Portland is a great vantage point for exploring some of Oregon’s best scenery. With this 7 day itinerary, you’ll see the state’s rugged coastline, hike to lush waterfalls, and visit quirky attractions that give Portland it’s “weird” reputation.

If you’re looking to visit some of Oregon’s most iconic destinations, I’d recommend making Portland your home base for your trip. It’s the largest city in the state so it’s often the most affordable spot to fly into. Plus, it’s close to some spectacular landscapes, such as Mount Hood and the Columbia River Gorge which are an outdoor adventurers paradise.

We only had one week to spend in Oregon, but I think it was the perfect amount of time to see the sights of the city and nearby attractions.

If you’re looking for all the best things to do in Portland, then look no further and steal my 7 day itinerary! Let’s dive in so you can make the most of your trip.

Portland Itinerary Day 1: Explore Washington Park

To kick off day 1 of this 7 day Portland itinerary, we flew in and landed around 2PM.

The first order of business was to check in to our hostel. We stayed at the NW Portland Hostel which I highly recommend! It was clean and staff was friendly.

Luckily, the NW Portland Hostel is within walking distance to several attractions, one of them being Washington Park.

Washington Park is full of unique things to check out. Including a rose garden, an arboretum, a Japanese Garden, a holocaust memorial, and the Oregon Zoo.

Washington Park also has free shuttle buses that will take you to and from all the main destinations in the park. It’s a great way to quickly get around and explore.

Portland Japanese Garden

It was about a 15 minute walk to Washington Park from our hostel and from there we first visited the Japanese Garden because they close at 5:30 PM everyday. Keep that in mind if you plan to visit in the afternoon/evening.

Admission to the garden is $22.50 per adult and $16.50 for children 6-17 years old. So it is on the pricier side, but it really is such a beautiful and relaxing place. If walking through peaceful gardens is your jam, you don’t want to miss the Portland Japanese Garden.

International Rose Test Garden

We next visited the International Rose Test Garden. Since we went in July, all the roses were blooming. Summer is the best time to visit the rose garden. Blooms begin in mid-June and can last into early November.

This garden is free! And another great way to appreciate the beauty of nature in the Portland metropoltian area.

We only had time for these two stops on our first day before the sun went down. So if you’re also short on time, I think the rose garden and the Japanese Garden are two of the best places to check out in Washington Park.

Portland Itinerary Day 2: Explore City Attractions

On our first morning in Portland we woke up, ate some breakfast at the hostel and walked around downtown to see what we could find.

Powell’s Books

We ended up visiting Powell’s Books first and spent a few hours browsing the thousands of books they have to offer.

Powell’s Books is a massive 3 story independent bookstore located in the heart of Portland. It’s a popular attraction for tourists and locals alike.

You can easily spend hours upon hours inside this bookstore just walking down the endless aisles of books. There’s all different kinds of genres, books for all ages, and even a rare book room where they house all their most valuable books.

If you’re a bookworm I recommend that you set aside a few hours of your day to spend at Powell’s. 

Scrap

In a city known for being eco-conscious, it only makes sense that they have a store dedicated to selling used office and craft supplies that have been donated by others.

Scrap is a non-profit organization whose goal is to inspire creative reuse and environmentally sustainable behavior by providing affordable materials to the community.

At Scrap you’ll find yarn, notebooks, gift wrap, folders, construction paper, buttons, fabric, markers, pretty much any and every kind of craft material.

I ended up buying a few notebooks and some maps that were in good condition for only a few dollars!

If you’re an artist this is an excellent place to get materials for your projects that are super cheap. Plus you’re preventing more waste from going to the landfill. It’s a win-win!

Even if you aren’t into making art, it’s still an interesting store to walk around. You might find something you need!

Sellwood Riverfront Beach

If you’re looking for more things to do in the city of Portland, Sellwood Riverfront Beach is a free little park that sits along the Willamette River offering scenic views of the Portland skyline. It’s a good place to experience a mix of city and nature.

