Celebrate the Great Outdoors on the 40-Mile Loop in Portland, Oregon

If you live in Portland, Oregon and love the great outdoors, but don't have time to get out of the city, you can still celebrate (and enjoy) the great outdoors with some hiking, walking, or running on the 40 Mile Loop. Whether you are looking for a way to celebrate Great Outdoors Month, or are just ready to get outside (rain or shine), the 40-Mile Loop is a great place to start!

The 40-Mile Loop is series of connected foot trails located throughout the Portland Metro Area. The trails offer the outdoor enthusiast a chance to get some exercise and commune with nature without venturing too far to do it. When I first brought up hiking the forty mile loop to a friend, she rolled her eyes at me. She knows I'm a one to two mile walker, and definitely not a forty mile hiker. But that is the beauty of this network of trails. The loop is made up of different trails of varying length and difficulty that can be hiked alone or in combinations.

Although the 40-Mile loop has been thought of since 1904, it really got rolling in 1981 when the 40-Mile Loop Land Trust was formed. The concept was to connect the Portland parks via pathways creating a forty mile loop around the city of Portland. The loop is still a work in progress, but it is nearly complete, and despite the 40-Mile name, it will actually encompass over one-hundred- and forty miles of pathways. This information, as well as a more thorough history, information on how to support the 40-Mile Loop Land Trust project, and all the details like locations, acreage and directions, plus some anecdotal information, can be found at the 40-Mile loop website is a good resource. Check it out www.40mileloop.org

Okay, so much for the history lesson. Here's the scoop for you. If you need to get a little outdoor recreation in, you can hop onto the 40-Mile Loop almost anywhere in and around the city. Maps are available for purchase at the office of the Portland Oregon Visitor Association Center (www.travelportland.com) or the downtown Portland Parks and Recreation Office (www.portlandonline.com/parks/) . PDF versions are available on the website. For a taste of the trail system, I would recommend the Marquam Nature Park. It is not too far out of the city, there are houses around part of the trails, the park itself is very nice, and there are several loops and lengths of trails to choose from.

An important note is that the terrain and accessibility varies greatly throughout the Loop. Some areas are accessible to those in wheel chairs, some are stroller friendly, and some are better for hardcore hikers. There are trails that are good for (and allow) horseback riding, and some that work for skaters. Plan ahead and check on the terrain, accessibility, and rules of each section of the Loop.

No matter which section (or all of it) of the 40-Mile Loop you choose to travel, be sure to practice good safety rules. A good safety guide can be found at the American Hiking Society website (www.americanhiking.org) in the "Hiking Resources" section. Wear comfortable shoes (mine are particularly cute, but not at all comfortable) and bring water and a map.

So, what are you waiting for, Portlanders? Walk out of your front door, and head to the nearest section of the 40-Mile Loop. Have a safe and happy hike!

Sources:

www.40mileloop.org
www.travelportland.com
www.portlandonline.com/parks/
www.americanhiking.org