Summer Guide 2011: Hikes For Walkers

So, you like walking. You like it enough that you sold your car and get around exclusively by foot. But now you are faced with a cruel irony: Much as you love walking, hiking is now off limits. How can you get into nature if you lack the means to drive there? Easy—take the bus.

Smith and Bybee Lakes Wildlife Area

Take bus line 4 to North Fessenden Street and Columbia Way in St. Johns, then follow Columbia Way one mile north until you reach the entrance to the park.

Sandy River Delta Park

Take the MAX Blue Line to Gresham Transit Center and catch a line 80 or 81 bus to the end of the line at Jack's Snack 'N' Tackle in Troutdale. Walk across the bridge over the Sandy River and up Crown Point highway, under I-84, to enter the park.

Powell Butte Nature Park

Take bus line 9 to Southeast 160th Avenue and Powell Boulevard. Walk to Southeast 162nd Avenue and follow that street south into the park.

Mount Talbert Nature Park

Take the MAX Green Line to the end of the line at Clackamas Town Center and walk approximately one mile south down the I-205 multi-use path. Cross the freeway at Southeast Sunnybrook Road and follow Southeast 97th Avenue south to Southeast Talbert Street. There is a trailhead at the end of the street.

Tryon Creek State Park

Take bus line 38 or 39 to Southwest Terwilliger Boulevard and Maplecrest Drive. Walk 100 feet east to the pedestrian trail and follow it behind Lewis & Clark Law School to enter the park from the north.

Forest Park

To enter from the south, take the line 15 bus to the end of its route at Northwest Thurman Street and walk about half a mile farther up the street to Leif Erickson Drive. To enter from the north, take the line 17 bus to Northwest St. Helens Road and Saltzman Road, and follow Saltzman Road about a mile up the hill. It is about a 7 mile hike between the two entrances.

WWeek 2015