Terwilliger-Marquam Loop Hike

Overview

The first part of this loop takes you down the Terwilliger Parkway, a historic route now over 100 years old and part of Portland 40-mile Loop trail system. The parkway is named after one of Portland’s earliest settlers and business leaders, James Terwilliger, who purchased 640 acres of land here in 1850. It is the only completed project of four Portland parkway systems proposed by John and Frederick Olmsted in their 1903 report to the Portland Park Board. While traffic along Terwilliger can be quite busy, the passage is also leafy and, at breaks in the trees, offers views across the Willamette River to Mount Hood and Mount Saint Helens (When Terwilliger Parkway was dedicated in 1912, it offered views along its entire 3 ¼ mile length; now a 100 years of growth obscures much of the eastern skyline). When you reach Marquam Nature Park, you’ll be following the Sunnyside and Marquam Trails back through native mixed forest to Terwilliger Boulevard. From the parking pullout, you’ll see the Marquam Trailhead across Terwilliger Parkway: this is where you’ll come out at the end of this loop. Walk down Terwilliger on the Terwilliger Trail, and cross a creek at a bend in the road known as “Anton’s Horseshoe”: the mixed forest below you is the trailless Terwilliger Wildland, and you’ll notice some sizable Douglas-firs among the hemlocks, cedars, and big-leaf maples. Past the creek, steps lead down to a trail that connects to a neighborhood on Hamilton Street. The trail (and road) curves up and you’ll pass two exercise stations on the right: these have seen better days. Cross Hamilton Street at a public restroom building and picnic table, and walk above a playground to get a view to Mount Hood. Pass under a large oak tree, and look back along the Willamette River to the Sellwood Bridge. On the other side of Terwilliger, choice hillside homes spill down the slope. Cross Hamilton Terrace, and immediately reach Lowell Lane. For a detour, go right here and then left past a small and unobtrusive public parking area for two car

Trail Stats

Photos

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