Council Crest Hike
From Portland Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Marquam Nature Park Shelter Trailhead
- End point: Council Crest
- Trail Log: Trail Log
- Hike Type: Out-and-back with a short loop option
- Distance: 3.3 miles
- Elevation gain: 820 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Seasons: All
- Family Friendly: Somewhat, beware of busy street crossings
- Backpackable: No
- Crowded: Yes
- GPS Track: View on map - Download
Contents |
Hike Description
This hike is a good way to get some decent elevation gain within the Portland city limits. The destination Council Crest is a park built atop a summit with great views on a clear day. The summit is reachable by car (and there are closer trailheads), but you will get a better workout with the described route.
Start out at the Marquam Nature Park Shelter Trailhead and head to the left. Almost immediately you will hit a junction- head to the right, following the signs to Council Crest. Continue until you reach a junction with the trail that heads down towards the Broadway Avenue trailhead and head towards the left, again following the signs. Soon you will leave the solitude of the forest and travel through neighborhoods in between rows of large houses (some of which are quite spectacular). There will be a few street crossings over busy roads which do not have crosswalks. The hike will steepen as you reach the summit of Council Crest.
On the return trip you can add in a loop that adds no distance to the hike. At the Broadway Avenue junction, head to the left this time. At the next intersection, there will be an option to continue towards the Broadway trailhead, but head to the right instead, towards the Marquam Park Nature Shelter.
Maps
- See the clickable GPS track and vertical profile on the right.
- Maps: Hike Finder
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Council Crest
- (Click here to add your own)
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Council Crest
- (Click here to ask a question or start a conversation)
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- 100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon - 4th Edition, by William Sullivan
Contributors
- Martell (creator)