This seems like a more local spot where people go for a beach day in the summer. There were people cruising down the river in jet skis, tanning on the pebbly beach, and swimming in the cool but refreshing water. Make sure to bring a swimsuit with you if you’re going on a hot and sunny day like we did!

Mount Tabor Park to Watch the Sunset

To end our first full day in Portland, we wanted to be sure to catch the sunset on night 2 of our 7 day itinerary. So, we went to Mount Tabor Park.

Once you park, you will have to walk up a few flights of concrete steps to get to the viewpoint. So make sure to arrive 20-30 minutes before the sun actually goes down.

From the top of Mount Tabor, there is a perfect little cut out in the trees to view the setting sun.

If you’re looking for a good sunset spot in Portland, I recommend Mount Tabor. It’s free, but do note that drum circles take place every Wednesday night here which can make parking a little crazy. If visiting on a Wednesday, arrive extra early.

Portland Itinerary Day 3: Beach Day on the Oregon Coast

On day 3 of our Portland 7 day itinerary, we woke up early and set out for the coastline. Since neither of us had been to Oregon before, we were both eager to see the famous scenic and rocky coast.

It depends on what part of the coast you go to, but from Portland it’s about a 1 hour and 45 minute drive to the coast. The drive out is very rural and scenic, definitely worth the time. So, if you have a car, you must take a day trip out to the coast!

Ecola State Park

We made our first stop at Ecola State Park. This park is known for being the filming site for several popular movies. Including Twilight, The Goonies, and Kindergarten Cop. As well as an absolutely stunning view of the Oregon coast.

There is a day-use fee of $5 at Ecola State Park. When we went there was no one in the entrance booth so we had to pay at the self service kiosks in the parking lot.

We got there around 11 AM on a Tuesday and the parking lot was already almost completely filled. So I’d recommend arriving as early as you can in the morning. 

There’s easy beach access right from the parking lot along with miles of gorgeous hiking trails. We enjoyed walking along the shore for awhile and then hiking on the Clatsop Loop Trail (3 mile round trip) to view the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse.

Cannon Beach

The next beach we went to was the one and only, Cannon Beach. This is probably the most well known and popular beach to visit from Portland. Cannon Beach is just down the road from Ecola State Park so it’s easy to hit both at the same time.

It’s famous for the massive Haystack Rock that sits at the shore. 

Haystack Rock is actually called a sea stack which stands at 235 feet tall. I have to say, it is much bigger in person than it looks in photos!

It’s common to see tons of wildlife in this area too such as puffins and seagulls on the rock, and crabs, limpets, and sea stars in the tide pools below.

This is a pretty touristy spot, but it’s something you have to see when you’re in the area. Cannon Beach is also a cute little coastal town perfect for buying souvenirs, exploring art galleries, or dining in at a local restaurant.

Gearhart Beach

We left Cannon Beach and made our way to our final beach of the day: Gearhart Beach. It’s just about a 15 minute drive north from Cannon Beach in a town called Seaside.

This area of the coast is known for being a hot spot for finding sand dollars. Searching for perfectly formed sand dollars is a great way to spend your evening. Bonus points if you stay for sunset!

Gearhart Beach is a much less populated beach. So if you want to escape the crowds of Cannon Beach, I recommend exploring around Seaside and visiting either Gearhart Beach, Seaside Beach, or Sand Dollar Beach. 

You’ll want to dedicate at least one day in your 7 day Portland itinerary to spending it at the beach if you’ve never been before. The Oregon coast is so gorgeous!

Day 4: Hiking at Columbia River Gorge & Hoyt Arboretum

If viewing beautiful waterfalls is on your Oregon bucket list, the Columbia River Gorge is your place. This was the area I was most excited to explore because of all the hiking opportunities.

Latourell Falls

The first hike we did was to Latourell Falls. We did the entire 2 mile loop trail, but you’re also able to walk right up to the overlook with no hiking required. This waterfall is 240 feet tall!

