What’s to Love: Mt. Tabor Park is another showpiece destination within Portland city limits. This park has it all – including stellar hikes, mountain biking, road biking, closed-roads on certain days/times, beautiful views, and at times…serenity. We have been going to Mt. Tabor park for years, and we still seem to find new nooks and crannies to explore.

Realistically, I don’t think I’d ever get tired of going to Mt. Tabor Park. If your family has yet to experience this beautiful setting, I recommend going there immediately! The grounds and trails are in very good shape, there is a wonderful covered-outdoor-picnic-area, an off-leash area for dogs, tennis courts, hill/step climbs, and plenty of room to roam and get away from the crowds.  Here is a short video clip.

Caveats: The kids’ playground is just adequate. For a park of this quality, they should consider upgrading the playstructure. Watch out when the road is closed to cars! Bikers and skateboarders use these roads – the bikers often going very fast downhill, and the skateboarders don’t have brakes!

 

Website: Mt. Tabor Park

Distance from Portland: Within 2 miles of downtown Portland

Recommended Ages: This park has something for the whole family.

Parental Stress Factor: A very low stress park. You’ll spend most of your time having a great time with your kids.

Physical Difficulty: There are definitely some accessibility issues at this park, but the area around the playground is accessible (not easily though). Please check the city site below for more information. Mt. Tabor Park is a very hilly destination. If you’re hiking or riding bikes, expect some pretty sustained climbs.

Family Fun Factor: High! A great destination-park in one of the best areas of Portland.

Pet Friendly: Yes! A great park to bring your pooch.

Weather Considerations: Year round access to this incredible resource. The trails hold-up fairly well year round.

 

 

 

Insider Info: Mt. Tabor hosts bike racing in the summer, which is fun to watch. Check-out this website for more information about the race series. Two other interesting occurances on Mt. Tabor: 1) “Longboarding,” which is riding a long skateboard downhill with no brakes. Watching these skateboarders is like watching a tornado – a disaster could strike at any time, or they could nail the ride unscathed. 2) The Adult Soapbox Derby, which is basically a bunch of homemade go-carts flying down the roads of Mt. Tabor. These carts speeding down the roads is something to behold. Please, just make sure you stay back from the road. The cars have been known to careen off the road unexpectedly.

Family Tips: If your family is into hiking, there are many loop options around the reservoirs. Backpacks are a good option, but you can also bring a jogging stroller on the trails of Mt. Tabor. Please, just be cautious if you’re using a stroller on the trails – they are steep in sections! For exercise enthusiasts, Mt. Tabor trails are great for running with sections of stairs to really work you!

 

Technorati Tags: Mt. Tabor Park, southeast Portland, Portland parks, soapbox derby, letterboxing, hiking, biking