Run Leif Erikson Drive

Portland, Oregon

4.7/5

based on 3 reviews

Save

View all 3 photos

All 3 photos

Save Review Directions Add Photo

Details

Distance

12.1 miles

Elevation Gain

20 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Rachel Davidson

12.1-mile run along a gravel fire road that is a popular weekend destination for runners, hikers, bikers. It's also within 3 miles of downtown Portland and has mile markers every ¼ mile.

Leif Erikson Drive is a wide dirt road running through the heart of Forest Park that is closed to motorized vehicles…making it a magnet for those looking to add some relatively easy and scenic distance to their workouts.

The road itself is nicely graded and well maintained. It has relatively good drainage, so it’s a good go-to destination if you’re looking for a more scenic run during wet weather.

If you’re looking to add some adventure to your runs, Leif Erikson features several access points to the beautiful and heavily forested Wildwood Trail. Wildwood runs parallel to Leif Erikson, so you have the opportunity to create a limitless number of trail loops.

For this particular run, start at the trailhead at the end of NW Thurman St, follow the trail north through the park. Turn around at the intersection of Saltzman Rd and return to the start.

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Features

Fitness

Running

Dog Friendly

Family Friendly

Forest

Scenic

Reviews

Explorer

Rachel Davidson

Explorer

Run Leif Erikson Drive

12/22/16

The quarter-mile markers make it easy to track your time and progress, without fussing with your phone or watch. My only beef is that parking is difficult - there's space for about 10 cars at the end of Thurman St. where the trail starts, which is why you'll see a lot of runners park further down the road and run up.

5.0

Explorer

Madison Sankovitz

Explorer

Run Leif Erikson Drive

06/29/16

I love Forest Park because you can escape from the city easily and quickly. This is a beautiful running spot!

5.0

Explorer

Sarah Horn

Explorer

Run Leif Erikson Drive

03/14/16

This is a go-to trail for me when I want to get a long run in that isn't full of steep up hills and downhills. Great for dogs too. The only reason I wouldn't give it 5 stars is because you don't get that many great viewpoints along the way.

4.0

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Hike Lower Macleay Park to Pittock Mansion

Lower Macleay Park is one of most easily accessible trailheads in the city, especially during one of Portland’s rare snow years where even driving up to 500 feet of elevation can challenge your car. You can park within the park entrance cul-de-sac, around the intersection of Upshur St. & NW 29th St., or even on top of the Thurman Street Bridge and take the stairs down to the trailhead.The t...

Photograph Downtown Portland From Pittock Mansion

Pittock Mansion offers a one of kind view of downtown Portland. This is a historic site that allows public access throughout the day and night. Parking is available at Pittock until 9pm but if you wish to visit the grounds after hours you can park at the bottom of the driveway, walk around the gate, and walk for about 1000ft to the top. If you do go at night make sure to bring a flashlight, as ...

Explore the Portland Japanese Garden

While the Portland Japanese Garden is a popular place for tourists, it's also a favorite for Portland residents as it's located right in Washington Park close to trails and across from the Rose Garden. The Japanese Garden also just unveiled its Cultural Crossing expansion in April 2017, which included 3.4 more acres to the garden and modern buildings designed by famous architect Kengo Kuma. The...

Hoyt Arboretum Loop

Founded in 1928 to conserve endangered species and educate visitors, Hoyt Arboretum is a 190-acre park in the forest above Portland's NW area. It's only 15 minutes from downtown! There are 12+ miles of trails to explore, my favorite is the Redwood Trail that takes you through towering redwoods and to the Redwood Deck -- a perfect place to sit and smell the trees and drink morning coffee. Here...

Explore the International Rose Test Garden

The International Rose Garden located in Washington Park near downtown Portland is a must stop on your visit to the Rose City. The City of Roses, as Portland as known, won't let you down. Portland is host to the largest Rose Test Garden in the U.S. The 5 acre park, with over 7,000 rose bushes, and 500 different varieties has been impressing visitors since 1917. In the middle of the first world ...

Hike the Wildwood Trail

Take the train to Washington Park and hike through the arboretum. This will bypass a few miles of Wildwood Trail, but you won't miss much.In the arboretum, the trail twists and turns through the trees, will smaller trails jutting off to the sides, through other groups of trees (each trail is aptly named for the type of respective tree). Continue on Wildwood and eventually you will cross Burnsid...

Run Leif Erikson Drive

Details

Description

Download the Outbound mobile app

Features

Reviews

Leave No Trace

Nearby

Hike Lower Macleay Park to Pittock Mansion

Photograph Downtown Portland From Pittock Mansion

Explore the Portland Japanese Garden

Hoyt Arboretum Loop

Explore the International Rose Test Garden

Hike the Wildwood Trail

Discover

Community

Company

Follow Us

Mobile Apps