You also have the option to walk down to the base of the falls. From the overlook there is a short 0.1 mile trail to the bottom. This isn’t paved, and it’s likely to be muddy, but I consider it doable for most.

Bridal Veil Falls

Next we hiked to Bridal Veil Falls. This does require a 0.8 mile round trip hike down to the viewing deck of the falls. This trail is paved but there is a pretty steep decline to get down to the viewpoint.

There’s also a nice overlook of the river just a short walk away from the trailhead which is like a nice little bonus.

Shepperd’s Dell Falls

The last waterfall we visited this day was the Shepperd’s Dell Falls. This waterfall is easy to miss as it’s right on the side of the road with practically no signage.

It’s a short paved walk down to the waterfall. There was no one there when we stopped so it definitely seems like a little hidden spot that’s not visited as often as the other waterfalls.

Hoyt Arboretum

We didn’t get to explore the Hoyt Arboretum on our first day since we arrived in the afternoon and didn’t have time. So, we decided to give Washington Park another visit.

The Hoyt Arboretum is another great thing to do in Portland because despite being in the middle of a city, you really feel like you’re out in nature. It gives you a quick escape from the hustle and bustle.

We did the Wildwood and Redwood Trail Loop which was about a 3 mile round trip. There weren’t very many steep inclines and overall this was a pretty easy and quick hike.

The Hoyt Arboretum is free to visit, and something you don’t want to miss on your one week trip to Oregon.

Pittock Mansion

After our hike we made one last quick stop at the Pittock Mansion before heading back for the night. It’s just a 10 minute drive from the Hoyt Arboretum.

The Pittock Mansion provides us a glimpse into Portland’s early 20th-century history and the lives of Henry and Georgiana Pittock. This couple owned this 46 acre property where they built this Victorian style house in 1914. Today it is a museum and offers daily tours.

However, we really just went to see the incredible views of Portland from the property. 

There’s trails that run around the property and even connect with trails in the Hoyt Arboretum. We weren’t up for any more hiking on this day so we just drove to the mansion and walked up to the viewpoint. It’s free to visit if you only go for the views.

I would say this is one of the best places to get an elevated view of Portland so I would definitely recommend a quick stop here while you’re exploring Washington Park. 

Portland Itinerary Day 5: Drive to Mount Hood (Fruit Loop)

Driving to Mount Hood is one day trip from Portland that you must include in your 7 day itinerary. To get there you will drive what’s called the “Fruit Loop”.

The Fruit Loop is a 35 mile scenic drive that starts in Portland, goes up to Mount Hood and circles back around. Shown below.

The route crosses through an extremely fertile agricultural region due to the past volcanic eruptions of Mount Hood. This area is where many local farmers produce fruit tree orchards and vineyards. On the drive you can stop off at different places along the highway and buy local fruit! Hence why it’s called the Fruit Loop. You’ll mostly find apples, pear, cherries, and blueberries.

We began our drive in a clockwise direction by heading east out of Portland on Interstate 84. You will want to get an early start to this drive. We left around 9:30 AM.

Once you get to the town of Hood River, you’ll start heading south on State Route 35 which is where the Fruit Loop really earns its name. This section of the loop is where most of the farms and orchards are. There seemed to be an orchard off the road every few miles!

Summer is the best time to do this drive because that’s when all the fruits are in season. 

Driving to Mount Hood via Cloud Cap Road

You’ll turn right off of Route 35 onto Cloud Cap Rd on Mount Hood’s eastern side. This is a gravel road that ascends the slope of Mount Hood. It’s a pretty wide road, but as you get higher there are some sketchy and more narrow spots. High clearance is recommended.

There are some stunning views along this road where you can see Mount Saint Helens, Mount Adams, and even Mount Rainer. It took us about 2 hours and 15 minutes to get to the end of this road from Portland. 

