new trail alignments and names became official in 2015. This short loop keeps you to the grassy meadows of the summit area: this was former pastureland leased by the Portland Water Bureau to the Anderegg family dairy. As such, the loop is best done on a sunny day when raptors are soaring overhead and the vistas are extensive. The view from the summit of this 10 million-year-old Boring volcano includes Mount Saint Helens, Mount Adams and Mount Rainier as well as Clackamas Butte and Mount Scott to the immediate south and Gresham Buttes to the east. Mount Hood is clearly visible, and Mount Jefferson and Olallie Butte can also be distinguished on a clear day. A mountain finder circle located at the summit points out all of the visible summits and lists their elevations and distances. Note: The Mountain View Trail is a paved universal access trail that will take you to the summit orchard and mountain finder in 0.7 miles. Start at the Powell Butte Trailhead. The vista from the parking lot includes Mount Saint Helens, Mount Adams and a stunning view of Mount Hood. At the new Visitor Center, there are restrooms on the west side of the building and a display of various pipe sizes in front, including a 90-inch diameter hoop you can walk through. Hike up to the left of the Visitor Center, keeping right at the junctions with the Anderegg Trail and a path leading to a sitting area bordered by a split-rail fence. Keep left at then next junction to stay on the Mountain View Trail. Hike up the slope through a line of walnut trees and keep left again at the next junction. The Mountain View trail continues up through the meadow to cross the East Access Lane at the Mountain View Trail-Pipeline Lane-Reservoir Lane-East Access Lane Junction. Keeping to the paved universal access trail, switchback at a stand of alders. Pass under more alders whe
Trail Stats
0.0 km
67 m
193 m
0 m
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Photos
400px-PowellButteSummitMap
400px-PowellButteSummitMap
250px-At_the_Mountain_Finder%2C_Powell_Butte
250px-At_the_Mountain_Finder%2C_Powell_Butte
250px-PowellButteSummit
250px-PowellButteSummit
250px-Mt
250px-Mt
400px-Grant_Butte%2C_Mountain_View_Trail%2C_Powell_Butte
400px-Grant_Butte%2C_Mountain_View_Trail%2C_Powell_Butte