Portland has a volcano in its southeast neighborhoods, and a 2-mile loop climbs it past century-old reservoirs
Portland has a volcano, and you don’t need a free weekend to climb it. Mount Tabor is an extinct volcanic butte sitting in the middle of Southeast Portland, draped in Douglas-fir and laced with stairs.
The loop below is about 2 miles round trip with roughly 350 feet of climbing. It’s easy enough that families do it, but those stairs will remind you that you’re walking up a volcano.
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Start with the water, not the summit
Most people beeline for the top. Skip that and begin on the park’s west side at Lincoln Street instead, because the reservoirs are the best part of the loop.
A maintenance road leads north past a gate to Reservoir 6, and then about 100 stairs lift you up to Reservoir 5 and its gatehouse. These open-air reservoirs were built between 1894 and 1911, and the park and its reservoirs earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.
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Cross Poison Oak Hill to the top
From the reservoirs, the trail climbs over a hill with a refreshingly honest name, Poison Oak Hill, then passes Reservoir 1 and crosses the access road. At the five-trail junction, turn left and the summit is right there.
Up top, a bench looks out toward Mount Hood. Where else can you get a view of one volcano from another, with a city wrapped around your feet?
Finish inside the volcano
Drop down from the summit into the old caldera, where an amphitheater, a basketball court and a small visitor center now sit beside exposed volcanic rock and cinder. It’s a strange and wonderful mix of city park and geology lesson.
To close the loop, follow the blue signposts down through Skunk Canyon, then continue above Reservoir 6 back to Lincoln Street. If you’re here for the quirky stuff, the park also has a soap-box derby course that was added in the 1950s and still hosts annual races.
Before you go
The park is open from 5 a.m. to midnight, and it’s closed to motor vehicles all day Wednesdays and from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. the rest of the week. Dogs need to be on a leash, with an off-leash area at the south end of the park.
Crowds can build on nice days, so a weekday morning is a good bet. Which part would you tackle first, the reservoirs or the summit view? Tell us in the comments.
Trip tips: grab a rental car to explore beyond the city, or lock in your hotel before the good rooms are gone.
Rules and fees change — always confirm current requirements before you go.
