Springwater Corridor:
Oregon
Trail Map
  • Get Personalized Driving Directions!
  • Find Trail Side Shops with Google Search!
  • See Users’ Geocoded Photos!
  • Get a Print-Friendly Map and Get Outdoors!
Description:
The Springwater Corridor forms a major southeast segment of the 40-Mile Loop, a multi-use trail that circles the city of Portland, some of which is incomplete. The 21.5-mile Springwater Corridor extends from SE 4th Avenue at SE Ivon Street in Portland (near the Willamette River) to the town of Boring. Most of the trail is paved except for a short segment from Hogan heading east from Regg Road to Boring. Here, equestrians and mountain bikers will find their stride. In addition, there is a gap in the trail between 13th and 19th streets in Portland, which can be bridged by an on-road segment.

Portland is renowned and envied for its parks, trails and general outdoors vibe, and the Springwater Corridor fits rights in. The trail winds along the banks of the Willamette River in downtown Portland to the rural exurbs, connecting a diversity neighborhoods, natural areas and industrial sites. It's important for both recreation and a transportation commuter corridor: the trail links bike lanes, transit, light rail, buses and other regional trails

The Springwater's history stretches back to the early 1900s, when a rail line was built to bring people, produce and timber from areas south and east of Portland into the growing metropolis. Known variously as the Portland Traction Company Line, the Cazadero Line and the Bellrose Line, the railroad finally adopted the name of the Springwater Division Line, although neither the railroad nor the trail that bears the town's name ever reached this small community.

As the automobile gained dominance, the Springwater line faded, and it finally ceased carrying passengers in 1958. Freight- and timber-hauling operations continued for three more decades, but by the 1980s derailments were common along the aging Springwater line. Portland eventually bought the railroad corridor for a multi-use trail.

From the eastern terminus, you will enjoy views of the Willamette River and downtown Portland's different business districts. Heading east, you pass through residential areas, following Johnson Creek most of the way to Gresham. Between Gresham and Boring, agriculture dominates the landscape, with beautiful views of Mt. Hood.

The Springwater Trail passes through or near several parks and refuges, including Powell Butte, Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge, Tideman Johnson Nature Park, Beggers-Tick Wildlife Refuge and Leach Botanical Garden. Watch for red-tailed hawks, great blue herons and eagles overhead or resting in trees and in wetlands.

There are plans to extend the trail to Mt. Hood and the Pacific Crest Trail.

... Click to read more
Parking & Trail Access:
Access to the trail is available at many locations. Refer to the Portland Parks and Recreation map for specific details. Local access can be reached at any public street or bike trail intersecting the trail, including the I-205 Multi-Use Path.

... Click to read more
... Click to read more
Reviews: [1 trail ratings]
[View all reviews for this trail]
[register/login to Submit a Review of this Trail]
New update
By baroquenride in May, 2011
Just wanted to update readers to this trail since previous reviews are outdated. The trail was repaved last summer (2010) and is much smoother East of 122nd! Finally! The bridges and all the construction are completed and there are no issues with this trail anymore besides the last section near Boring is still unpaved. Also, one can continue past Boring now. If you look past the gas station, you'll see where the trail picks up again. It continues for another 3 miles and is also unpaved, but covered with gravel and ends at a bridge abutment. In doing some Google research it appears that Metro is trying to buy the last few remaining areas to continue this trail much farther beyond Boring and into Estacada.
Good trail - some crossings and paving need improvement
By mike_ballard in August, 2009
I took this trail end to end, well, the paved portion anyway. Overall, I found the trail to be quite well done, most of the large streets crossed had lights, and the signage was decent. Paving is rough in the Portland section, though it was quite tolerable on my cyclocross bike. The largest issue I found were the crossings not protected by a signal. Drivers were confused as to what to do, as well was I. Signage between the two sections of the trail in Portland near Sellwood were a little lacking, but wasn't tough to deal with.

That being said, being able to cross the entirety of the greater Portland area, during rush hour, without much fuss and a very short section of street riding, I'd give the trail a 8 out of 10.
Nice Trail, But Very Bumpy
By HandbalMan in June, 2008
Holy cow, this trail has got to be one of the bumpiest trails I've ever ridden on for one that claims to be asphalted. The entire trail is not as bad, but most of it is, unfortunately. My wife & I started at SE 182nd Avenue & biked west on a beautiful June day all the way to the amusement park (& onward). Around Gresham the scenery is very nice as one passes through rather bucolic settings. There's a bridge that has been condemned where you will need to veer onto local streets in Gresham, but the ride is fine. The absolute best part is the section that has brand new pavement as one approaches a cable bridge.

Be warned: SE Umatilla Street is currently undergoing construction. There are signs that tell you this.

I would ride this trail again, but not east of SE 122nd Avenue.
Trail Facts
Trail End Points: SE 4th Ave. at SE Ivon St. (Portland) to Rugg Rd & 267th Ave (Boring)
Counties: Clackamas, Multnomah
Trail Length: 21.5 miles
Trail Category: Rail-Trail
Trail Surfaces: Asphalt, Crushed Stone
Trail Activities: Bike, Inline Skating, Wheelchair Accessible, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking, Walking, Cross Country Skiing
TrailLink ID: 6055703

Related Links
Guidebook: Learn more about other Washington and Oregon rail-trails in RTC's Washington and Oregon Guidebook.
Trail of the Month: August 2007