Oregon's Trolley Trail was once a streetcar line serving Portland's metro area. The old Oregon City Line trolley ran between Milwaukie and Gladstone from 1893 until 1968. As of 2012, 6 miles of the route are a brand new multi-use path. Eventually the Trolley Trail will become part of a 20-mile loop connecting Portland, Milwaukie, Gladstone, Oregon City and Gresham. It will also link the
Springwater Corridor trail with the
I-205 Multi-use Path.
Most of the Trolley Trail runs along existing city streets but is separated from traffic by wide corridors of tree and grass. Some sections, such as the portion between SE Concord Road and SE Roethe Road, travel off-road through residential areas. The trail links neighborhoods with schools, parks and business districts, and many historical buildings along the route showcase Western Farmhouse and Craftsman-Bungalow architectural styles. Check out the Jacob Risley and Charles Risley houses near SE Risley Avenue—outstanding works of the Italianate and Queen Anne styles.
Despite the trail's urban setting, you're also likely to see wildlife. Watch for opossums, beavers, great blue herons, green herons and western screech owls have been spotted here.
Access is available all along the Trolley Trail's route. In Milwaukie, park at the end of SE Jefferson Street, where a large, paved lot is situated by the river. North of Gladstone, park at Stringfield Family Park (3614 SE Naef Rd. in Oak Grove).