Macleay Park

I love all the Portland Parks, This one is a hidden (and kind of hard to get to) gem. I always wind up coming down the stairs under the bridge on Thurman (I know there are other ways but this is my way!
At the bottom there is a small picnic area, what a parks sign identifies as an old city water works for Portland (appairantly it was supposed to provide more water then they thought Portland could ever need).
On the south side of the park is a trail that is my favorite hike in the city. I winds through the park, past a ruin of an old home and up to Cornell Rd near the Audobon Society, If you turn right it takes you back to NW Portland if you continue there is a steep climb to Pittock Mansion and on to the zoo.
It’s a great park, but if you are taking the hike bring water as the water fountains are few and far between.

Truly a highlight of the trip! We had a great hike along the Wildwood trail, and I was quietly nerding out the whole time, being a HUGE fan of the Wildwood book series!
It was the one rainy day we had in Portland, which was actually totally fine as it was still super warm! Plus the overhanging trees provided some pretty good cover. The trail was consistently pretty busy, but not overwhelmingly so, and we had plenty of sections where it was just us and we could appreciate the quiet beauty of the woods.
The trails are well maintained, although not signed as well as they could be! We’re still not entirely sure where we ended up! Regardless, I would 100% make this a priority next time I’m in Portland. It was a beautiful treat!

This is a very separated area from downtown. It’s a very peaceful place if you are looking for a nice hiking trail. My gf and I were not suited for hiking so we probably had a good 10 minute walk and it was getting a bit late so we were not able to go further. From the view of the park, I really like how much trees and greens around the area. Yes you will be finding homeless people there, actually, I see them every where in portland. Parking is not difficult to find so that’s very convenient. Well, the purpose of going here was because I had to take a huge shit and oh boy, the bathroom stinks so bad and I had to hold my breath while doing my thing. Amen!

If you don’t get a chance to go hiking out of the city, this is a good spot where you can find some trails, but if you’re expecting a beautiful, natural, eerie Witch’s Castle, fuggedaboutit.
Witch’s Castle/​House is a ½ mile downhill walk from the Upper Macleay Parking Lot on the Wildwood Trail. The walk is a few switchbacks downhill and then a flat path that takes about 15 – 20 minutes one way. The Witch’s House has a lot graffiti, and it’s sad because it has such interesting history. I was expecting some graffiti, but not that much, so I was disappointed. You will probably see a group of teenagers messing around or other people hiking through at Witch’s House. My suggestion if you’re expecting a beautiful eerie untouched house with history, you won’t find that. I was visiting Portland, so I could’ve done without spending the time to see it.

My favorite hike in forest park. It can be short enough for small kids by going to the house and long enough for grown ups by going to pittock mansion. We love to start on lower park, hike to pittock and then, on the return route, continue on wildwood for a different view. We always walk down the bridge on Thurman.

Pretty gorgeous! I recently visited Seattle and decided to drive down to Portland because I have never been. I’m also looking to possibly move the the Pacific Northwest and wanted to check Portland out.
The trails are pretty with birds chirping, little creeks, and lots of green. Being from Phoenix, it was nice to go on a hike in the summertime and not die of heat exhaustion. Plus, we don’t really have nature trails like this.
So, why only 4 stars? Well, I thought the trail was gorgeous and there was lots of green, however it was kind of boring. I planned on giving it 5 stars and then I hiked Mt. Rainier.

I drove up from Lake Oswego to see the so-​called Witch’s Castle since it’s the closest thing to an actual castle around here. I parked in the little roundabout at the end of Upshur Street. It’s about a 20 minute walk to the WC and I cannot describe the sheer disappointment upon finally seeing it. Photos back from 2014 had it looking amazing, but it seems several groups of vandals have passed through the area this last year and have completely defaced it. There is nearly not a single spot that hasn’t been coated with ugly graffiti. I don’t know if it’s from gangs (unlikely imo), just random passer-​bys who happen to have been armed to the teeth with spraypaint, or (what I suspect) drunken students who came here to party and completely trashed the place. There were broken glass beer bottles on the upper floor with cigarette butts scattered around too. Here we are in this lovely little glade with a creek running through it and I feel like I’m standing in the inner-​city ghetto. Thanks a lot a-​holes for ruining what is probably a piece of history and more importantly depriving a lot of cool photo opportunities for the rest of us. I walked all around and viewed it from every angle and couldn’t find a single way to photograph it without getting the graffiti in the shot too. Only the very tip of one wall (where the roof would meet, were there one) was unspoiled. Great photo op that is! I don’t know if the city can clean up all the damage (unlikely), and they probably don’t even care to, but so much for getting nice spooky pictures of eerie moss covered stone ruins.
Besides that, the rest of the park is okay I guess. The trail is paved only for the first few hundred meters and then it turns very rough, uneven, and rocky. A lot of runners zoomed by and I thought it’s a miracle they didn’t twist an ankle. They must have all the rock placements memorized. The creek is nice, but wasn’t very full so I didn’t see any fish even though there were signs that it contains trout. If you live close it’s a nice place to walk and unwind, but then again you already know this. For everyone else out of the area who is here reading this I’d say just don’t bother. There are plenty of other woodsy areas easier to access. If the castle hadn’t been totally vandalized I’d probably rate this a lot higher, since it was my whole reason to visit.

