Portland State University Visitors Guide - Flipbook - Page 7
TOM McCALL
WATERFRONT PARK
Downtown Portland
This park is on the west bank of
the Willamette River and is a great
place to go for a walk or stumble
upon an event. Although beautiful
all year round, Waterfront Park is
especially delightful in the springtime
when the cherry blossom trees are
blooming. Salmon Street Springs is
an impressive fountain that you can
play in during the hottest summer
months. Make your way towards
the north end of the park to see the
Oregon Maritime Museum (look
for the boat!). If you’re visiting over
the weekend, the Portland Saturday
Market should be on your list. This is
one of our claims to fame, the largest
continuously operated outdoor market
in the country. Here, you can pick up
some souvenirs for your loved ones
back home: artisan jewelry, handcrafted ceramics, natural soap, or even
a flower crown!
To get here from PSU:
To the south waterfront: 0.5 mile walk east
from campus. To the north waterfront: Catch
either the MAX Green Line or Yellow Line from
the PSU Urban Center stop, hop off at SW 6th
and Pine, and walk east towards the river.
FOREST PARK
Northwest Portland
Forest Park is one of the largest urban
forests in the United States, made up
of over 80 miles of trails and spread
across 5,200 acres. The Lower Macleay
Park Trailhead is a great place to start
your hike. It links up to the popular
Wildwood Trail and will take you
to the Witch’s Castle, an abandoned
early 20th century stone structure
among the trees. There is a vast
network of trails throughout this park
and some parts are very secluded while
others are more populated. Want
to help with the park’s restoration
efforts? Volunteer with the Forest Park
Conservancy to help clean up some of
the trails.
To get here from PSU: Get on the Streetcar
heading north and get off at NW 10th &
Glisan. Hop on bus line 77 headed toward
Montgomery Park and get off at NW Vaughn
& 27th. Take a left on 27th and a left on
Upshur St, and you will arrive at the trailhead.
FOREST PARK
TANNER SPRINGS
PARK
Pearl District
One of the newer parks in the city,
Tanner Springs is the perfect mix of
urban and natural elements. Designed
by a notable landscape architecture
firm, it contains elements that
remind us of the wetland that used
to occupy the space. There is a cool
art installment at one end of the park
composed of railroad tracks and fused
glass. The park is located in the heart
of the Pearl District, so you can easily
hop on the Portland Streetcar to get
to some classic Portland landmarks:
Powell’s City of Books, McMeniman’s
Crystal Ballroom and Living Room
Theaters.
To get here from PSU:
Take the Portland StreetCar NS Line from
the PSU Urban Center and get off at NW 10th
and Northrup.
MOUNT TABOR PARK
Southeast Portland
This is the only park in Portland that
was built on an...extinct volcano? Yep,
that’s correct! In fact, ancient volcanic
cinders were used to pave the park’s
pathways! The floor is literally lava
here. Besides that, this park has one of
the best views of the city skyline and
is the best spot to watch the sunset.
There are three official trails you can
follow, but any footpath can take you
across the park. Be on the lookout for
an impressive bronze statue of Harvey
W. Scott, editor of The Oregonian;
it was built by the same person who
created Mount Rushmore!
To get here from PSU: Hop on bus line 15
at SW Salmon & 5th, toward Gateway Transit
Center. Get off at SE Belmont & 67th and
you’re there!
COUNCIL
CREST PARK
Southwest Hills
MILLS END PARK
Waterfront
If you’re not looking for this park,
you probably wouldn’t even notice it!
A great example of our city’s sense of
humor, the “World’s Smallest Park”
was once a vacant hole in the middle
of the street overgrown with weeds.
Now, it is an official city park and is
home to one tiny tree.
To get here from PSU: From campus, walk
north on SW 6th Ave, then turn right on SW
Taylor St. Head towards the water; the park is
near the waterfront.
This park will give you hands-down
some of the most gorgeous views of
your entire life. From the top, you can
see five mountains! On a clear day, Mt.
Hood, Mt. Saint Helens, Mt. Adams,
Mt. Rainier and Mt. Jefferson are all
visible. If you’re up for a hike, you can
take the 3.3 mile trail up the hill from
Marquam Nature Park, or you can
take it easy and just drive to the top.
To get here from PSU: Get on the Portland
Streetcar heading north and get off at SW 10th
& Alder. Hop on bus line 51 at 11th & Alder and
get off at SW Talbot Terrace and Greenway.
Head up the hill to the top.
Visitor Guide
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