Powell Butte Loop

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Views · Wildflowers

A charming clockwise hike from the open grasses atop the butte down into the tress along the western border. There are plenty of fields, mountains, woods, animals, and birds to look at along the way.

This route starts and ends at the visitor center. The first section is paved, but that quickly gives way to singletrack as you climb on the Wildhorse Trail. Upon reaching the summit, you take a right on Summit Lane (an easy gravel path) which features great views of the mountains to the east and the city of Portland to the west.

Turn left on the Douglas Fir Trail and quickly descend into the forest on the sides of the butte. Using the connectors Cedar Grove Trail and Elderberry Trail you can wind through the forest on the sides of the butte, eventually climbing up to Pipeline Lane, a wide gravel road that takes you back the Park Center Trail and Mountain View Trail near the visitor center.

You can expect to see birds of all kinds (keep a look out for raptors on top of the butte) as well as deer and rabbits in the forest.