Parking is FREE up along the hiking trail parking spots and up at Pittock Mansion itself. There is a two stall unisex bathroom next to the gift shop and ticket booth-stocked with soap and toilet paper! Yay!
Pittock Mansion is a must-see place if you are visiting Portland and a right of passage for any local resident. It was built in 1914 by Georgiana and Henry Pittock. They have some cool events that go on throughout the year that I just learned about. I think as one gets older, we appreciate these things more.
We unpacked the leash and dog and grabbed our water pack backpacks and started off on foot exploring the grounds of Pittock Mansion. The tour is worth it – I prefer to go when it is decorated for a holiday.
We stopped off to picnic at one of two park benches that overlook the city. Others found a spot in the sprawling green grass in the sun or under a tree with a blanket. We watched people gather and praise the view and take selfies. Different accents and languages filled the air like music as birds chirped and kids laughed.
The best spot to hike is at the entry point at the top of the parking lot. It is not for the faint of heart though. It’s a steep dirt trail with roots and rocks. You can also hike up from the bottom of Wildwood Trail that runs through Forest Park which sounds a bit more than I bargained for this day.
We wound down the trail to a point where we decided to call it. What goes down must come up so we turned around and headed back up the hill. It was a great calf burner and I welcomed the effort. It felt good to be surrounded by nature and feel truly alive with my heart pumping and muscles firing all on cylinders.
Tips: Bring water and food. The souvenir store has granola bars and nuts – that is it for sustenance.
Wear some good walking shoes even if you don’t want to hike.
