31. The Wildwood Trail
City: Portland, OR
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (503) 823-7529
Description: Easily accessible from the MAX Zoo Station, this trail goes over hill and woody dale through Forest Park. At 4,900 acres, this is the largest park within a US metropolis. Free maps of the trail are available at the Hoyt Arboretum Visitor Center at 4000 Southwest Fairview Blvd., which is also on the trail itself.
32. Lloyd Center Ice Rink
City: Portland, OR
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (503) 288-6073
Address: 953 Lloyd Center
Description: While this shopping-mall ice rink offers lessons for young Olympics hopefuls, it is also popular with teens and adults, who swoosh about the ice oblivious to shopping spectators. This rink provides the gamut of lessons, parties, summer camps, broomball, and other icy activities. Admission is $6, with discounts for scouts, mall employees, seniors, and folks in the military. You can rent ice skates for $3. (Also see the listing in the Kidstuff chapter.)
33. Rose City Motorcycle Club
City: Portland, OR
Category: Parks & Recreation
Description: Tracing its origins back to 1911, Rose City Motorcycle Club is Oregon’s oldest AMA Chartered Road Club. Its 250-plus members ride a wide variety of motorcycles, including touring, cruising, and sport bikes. In addition to its internal activities, such as monthly Saturday breakfasts and rides, the club annually hosts the 250-mile Annual Rose City Oregon Tour, which benefits the Oregon Kidney Association. These motorcyclists also join others in a remarkable visit to kids in the Doernbecher Children’s Hospital right around Christmas. The sight of all these leather-clad bikers bearing presents and wearing Santa costumes is definitely memorable.
34. Oaks Amusement Park
City: Portland, OR
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (503) 233-5777
Description: Open year-round as part of a surrounding carnival, this large roller-skating rink is vintage Americana, with a huge Wurlitzer pipe organ playing Tues through Thurs nights and Sun. A live DJ is on duty Saturday night. It’s a great chance to join everyone as they “skate backwards” to the driving beat of oldies and goldies. Fees are $5.75, $6.75 on Fri and Sat night. (For more information on roller-skating, see the Kidstuff and Attractions chapters.)
35. Mount Hood Wilderness
City: Portland, OR
Category: Parks & Recreation
Description: Looming above the valley like a white-robed monarch, 11,239-foot Mount Hood is the state’s largest peak. During the winter months, the flanks of the mountain draw thousands to Mount Hood Meadows, Timberline, and other popular resorts for Alpine and Nordic skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing. Also, the area abounds in cross-country ski trails for those who want to get away from it all.
36. Cooper Spur
City: Portland, OR
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (503) 352-7803
Description: Cooper Spur, on the north face of Mount Hood, is a 50-acre resort with 10 ski runs and 2 tubing runs. It’s a fine place to learn to ski—most of the runs are beginner or intermediate grade, and the classes are organized around stations so that you can work on the areas you need to improve. Lessons are short so that you can get a lot of practice on the slopes, with instructors available to help you all day long.
37. Mount Hood Meadows
City: Portland, OR
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (503) 337-2222, (800) SKI-HOOD
Description: This day-ski area is located on the sunny, wind-protected east side of Mount Hood. For 30 years Mount Hood Meadows has enticed skiers and snowboarders to Oregon’s most challenging terrain. Currently 10 chair lifts, including 3 high-speed quads, provide access to 82 trails over 2,150 acres. Mount Hood Meadows offers several easy slopes down the mountain and one double black diamond. This is a good place to go if you are a beginner or very advanced.
38. Mount Hood Skibowl
City: Portland, OR
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (503) 272-3206, (503) 222-2695
Address: 87000 East US 26 at Government Camp
Description: This popular ski bowl is the closest action to Portland, 52 miles east of town. It has a top elevation of 5,056 feet, a vertical drop of 1,500 feet, four double chairs and five surface tows, and 960 acres to play upon. Skiers and snowboarders have 65 day runs and 34 night runs, with the longest run, Skyline Trail, measuring 3 miles. The season generally lasts from mid-Nov to mid-Apr. On the main slope there is the option of going on a separate trail, which includes many jumps, rails, and a half-pipe. Ski Bowl also offers the longest night skiing in America. This resort is an excellent place for first-timers; many great lessons and deals are offered, and the staff are very inviting.
39. Summit Ski And Snow Play Area
City: Portland, OR
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (503) 272-0256
Description: Summit Ski and Snow Play Area has been open since 1927. It’s the second-oldest resort in the United States, with a vertical slope of 306 feet. The slopes at Summit are not steep, so this is a good place to bring beginners. Still, it is also just as great to go there as an intermediate skier. Summit attracts many families, not only for the skiing but also because of the fantastic tubing hills.
40. Bergfreunde Ski Club
City: Portland, OR
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (503) 245-8543
Address: 10175 Southwest Barbur Blvd.
Description: As the local branch of an international club with more than 2,500 members, the Bergfreunde Ski Club organizes activities that go beyond the winter season. They offer year-round entertainment for active adults, including organized rafting, golf, dance, and theater outings as well as cross-country skiing. Bergfreunde, or “friends of mountains,” is a socially lively club for men and women 21 and older. They meet on the first Wed of each month at the Governor Hotel, 614 Southwest 11th Ave.
41. Mount Hood Meadows
City: Portland, OR
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (503) 337-2222
Description: This resort offers a full-service Nordic center and 15 kilometers of trails on Mount Hood.
42. Oregon Department Of Transportation Ski Areas
City: Portland, OR
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (503) 986-4000
Description: There are 16 Sno-parks in the Mount Hood region operated by the Oregon Department of Transportation. Popular spots are Bennett Pass, Glacier View, Snow Bunny, Frog Lake, and Trillium Lake.
43. Oregon Nordic Club Portland Chapter
City: Portland, OR
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (503) 649-9612
Description: Organized in 1968 by Nordic ski enthusiasts interested in cross-country skiing on public land, the Oregon Nordic Club now has more than 400 members. Activities are usually day and overnight trips, most of which are held on weekends. The Portland chapter of the Oregon Nordic Club also sponsors ski-related special events, including a yearly ski sale, a ski instruction and demonstration day at Teacup Lake, and sanctioned competition. On the first Tuesday of each month, a general membership meeting is held at the Multnomah Art Center, 7688 Southwest Capitol Hwy., with potluck beginning at 6:30 p.m. The website listed above get you information on the week’s events.
44. Irving Park
City: Portland, OR
Category: Parks & Recreation
Description: These courts are well-lit and popular with folks on the inner east side of town.
45. Laurelhurst Park
City: Portland, OR
Category: Parks & Recreation
Description: With its tranquil duck pond, huge fir and cedar trees, and sloping lawns, Laurelhurst Park is one of the loveliest and most peaceful spots in town. The two tennis courts here are old relics that are often busy, but it’s worth the wait. Plan on playing during the day, for there is no lighting.