Portland, Oregon
Ready to hike in an American city that offers a European-ish car-free experience? Portland, Oregon has connected four modes of transport with a well signed trail to offer a scenic urban forest adventure. The 4T Trail provides the opportunity to see lesser known neighborhoods at ground level and get some exercise in the process. Traveling from the Willamette River’s edge to the high point of Portland’s West Hills, the 4T trail offers stunning views of the Cascade Mountain Range on clear days. Take an afternoon, grab your small pack and a buddy, and get your trail shoes ready for a variety of transit modes: Train – Trail – Tram – Trolley.
The 4Ts
T1 – Train
We started with the Train portion, but you can access this trail at any point along the journey and arrive back at your chosen starting point.
The TriMet Max train is the heavy duty people mover in Portland, providing transit options from the airport all the way west to Beaverton and Hillsboro and south to Milwaukie. With trains running 3 – 4 times per hour from early morning to late at night, it’s easy to hop on and get this adventure underway without using a car.
Video sights from the train
From Portland’s city center, take the Red Line heading west and wind your way through the downtown shops. Cobblestones along the tracks toward the soccer (football / futbol) stadium add to the European feeling. Leaving the city behind, the train heads deep under the West Hills via a lengthy tunnel. Half way through the tunnel, exit at the Oregon Zoo stop, then ride the elevator to the surface.
T2 – Trail: Foot Power / Hiking
Trail Section 1 – Up to Council Crest
The hike portion starts at the Oregon Zoo in a vast concrete parking lot, but quickly leaves the urban feel behind after crossing over the highway to find your unexpected dirt trail entrance part way down the highway on-ramp. (One suggestion is to visit the bathrooms at the zoo before hitting your stride on the hike.)
Soon you begin to wind your way up the hill, leaving behind the city traffic jam for the lush forest. Tall mossy trees line your path, with birds chirping to cheer you on. Ivy, ferns, and wildflowers dot the landscape, and you’ll cross creek beds on small wooden bridges. Slowly those daily tensions melt away with this suburban escape to nature. This trail leads to the highest point in the city – Council Crest (1,073 feet / 327 meters).
Continuing upward, you pop out of the forest and land in an urban setting with large houses, a church and gas station. You transition from the dirt trail to the sidewalk then to an asphalt trail for the final push to Council Crest.
The high point offers a great area to relax before heading on to the next segment. Grassy fields under tree cover offer space for a picnic, and you see blooming flowers, spectacular views of the city and four volcanoes in the Cascade Range. Informational art will build your knowledge of the geography.
Trail Section 2 – To the OHSU Campus
Leaving the highest point in the city means dropping back into the trees for a descent, with a slight uphill finish at the campus of Oregon’s academic medical center, Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU). Then it’s on to the next T on the trail. Walking down through the forested areas you pass resting benches, the occasional house and cross a few roads. With a final little push uphill, the campus buildings start to appear through the trees, indicating you are nearing the completion of the hiking portion.
Trail Slideshow (5 images)
Back in civilization, your final steps take you through the OHSU hilltop campus toward the next T – The Tram.
T3 – Tram: Rise above it all
As you enter the tram terminal on the hill, you are hit with impressive views of Portland’s downtown, Willamette River and south waterfront, and on clear days, Mt Hood rising in the distance.
Used as transportation to connect the south waterfront to the OHSU medical campus on the hill, the commuter aerial tramway is a beautiful solution to reduce car traffic in both areas. Opened in December 2006, this transit mode gives the feel of being in the Swiss Alps accessing a ski area.
As the tram descends to the waterfront terminal, views include rooftop garden terraces and traffic congestion as you cross over the I-5 Highway. The trip takes less than 5 minutes and whisks you down 500 feet of elevation. There are two trams alternating going up and down, so if you miss one, another will be along shortly.
Video of sights from the Tram
The final journey into the terminal is a steep, controlled descent, which for some can be exhilarating. Others may want to stay calm and hold tight. Once the tram has come to a stop, the doors open and you can wander the south waterfront for a river view or get a quick bite to refuel with 3/4 of the trip complete.
T4 -Trolley
Right around the corner from the base of the Tram, you catch the Trolley, known as the Portland Streetcar.
The trolley travels on city streets and moves with the flow of traffic (slower than the Max, but at least you can relax in the air conditioned and dry cabin with someone else driving). Hop on and sit for a gentle ride winding from the south end of town to the central downtown area back to our starting point.
Travel Tips
- This trail is omni-directional – you can go in either direction and start at any point. Most people travel it the way we did – counter-clockwise.
- The 4T is well-signed at all sections of the trail.
- While it is a low cost adventure, you will need to pay separately for each transit leg: Tram, TriMet Max train and Trolley Streetcar. There is no ticket that covers all modes of travel.
- To avoid getting stuck at the top of the OHSU campus, check the hours for the tram in advance. They are usually closed on Sundays and holidays, have annual scheduled maintenance, and occasionally close for high winds.
- This is an enjoyable, scenic activity anytime of the year with spring and summer sunshine, colorful leaves in the fall, and winter fog or rain. Just dress appropriately for the conditions.
- Even with three sections of transit, a moderate level of fitness is required for the up and down hiking portion. It is also a good family activity with older kids.
- You could bring your own lunch, but why not end the trip downtown and visit one of Portland’s many notable food cart pods to refuel and reflect on your 4T experience.
Planning Resources
| Location | Portland, OR (PDX) |
| Visitor Resources | Travel Portland: https://www.travelportland.com/culture/outdoors/ Trail Information: https://www.4t-trail.org TriMet Transit Information: https://trimet.org/home/ Tram Information: https://www.gobytram.com Tram History: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland_Aerial_Tram |
| Restaurants and Food Cart Reviews – Portland | Dining recommendations from Eater Portland: https://pdx.eater.com/ |
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