The Council Crest–Washington Park Loop combines the thrill of riding through the streets of “Bike Town USA” with the exercise and exhilaration of a thigh-burning climb to the highest point in Portland. Along the way you’ll take in arguably the best view in the city and ride through iconic Washington Park. If you had one bike ride to check out Portland proper, this should be it.
Start: Broadway, Pioneer Courthouse Square (PCS)
Distance: 15.7-mile loop
Riding time: 1.5 to 2 hours
Best bike: Road bike
Terrain and trail surface: Paved
Traffic and hazards: Significant traffic downtown; less traffic around Council Crest, but blind turns and narrower roads
Fees and permits: None
Restrooms: At visitor center inside PCS
Maps: Oregon Road & Recreation Atlas: Page 106 D4
Getting there: However you get downtown to Pioneer Courthouse Square. GPS: N45° 31.144' / W122° 40.785'
The Ride
Starting in Pioneer Courthouse Square (PCS) in downtown Portland, you’ll essentially be checking out the best of Portland by bicycle. As the ride begins, you’ll have the opportunity to pedal your way through a downtown area that caters to bicyclists. With clearly marked bike routes, wide bike lanes, and bike boxes, it’s a joy to explore a city laid out for folks on two wheels.
Once you hit Terwilliger Boulevard, the traffic lightens and the natural beauty becomes more pronounced. A steady but scenic climb eventually delivers you to the highest point in the city. On a clear day you can check out no fewer than four Cascade peaks and a sweeping view of the Rose City.
From Council Crest enjoy a well-earned mini-descent before leveling out and riding along very pleasant, tree-lined Hewett Boulevard.
Take one more big breath and take on a mild ascent up Skyline before hitting Fairview and enjoying the downhill fruits of your labor. You’ll now be descending through Washington Park, and if you’re so inclined, there’s an awful lot to see and do here: the zoo, Children’s Museum, World Forestry Center, Japanese Garden, International Rose Test Garden. You get the idea. Once through the park the downhill segment continues through one of the stateliest neighborhoods in the city before arriving back downtown and concluding the loop.
Miles and Directions
0.0 Start at PCS and head south (uphill) on Broadway.
0.8 Keep left to stay on Broadway.
0.9 Slight right onto SW 6th Avenue.
1.0 Continue onto SW Terwilliger Boulevard.
1.3 Turn left to stay on Terwilliger.
3.4 Turn right onto SW Westwood Drive.
4.0 Turn right to stay on SW Westwood Drive.
4.8 Turn left onto SW Westwood View.
4.9 SW Westwood View heads left and becomes Mitchell Street.
5.2 Turn left on SW Fairmount Boulevard.
5.7 Stay left on Fairmount.
6.2 Turn left to stay on Fairmount.
6.7 Turn right onto SW Talbot Terrace.
6.9 Turn right onto SW Greenway Avenue.
7.1 Turn right onto SW Council Crest Drive.
7.3 Turn right again on SW Council Crest Drive.
7.4 Arrive at Council Crest. Take a break; continue around and back down Council Crest Drive.
7.8 Turn left onto SW Greenway Avenue.
8.0 Turn left onto SW Talbot Terrace.
8.2 Continue onto SW Talbot Road.
8.3 Turn left onto SW Patton Road.
8.5 Turn right onto SW Hewett Boulevard.
10.1 Turn right onto SW Humphrey Boulevard.
10.2 Make an immediate left onto SW Scholls Ferry Road.
10.2 Make an immediate right, veer left, then stay straight, to stay on Scholls Ferry Road.
11.0 Turn right onto SW Fairview Boulevard.
11.6 Turn right onto SW Knights Boulevard.
11.8 Turn left onto SW Kingston Drive.
13.4 Turn right onto SW Sherwood Boulevard.
14.1 Slight right onto Sacajawea Boulevard.
14.3 Turn right onto SW Park Place.
14.4 Turn left onto SW Vista Avenue.
14.5 Turn right onto W Burnside Road.
15.2 Turn right onto SW Stark Street.
15.5 Turn right onto SW Broadway.
15.7 Arrive back at PCS.
Local Information
Things to see: Pioneer Courthouse Square, downtown Portland, Council Crest, sweeping views of Cascade peaks, zoo, Children’s Museum, World Forestry Center, Japanese Garden, International Rose Test Garden
Restaurants along the ride: Food carts at SW 9th and Alder; the Imperial, 410 SW Broadway; beers at Bailey’s Taproom, 213 SW Broadway, all in Portland