Hike #3: Wildwood to Waterline to Leif Erikson to Cannon Trail

Today was an eventful day! First, I attended the Portland Pride Parade with a variety of friends, new and old. It was a beautiful day for a parade, and it was great to see so many people in attendance, showing their support for the LGBTQ community.

After the parade, I headed out to Forest Park to get my hike on. I started from the Wildwood Trail just off Germantown Road (which is a lovely, winding road). The sunlight coming through the canopy was simply spectacular.


I came to the junction with the Waterline Trail and then took a left. I walked down this trail for a bit until it met up with Leif Erikson Dr, where I took another left.

This takes you to the very end of the Leif Erikson trail, which deposits you into a parking lot. From there, I found the Cannon Trail, which took me all the way back to the Wildwood Trailhead.

I took many pictures of slugs, of course...

And also some various fungi, including Indian Pipe (the white fungus).

According to Google Maps, I hiked 2.3 miles. Not bad for a quick, Sunday afternoon hike!

Hike #1: Lower MacLeay Park to Wildwood and Wild Cherry Trails

I just recently switched to a new work schedule, so that I am now working Tuesday-Saturday, rather than Monday-Friday/Saturday. This was my first Monday off, and I decided spend the afternoon exploring Forest Park.

I started my journey at the Lower MacLeay Park, with which I am very familiar. I hiked to the "Witch's Castle," and while I have typically continued straight towards the Audubon Society on NW Cornell, I decided this time to veer right onto the Wildwood Trail.

Witch's Castle

I then stayed on the Wildwood Trail for quite a while, passing the junctions for Holman Lane, the Aspen Trail, and the Birch Trail. This section of the Wildwood Trail was entirely new to me, and wow... it was gorgeous.

So much green!

Additionally, while hiking, I saw 34 slugs and snails! For those who may not know, I heart slugs.

I eventually reached the junction of the Wildwood Trail and the Wild Cherry Trail. I took the Wild Cherry Trail to Leif Erikson Drive, which was a road originally constructed in the 1900s. Due to landslides, the road eventually closed and then became part of Forest Park.

I traveled down Leif Erikson for just a short distance until I came to a narrow trail that is marked on my Forest Park map but not on Google Maps. That trail took me past a large water tank before spitting me out onto NW Gordon St, which then connected me to NW Thurman St. From there, I was able to take Thurman all the way back to Lower MacLeay Park. Google Maps says I walked 4.7 miles, and with the rest of the walking I did today, I got over 18,000 steps!

A map of my hike.