Macleay Park is kind of like Rivendale (where my LOTR fans at?!), which makes hiking it an awesome experience. The whole trail runs alongside a creek, where everything is wet and green and alive. Several immense trees that fell decades-​to-​centuries ago are wedged above the creek, which can be walked out onto. Branches are so covered in hanging moss that they resemble the Jim Hansen Muppet elephant trunks (does anyone know what I’m talking about??). Needless to say, this trail is GORGEOUS.
It connects to the Wildwood trail, which can be taken up to Pittock Mansion and even as far out as Hoyt Arboretum if you really wanna go for it and make Forest Park your b*tch. Although, you have to cross a busy road, so be careful out there, guys.
Tip: There aren’t trail markers once you connect to Pittock Mansion to remind you to get back on the right trail that will take you back to Macleay. Don’t get lost out there or have to hike back on the road!

Absolutely beautiful. Anybody living in the surrounding neighborhoods is extremely fortunate to have this so close! Very wide trails, with a lot of options for short or longer hikes. It’s a pretty flat and easy 4−5mi roundtrip to the stone house ruins via the Lower Macleay Trail. It’s extremely busy on the weekends but still nice nonetheless.
You can also connect to the Wildwood Trail that extends for about 30mi, with not many people on it. It’s a good option if you want a casual serene walk with no real «spectacular» views or checkpoints.
Beware: the trails can be slippery and really muddy!

Saw the Witches castle hike was cool for the kids and it didn’t disappoint. In fact, scaring the kids with scary stories as you walk around the old cobblestone home is just pure fun
If you do go for this hike, look up the stories of the Belch family, it is a violent one and spurs creative juices.
As we were hiking there were a group of young girls along the trail with candles and books… Looking as if the were trying to summon some old spirits. Spooky!!! Lol
We got a kick out of it all and did a nice hike around the park.

Great for kids but dress warm.
Macleay Park is everything I could want from a walk in the woods: a stream, bridges, cool stonework building, close to town and surprisingly secluded.
Having grown up in NW and SW Portland this is one of the places I always remembered going to with my father as a very small child. Rediscovering the Lower Macleay Park trail now as an adult was a wonderful treat.
The trail is well maintained and dog friendly. But the coolest part of the hike has got to be the stone structure that you can crawl over. The trail goes from the Alphabet District to the Audubon Society on NW Cornell Rd.
I’m looking forward to doing the full hike but I usually get caught taking pictures in front of what I like to imagine was a Forestry Service building.

Since moving to the wet and wonderful Pacific Northwest, I’ve learned to appreciate (love, lust) every sunny day that nature brings our way. Both of them so far were so nice. On those rare days when you realize the Sun God Ra is real, Macleay Park in Portland’s famous Forest Park will clear away the cobwebs and the sorrow ’til there’s none.
Oooohhh … The sun’ll come out tomorrow
(Seriously, tomorrow may be sunny)
Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow
(But take the points Portland)
there’ll be sun
(or none)
Just thinkin’ about tomorrow
(and not having to work)
Clears away the cobwebs and the sorrow ’til there’s none
(goodbye months of gloom and doom)
When I’m stuck with a day that’s grey and lonely
(like every other day this week)
I just stick up my chin and grin and say, oh
(put on those hiking boots, so)
The sun’ll come out tomorrow
(or not)
So you gotta hang on
(someday we’ll see a blue sky)
’til tomorrow, come what may!
(probably more misty fog)
Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya, tomorrow
(cause today kind of sucks)
You’re always a day away!
(Seriously, why not today)
This large slice of mother nature is open 5:00 am — 10:00 pm and filled with trails and hiking paths for all levels and ages. Macleay Park has a long history, but takes its name from Donald Macleay who donated the land to Portland in 1897 to avoid paying Oregon’s high property taxes. So, keep that in mind, the next time your county tax bill arrives.

Decided to check this place out since we have extra time. We didn’t know that this place leads to Forest Park! When we got here, we had to park around the neighborhood and the location was under construction. However, MacLeay Park was a great place to see. So much greenery! It had a bridge, and flow of waters… nothing in California likes it. Fresh air, so much shade, all you can ask for if you want to stroll around few mins from Downtown Portland.

