Mount Tabor Park

Mount Tabor Park offers the best panoramic views of both downtown Portland and Mount Hood. Whether you are science buff, outdoor enthusiast, or just looking for a fun day in the sun, Mount Tabor has little bit of everything.

According to the Friends of Mount Tabor,  this park is unique for two main reasons. Founded in 1909, it is one of the nation’s oldest urban parks. Secondly, it is the one of only two cities in the United States with a volcano inside the city limits. No need to worry though, Mount Tabor is an extinct volcano and will never erupt again.  

Another interesting feature of the park is the numerous reservoirs. According to the Friends of Mount Tabor, the park's location makes it ideal to house the water from the Mount Hood Reservoir and Bull Run watershed.

If you enter the park at its western entrance, you will drive past both the park’s tennis courts and the reservoir. Parking at the reservoir is a perfect chance to take in your surroundings. You can look at see all the way to the West Hills and have a postcard perfect view of downtown Portland. From here, you can smell the blooming trees and take a picturesque walk through tall trees and long expansive green grass.

For those looking for exercise, explore that park’s extensive network of trails. None of the trails are too intensive, but allow for a good hike within the city limits.

The crowning jewel of the park is the volcano itself. Located on the top of Mount Tabor, it has an amphitheatre, playground, and picnic area. In the summertime, local bands play free concerts and crowds relax in lawn chairs or on blankets.

Mount Tabor can make for an  ducational excursion for families, especially if they or their kids are interested in science. Read more about the park’s volcanic history and learn that even the roads throughout the park are paved with its volcanic cinders. Best of all, there is nothing like eating a sandwich for lunch in a once active volcano.

HelloPortland Tip: Be aware that the park is closed to automobiles each Wednesday. This day is reserved for foot and bicycle traffic only.

- by William Crane, Portland Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

William Crane

William Crane is an accomplished print and online journalist (http://www.william-crane.com) His work covers a variety of topics including features, local community news, sports, music, and political/social issues. Graduating from Seattle University with a B.A. in Journalism, William's writing has appeared in a variety of different publications including the Stranger, Capitol Hill Times, the Skanner, Backfire Magazine, and the Internationalist.