Outdoor Adventures
Only 25 minutes from Portland, the scenic Columbia gorge offers beautiful views of the Columbia River and the surrounding landscape. Check out Multnomah Falls (pictured), Oneota Gorge, Horsetail Falls, and Latourell Falls. There are many hikes with varying distance and difficulty surrounding each waterfall.
Columbia Gorge
With the Pacific Ocean and hour and half to the West and alpine fun at Mt. Hood or Mt. St. Helens and hour East and North, Portland is an easy home base for exploring the wonders of the PNW. Oregonhikers.org is a great resource for planning hikes in the area.
Forest Park
One of the largest urban forest reserves in the country, Forest Park stretches along the hillsides overlooking the Willamette River. There are over 70 miles of trails within the park, a few of which can be accessed right from the west hills near downtown. Great city hiking opportunities if you're not renting a car!
Mt. Hood
Just a little over an hour's drive east of Portland, Mt. Hood provides recreation activities all year long. Check out Timberline lodge, a National Historic Landmark built in the mid 1930's under FDR's Works Progress Administration. It's also the exterior location from The Shining and offers the only year round skiing in the country. You can catch the Pacific Crest Trail from Timberline or explore the meadows of Mt. Hood. Alpine slides are also open at Mt. Hood Ski Bowl!
Cannon Beach
The closest beach to Portland, and also where David proposed, Cannon Beach is an easy 90 minute drive from Portland. Walk around the quaint downtown and stroll along the beach watching the waves crash into Haystack Rock (beach from the Goonies).