We hiked the Balch Creek Nature Trail on Saturday 9÷13÷14 from Macleay Park to the Pittock Mansion. It was a great hike: beautiful scenery and a well– maintained trail. We were shocked, though, by the many bags of dog poop that had been dropped along the trail. There were at least 20! Our out-​of-​town guests optimistically suggested that perhaps the dog owners would pick them up on the way back down the hill but all of the bags were still there when we descended. That is so rude and so gross. Bags are provided on the trails with a reminder er to carry out all litter. There were many dogs on the trails: most on leash. We only saw ONE individual carrying a filled bag although some hikers had backpacks. Maybe dogs shouldn’t be allowed on trail.

This was an ok park. We stopped here instead of Forest Park because we wanted to see the ‘Witches Castle’.
To the castle, it was all down hill. It was really rocky and we brought the stroller. I would advise against bringing one.
Now, the castle that we were all set to see: What a disgusting example of human shittiness. The thing was trashed and reeked like piss. Broken glass, trash, beer cans and liquor bottles littered the entire thing as well as graffiti. One little room on the first floor stunk so bad you could smell it from 20 feet away. I couldn’t believe the state the thing was in.
What’s worse is that the map that was right in front had had significant portions scratched off so you didn’t know which trail to take (the castle is located at a fork).
If you’re main goal is the castle. skip it. Otherwise the trail is just ok and maybe worth doing.

Another nice surprise arranged by the guy I am dating. We went on an hour hike up a hill to burn some of the calories that we ate so far on our Portland food trip. I needed to burn some of the chicken salad and he needed to sweat off some of craft beer he had earlier. The trail itself is easy to climb with a few hills and some steady straight areas making it easy for all ages to attempt and climb. One piece of advice is to wear proper athletic shoes. I had my rain boots which seemed to work as the ground was damp, however, my ankles felt very burnt after. We did go all the away to the supposed witches stone house which was cool to see. Not sure if there is any truth to the legend but there was a heavy feeling. Maybe that heavy feeling was the hollowness in my stomach from all those burned calories. Either way it was a good walk and a chance to get some real fresh air. The washrooms don’t have soap or paper towel.

Beautiful park with multiple routes you can take once you cross over Cornell. I typically use lower Mackleay to start my trek to Pittock Mansion. There’s some great stops along the way and clearly marked viewing points. With the river flowing through… if you can call it that? It makes for a relaxing time with good scenery.
The stone house is super cool and makes for a good photo op.
Parking can be a tad iffy on the weekends but it isn’t terrible. Especially if you start at lower Mackleay there’s neighborhood parking. As you walk in, there’s a bathroom area, picnic tables, and plenty of space for you and/​or your animals to roam around.
Great place for dogs and you will see lots of others along the pathway.
Only drawback is indeed the crowds on the weekends especially when the weather is decent. However, I have found that if you continue hiking and cross over Cornell onto the Wildwood trails (I believe that’s what it’s called) there’s far less people.
Happy trails to you!

Just a short drive outside Portland and you are in the middle of a beautiful emerald green forest! So b/​c we were out of towners we of course got a little confused and missed the parking lot not once, but twice. Awesome. But by the time we were out of the car and hiking it was spectacular. Until we realized we were on the wrong trail to get to the Pittock mansion. Super awesome.
We hiked down along the creek to the Stone House, there is a map there that revealed our folly. But no worries, it is gorgeous down there! The sound of the creek was so relaxing and the lush green forest was so refreshing. However, I was on a mission to try to get to this Pittock mansion so that I too could revel in the gorgeous views everyone talks about. So we hiked back up and went across the street as according to the map that was the right way to get to the mansion.
We hiked up and up and somehow got lost again and never made it to the mansion or the spectacular views. Not awesome. However we did get a very nice (albeit muddy as heck) hike out of the whole trip! If I had more time in Portland I would come here again for sure. It was a great hike for our dogs and they got a nice bath afterwards.

Gorgeous nature spot practically in the middle of the city. Very peaceful and quiet. The sound of the rushing creek water was really nice. The trail is well laid and easy to follow. I love it here and can’t wait to come back.

I was invited to a hike at Macleay Park upon arriving in Portland last weekend. It was a beautiful day, and we gathered up a group of friends to check it out. What a great park! It has a stream trail, dense forested areas, an old mansion of some sort, and great views of Portland, the Willamette, the Columbia, and Mt. Hood. If I’m in Portland looking for a hike again, I’ll definitely be back.
One final thought: In the parking lot there was a Portland Parks Department vehicle, with a logo and the following phrase under it, «Portland: The City That Works.» Who decided that should be Portland’s slogan? I prefer «Keep Portland Underemployed,» personally.