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The 10 Best Dog Friendly Hiking Trails in Portland
Looking for awesome hikes, great views, and opportunities for fun and adventure with your four-legged friend? The Pacific Northwest has tons of great dog-friendly hikes, and the Portland area is no exception. Whether you’re an avid hiker with lots of experience under your belt (and collar) or you’re a beginner looking to get your feet (and paws) wet, there’s no shortage of great dog friendly hiking trails in Portland and the surrounding areas.
So whether you and your pup are experienced hikers or newbies, Rose-City natives or first-time Portland visitors, we’ve got you covered! From challenging hikes to great views, keep reading to discover our top 10 hiking trails for dogs in Portland.
Hiking With Your Dog in Portland
When it comes to dog friendly hikes in Oregon, your options are plentiful! Whether you and your pup are looking for a small garden oasis in the heart of the city or an off-road adventure with amazing views of the mountains or coast, there’s no shortage of great hikes in the area that welcome man’s best friend.
Here are our top 10 dog friendly hiking trails in Portland, with a couple of options further afoot for those looking for some extra adventure:
- Wildwood Trail in Forest Park
- Powell Butte Loop Hike
- Tryon Creek Inner Loop Hike
- Dog Mountain Trail
- Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
- Springwater Corridor Trail
- Mt. Tabor Park Loop
- Warrior Point Hike
- Crescent Beach Hike
- International Rose Test Garden
Additional reading: 10 Tips for Hiking with Dogs & the Gear to Bring
1. Wildwood Trail in Forest Park
Difficulty: Advanced/Difficult
Trail Length: 29.6 miles (plenty of trailheads)
Off-Leash Options: No
Seasons: Year-Round
Most Portland natives will be familiar with Forest Park. One of the largest urban forests in the United States with more than 5,200 acres, Forest Park has more than 80 miles of trails and an abundance of wildlife and natural beauty to enjoy. There are lots of Forest Park hikes that allow dogs, but Wildwood Trail is probably the most pet-friendly trail in the park. With nearly 30 miles of beautiful hikable forested trails, you can easily choose the level of difficulty and length of your hike based on which trailhead(s) you choose to explore.
2. Powell Butte Loop Hike
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Length: 5.4 miles
Off-Leash Options: No
Seasons: Year-Round
If you’re looking for a moderately difficult hike with plenty of natural beauty but you don’t want to venture too far outside the city, this is a great option. Powell Butte itself is a 10-million-year-old cinder cone volcano, and the park is full of beautiful forest and meadowland. A super dog-friendly trail (as long as they’re leashed), the Powell Butte loop hike takes you around the perimeter of the 612-acre park to the summit of the volcano where you can rest with your pup and see views of Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams, and Mount Rainier.
3. Tryon Creek Inner Loop Hike
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Length: 2.1 miles
Off-Leash Options: No
Seasons: Year-Round
Another of Portland’s urban forest parks, Tryon Creek State Natural Area is a lush environment with an abundance of wildlife living around and above ample walkable and bikeable trails. There are lots of trails to choose from, but the inner loop hike is a great option if you’re hiking with a smaller dog or one who’s on the older side. It’s an easy 2.1 miles that’s enjoyable year-round!
4. Dog Mountain Trail
Difficulty: Advanced/Difficult
Trail Length: 6.9 miles
Off-Leash Options: No
Seasons: Closed during heavy snowfall
The name says it all! If you’re an experienced hiker looking for challenging dog friendly hikes with breathtaking views of the Columbia River Gorge, Dog Mountain Trail is the hike for you! Technically in Washington, this hike is just over the river, about an hour’s drive from Portland. Since it’s further afoot and a bit of a longer hike, with 6.9 miles of more challenging terrain, you should make sure you bring plenty of water for yourself and your pooch. You can even have your dog carry their own gear in an adorable and functional doggy backpack!
5. Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Length: 9.5 acres to explore
Off-Leash Options: No
Seasons: Year-Round (open hours and entry fees may vary)
Leashed dogs big and small are always welcome at the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, situated just north of the beloved Eastmoreland neighborhood in Southeast Portland. Plenty of ducks and geese to chase and an abundance of new and interesting smells await your furry friend at the gardens. Just keep in mind that there’s a small entry fee and the hours vary by season.
6. Springwater Corridor Trail
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
Trail Length: 21.5 miles (plenty of trailheads)
Off-Leash Options: No
Seasons: Year-Round
The Springwater Corridor Trail is a 21.5-mile paved trail that’s super popular with walkers, hikers, runners, cyclists, and, most importantly, canines! Stretching all the way from Portland to Boring, Oregon, with plenty of entry points and exits, you and your pup can enjoy anything from a short walk, to a long hike, to marathon training on this beloved Oregon trail with great views of buttes, pastures, forests, and residential and industrial areas.
7. Mt. Tabor Park Loop
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Length: 2.0 miles
Off-Leash Options: Yes
Seasons: Year-Round
If you’re looking for good parks and off leash dog hikes in Portland, Mt. Tabor is a great place to start. Like Powell Butte, Mt. Tabor is a volcanic cinder cone, which is what gives the park its awesome hills for hiking, walking, and running. The park boasts tons of native plants for your pup to sniff and an abundance of paved and unpaved trails and long flights of stone steps. Mt. Tabor even has a partially-fenced off leash area to allow your dog to run free!
8. Warrior Point Hike
Difficulty: Moderate-Advanced/Difficult
Trail Length: 7.0 miles
Off-Leash Options: No
Seasons: Year-Round
This hike is long but flat, and takes you and your canine pal up to the quaint and serene northern tip of Sauvie Island where you’ll find Warrior Rock Lighthouse, Oregon’s smallest lighthouse and one of just two non-coastal lighthouses that are still operating in the state. The hike is extremely popular with birdwatchers; the trail takes you through a wildlife refuge and in the winter, you have a good chance of seeing Canadian and cackling geese, snow geese, tundra swans, sandhill cranes, and even bald eagles.
9. Crescent Beach Hike
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Length: 3.6 miles
Off-Leash Options: No
Seasons: Year-Round
There are plenty of dog friendly coastal hikes in Oregon to choose from, but this one, not far from the quaint town of Cannon Beach, takes our number-one spot! It’s great for hikers and their dogs of all shapes and sizes. It’s moderately difficult, but not too long, and the destination is a beautiful and secluded little crescent-shaped beach, bookended by Ecola Point and Chapman Point, which boast breathtaking views of sea stacks and caves. You’ll sometimes also catch a glimpse of pelicans, seals, and seal lions during low tide.
10. International Rose Test Garden
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Length: 4.5 acres to explore
Off-Leash Options: No
Seasons: Year-Round
If you’re looking for a gentler stroll rather than a challenging hike for you and your dog to enjoy, consider stopping by the International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park, situated between the beloved historic Portland neighborhoods of Arlington Heights and Goose Hollow. The oldest continuously operating public rose test garden in the United States, with more than 10,000 roses for you and your pup to see (and smell), the garden has beautiful views of Downtown Portland and Mt. Hood. While the garden offers a lovely walk all year, the best rose-viewing season is from May through September.
Get hiking and outdoor gear for your dog at King Duke’s!
King Duke’s is a proud family-run Portland-area organization. We treat your pets like they’re family, because we know that’s exactly what they are. We offer a huge selection of high-quality food, treats, accessories, gear, and outdoor dog supplies to meet your hiking needs all year long.
Ready to stock up on supplies for your next adventure with your furry family member? We’ve got you covered. Stop by our Beaverton store or shop online!
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