Marshall Park Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Marshall Park Trailhead (on 12th) or Marshall Park Trailhead (on 18th)
- End point: Tryon Creek Crossing
- Trail Log: Trail Log
- Hike Type: Two loops
- Distance: 2.6 miles
- Elevation gain: 420 feet
- High point: 355 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Seasons: All
- Family Friendly: Yes
- Backpackable: No
- Crowded: Yes, on summer weekends
Contents |
Hike Description
Marshall Park was once the site of a quarry, but the land was restored by Frederick and Addie Marshall as a natural area and then donated to the City of Portland in 1951. The 26-acre park encloses an upper section of the Tryon Creek drainage, and it's possible to hike from here down the creek into Tryon Creek State Park and eventually hook up with the main trail system there. A short 0.8 mile loop in the northern section of the park is best for families with young children. This loop includes a new playground, installed in 2015, a stone bridge over Tryon Creek, a newer 2010 bridge, and views of the Marshall Cascades, a tumbling falls best seen in the wet season. A southern lollipop loop of 1.8 miles is for the more adventurous. You'll cross Maplecrest Drive and hike into an undeveloped section of Tryon Creek State Park. Loop back along Arnold Street and 11th Drive. Trails here can get extremely muddy in winter and spring, and you may have to ford Tryon Creek. The entire area is within a shady forested canyon with small creeks never far away. Walking directions are given from the trailhead on 12th Drive. Those taking public transport should access the trail system from the trailhead on 18th Place.
Start at either the Marshall Park Trailhead (on 12th) or the Marshall Park Trailhead (on 18th) and head downhill towards a picnic area with a swing set and slide. Just upstream from the picnic area is a series of small cascades in the creek which is a feeder to Tryon Creek.
Cross over the stone bridge and head southeast following the creek downstream. You will cross SW Maplecrest Drive and once you are on the other side you are actually in Tryon Creek State Park. From here the trail works downhill toward Tryon Creek. In late March and early April this area is filled with trilliums. At the bottom of the hill, you'll come to a log bridge over Tryon Creek. The trail continues downstream, but it's often quite muddy and there's little to see beyond the bridge. Continue along the trail as far as you like-- you will eventually hit Boones Ferry (and from there you can reach the Boones Ferry trailheads of the Tryon Creek State Park area). To reach the North Creek Trail (the closest Tryon Creek trailhead), head up to the right a couple hundred yards and look for the trail on the other side of the road. Be careful crossing Boones Ferry.
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
- Marshall Park (Friends of Marshall and Marinara Parks)
- Southwest Portland Walk Map (Portland Bureau of Transportation)
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- Open 5:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
- Dogs on leash
- Playground, picnic tables, port-a-potty
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Marshall Park
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Marshall Park
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- Portland Hill Walks - by Laura O. Foster
Links
- Marshall Park (Portland Parks & Recreation)
- Marshall Park Trail (All Trails)
- Marshall Park (Things to do In Portland with children)
- Marshall Park Playground (Portland Parks & Recreation)
- Friends of Marshall and Maricara Parks (FOMMP) (Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc.)
- Marshall Park Neighborhood Association (Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc.)
Contributors
- Martell (creator)