Where to Ride: Getting Around Portland

With bike lanes and paths all over town — not to mention cool forests and striking scenery — the city is pretty much a cyclist’s oyster. Here are some favorite routes to start with:

Vera Katz Eastbank Esplanade

For a year-round bridge experience, cyclists (and pedestrians) can enjoy the Vera Katz Eastbank Esplanade, which opened in May 2001. This 1.5-mile (2.4-kilometer) corridor extends along the east side of downtown Portland's Willamette River, affording dramatic views of the city. The esplanade connects to the seawall at Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park via the Steel Bridge (on its pedestrian/bicycle river crossing at riverbank level) and the Hawthorne Bridge. The resulting loop is just less than three miles (4.8 kilometers) in length. Seating walls, benches, overlooks, and small plaza areas offer places to stop, relax, and enjoy. Boat docks and public artworks are also featured. The entire route is ADA compliant.

Springwater Corridor

Cyclists who opt to continue along the east bank of the Willamette River (rather than turning onto the Hawthorne Bridge) can follow a three-mile (4.8-kilometer) path between OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) and the Sellwood Bridge. This is the westernmost leg of the Springwater Corridor. A testament to Oregonians' zest for recycling, the Springwater Corridor is one of Portland's most notable bike developments. This former rail corridor was reborn as an alternative transportation and recreational trail that winds east for 21 miles (34 kilometers) from Portland to the town of Boring, Ore. The corridor will ultimately lead south to Estacada and into the Mount Hood National Forest.

Forest Park

There are also 30 miles (48 kilometers) of bikeable paths in Forest Park, a 5,156-acre (2,086-hectare) swath of old-growth timber and pristine forest landscapes. One of the most popular routes for bikers is the 11.2-mile (18-kilometer) Leif Erikson Drive, with views of the Columbia River, Mount Hood and Mount St. Helens.

Want more?

You’ll find cyclist-submitted tours at Ride Oregon Ride.