Explore the best rated trails in Lake Oswego, OR. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Frenchman's Bar Trail and I-205 Multi-Use Path. With more than 44 trails covering 249 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
We have electric bikes and we did almost the whole trail. It’s a little challenging in spots. The trail is mostly packed gravel and some pavement. One section somewhere close to the end someone’ put loose gravel on a huge hill and that was not fun. All and all we will be doing this trail again! Oh we seen a deer on the trail too.
Really nice trail that connects three parks. Decent enough tree cover on some to keep rain at bay.
Went through the Meadows Park area and there were a number of homeless camps. One man had his face covered carrying a gun that was pacing the trail. We got past them, husband went back to check on an elderly couple we passed to be sure they came out ok and they did but we took the streets back to our car. Very scary and disappointing that so much beauty has been lost. This was around 1 in the afternoon today.
This trail and it's construction is nothing short of amazing. Yet the pictures on the Rails to Trails website tell it all. It is not being used. Maybe it is because people are afraid of the homeless encampments that you see or because it is next to a freeway. But the homeless encampments would be much less of a problem if there were more people on bikes utilizing the trail. This trail I am sure cost millions yet just a few people use it. Get out there people!
Stayed at cabins at mid trail…cabins are small and clean…showers/bathrooms close… though went at mid-day, the trees make the trail eerily dark, headed to Veronia first (~12 miles). Short distance to hilltop (switchbacks and short), then pretty flat. In Veronia, loop around lake. After back to mid-point from Veronia, all downhill, then flat. Huge open field is highlight here. Tressle was goal and cool, but overrated. From Banks (the return way) chunk is all uphill. At trailhead (downhill and fast from cabins), you then must make it back up to cabins which is ~half mile and pretty steep.. drained my battery…battery drained just short of coasting down into cabins. downhill into cabins.
Large numbers of homeless people live along this trail. The amount of used needles, human feces, and trash is incredible. It is not safe, and definitely not a family-friendly environment.
The trail is currently closed beyond Capt Clark park while work is being completed on the National Wildlife Refuge. Length of trail is about 1.5 miles as of 8/22/22.
I read a lot of the reviews and some said the road was not paved well, pot holes etc…overall I felt the road was fine. All issues are clearly marked so you are aware of them. People are all respectful of others on the trail. We liked it so much we are doing it again tomorrow. It is fun, beautiful and we appreciated all the spots to stop along the way.
I rode the trail from Banks to Vernonia (21 miles one way) and back with some extra explorations for a total of 49 miles on a Trek Dual Sport. The trail is a beautiful trail migrating through the woods. It does have a long 7-mile uphill that starts about 5 miles into the ride, but it is not a serious grade. That said, my lady will tell you that it is uphill for a long time. There is one very serious switchback trek that is about a 10 percent grade. It can be done, and it is fairly short. Overall, getting to Vernonia was a good ride, but anticlimactic once I arrived. The best part of this ride is going through the woods. However, where I would probably give the ride a 4/5 rating, the condition of the path destroys much of the beauty. If you are not paying attention, you just might go down. The condition is dangerous especially on the 7-mile downhill. Why? Because a large portion of the path was done with chip seal. If you do not know what it is, see: https://www.bicycling.com/rides/a21074245/why-chip-seal-is-absolute-worst-surface-for-road-riding/
Beyond the horrible chip seal surface is the degradation of sections that have morphed into craters and potholes. If that is not bad enough, every bridge is between 2" and 6" higher that the path surface. If you do not brace yourself, good luck.
Bottom line, I am sad that the trail is listed as a must and one of the best in Oregon, but it does not warrant that billing in the present day condition.
One of our favorite trails! Some challenges (hairpin curves, occasional tree root cracks), mostly shady, wide cement path & goes into a park/lake/campground @ Vernonia, close to a grocery store for ice cream & rest before heading back!
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