Located in Portland’s Washington Park, the Hoyt Arboretum is home to more than 2,000 species of trees and plants from all over the world. Far more than just a simple walk through a living museum of trees, there are 12 miles of hiking trails spread out over 189 acres. The paths wind through groups of trees including larch, spruce, oak, and even sequoia. There is no charge to visit the arboretum, which features a visitor center staffed with highly knowledgeable volunteers. There is a research library, as well as an assortment of free maps and brochures.
The arboretum is gorgeous. It’s also a labyrinth. To be honest, the odds of getting through a hike in this place for the first time without making a quizzical look at a trail junction are slim, even with a map. But the signage is excellent. and it would be difficult to become truly lost. Worst case scenario is that you accidentally add an extra mile or two to your outing.
Distance: 3.2-mile loop
Difficulty: Easy
Trail surface: Hard-packed dirt, duffy, rocky, paved
Hiking time: 1.5 to 3 hours
County: Multnomah
Land status: City park
Seasons: All
Fees and permits: Parking fee
Restrooms: At the arboretum visitor center
Trail contact: City of Portland, Parks & Recreation, (503) 823-6007; portlandoregon.gov/parks/
Maps: Oregon Road & Recreation Atlas: Page 106 D4
Finding the trailhead: From downtown Portland, take US 26 West to exit 72 for the Oregon Zoo. Stay right and drive up past the Children’s Museum and World Forestry Center. Continue to a small parking area on the right, just before an intersection with SW Kingston Drive. GPS: N45° 30.769' / W122° 42.999'
The Hike
If you’re not able to find a spot in the small lot, which is a possibility, you can park in the main parking area you passed on the way in. There’s an hourly fee no matter where you park, so no need to be overly picky. Make your way to the Marquam Trail and up to the Wildwood. There are a number of user paths that mimic official trails here, but they’re all heading in essentially the same direction. This area is chock-full of trilliums in spring. After a road crossing, you’ll continue onto the White Pine Trail.
The path is mostly level, scenic, and relatively secluded. Keep an eye out for helpfully labeled flora throughout the hike. As you would suspect, trail names tend to coincide with the sort of trees you’re hiking through. After taking in the pines, make a road crossing and pick up the Wildwood Trail. You’ll hike just into the fringe of the redwood area, highlighted by the glorious perch that is the redwood observation deck.
Continuing down the Fir Trail, cross another road and stop in at the visitor center. There are restrooms here and a metric ton of information about the arboretum and more. The hike now follows a path down through a grove of oaks and over to the Winter Garden and the Magnolia Trail. There are some places in Portland you need to be at certain times of the year. The Magnolia Trail in springtime is one of them. A stroll along this path on the right day will take your breath away.
The trail ascends a very photogenic set of switchbacks, crosses yet another road, and crests at a water tank. Rejoining the Wildwood, the trail passes a number of interesting nonnative species as it descends back to the parking area and the end of the hike. Almost anywhere you hike in Portland is going to showcase something different depending on what time of year you visit. No place is better at that than the Hoyt Arboretum.
Miles and Directions
0.0 Start from the parking area and carefully cross SW Knights Boulevard at a crosswalk. Pick up the Marquam Trail and follow it to the Wildwood Trail after about 400 feet. Make a left onto the Wildwood.
0.2 Take a connector trail on the left that ascends and crosses SW Fairview Boulevard. Hike up the White Pine Trail. Stay on this trail, passing a number of junctions.
1.0 Arrive at SW Fischer Lane. Carefully cross the road and pick up the connector trail on the other side. Follow this down to a junction with the Wildwood Trail and make a right. Stay on the Wildwood Trail at all junctions.
1.4 Pass the first junction with the Fir Trail. Arrive at a second and follow this south, paralleling the road to the left.
1.6 Just before reaching a pavilion on the right, take the connector trail on the left, crossing SW Fairview Boulevard and arriving at the visitor center. On the northwest side of the visitor center, pick up the Oak Trail, staying on this trail at all junctions.
1.9 The Oak Trail terminates at a junction with the Wildwood Trail. Make a right and stay on the Wildwood Trail as it descends to a double road crossing of SW Upper Cascade Drive and SW Cascade Loop. Pick up the Wildwood Trail on the other side.
2.1 Arrive at a junction and make a right onto the Beech Trail. Walk through the Winter Garden and follow the Magnolia Trail on an ascending set of switchbacks to a road crossing.
2.2 Cross SW Upper Cascade Drive and pick up the Magnolia Trail. At a junction with the Wildwood Trail, make a left.
2.6 Make a left to stay on the Wildwood Trail.
2.8 Pass a junction with the Walnut Trail. Arrive at a junction and make a right onto the Maple Trail.
3.1 Stay left at a junction with the Overlook Trail. Cross SW Kingston Drive.
3.2 Arrive back at the parking area.
Local Information
Post-hike food and drink: Come back down the hill to the Goose Hollow Inn, 1927 SW Jefferson St.