I only have experience taking Cloud Cap Rd because that’s the way our GPS took us. However, after doing the research I should’ve done before our trip, I believe there is another easier way to drive up Mount Hood. 

Alternative Route via Timberline Highway

You can also take Timberline Highway off of State Route 26 on the southern slope of Mount Hood. I think this is the more popular way to go, because at the end of the road there is the Timberline Lodge and ski area. 

Timberline Highway is completely paved suitable for all vehicles.

Both routes take you quite a ways up the mountain, just not all the way to the top. You can only summit Mount Hood by hiking and ice climbing. The drives up (especially the Cloud Cap entrance) still give you amazing elevated views that are worth putting on your 7 day Portland itinerary.

Hiking on Mount Hood

The end of Cloud Cap Rd is where the Tilly Jane Campground is located. There was no one there when we visited so we used the picnic tables to eat a quick lunch that we packed for ourselves then hoped on the Tilly Jane Trail. We only did a short section of this trail but it was so beautiful.

You can backpack here as there are hundreds of trails that intertwine, but they do all require a permit which you can find more information about here. 

When we finished hiking, we began the drive back down the mountain and continued on the Fruit Loop. 

Trillium Lake

When we got back on State Route 35, we decided to take one more detour before heading back to Portland. And that detour was to Trillium Lake.

Trillium Lake is a popular place for water activities like paddleboarding, swimming, and kayaking. But it’s more known for the gorgeous view of Mount Hood you get behind the crystal blue lake waters.

There is a $10 day-use fee at Trillium Lake, but when we pulled up to the entrance booth, we asked if we could just go in and see the lake since we had no intention of being in the water at all. We just wanted to see iconic view of Mount Hood.

The guy at the entrance booth luckily let us in for free (shoutout to him) so we drove to the shore of the lake, took in the view, snapped a few photos and we were on our way.

Trillium Lake is a superior spot for paddleboarding, it would totally be worth the $10 day use fee. If we had water gear with us I would’ve loved to stay for the rest of the day.

Portland Itinerary Day 6: Columbia River Gorge

On our 6th day in Portland, we headed back out to the Columbia River Gorge for another day of hiking. We got an early start so we could see Multnomah Falls before the crowds arrived.

Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls is probably the most popular and most photographed waterfall in the Columbia River Gorge. It’s one place that must be on your 7 day Portland itinerary!

Multnomah Falls is a whopping 620 feet tall and earns its place as Oregon’s tallest waterfall. It’s known for the historic bridge built over the lower section of the falls which was built in 1914

The trailhead has limited parking so they do require reservations from 9 AM to 6 PM from May 24th through September 2nd which is their peak season. However, if you arrive before 9 AM you can park and enter the falls for free without a reservation.

If you aren’t able to get there early, you will have to make your reservation online for a one hour time slot. They’re only $2 and they are available for purchase 2 weeks in advance.

The walk up to view Multnomah Falls is very easy and paved. There’s only a few steps to walk up. I’d recommend following the trail further which leads you up to the scenic bridge. It’s a little steep, not completely paved, but it’s only a quarter mile. It’s definitely worth it to go up so you can walk across the bridge.

Wahkeena Falls

After Multnomah Falls, we drove down the road a few minutes to hike to Wahkeena Falls.

Wahkeena Falls is only located about a quarter mile up from the trailhead. It is a steep incline to get there, but it is paved.

There is another waterfall called Fairy Falls located just 1 mile up further so we decided to continue hiking to see the other waterfall. It does have some pretty steep sections too, but overall it’s a gorgeous hike.

It’s also way less crowded the further you go up on the trail than it is around Wahkeena Falls.

Horsetail & Ponytail Falls

Our next hike was a little shorter but one of my favorites at the Columbia River Gorge. It was to Horsetail Falls and Ponytail Falls. Horsetail Falls is located right off the road so you can’t miss it when you’re driving by.

There’s a trail located off to the left of Horsetail Falls that will take you just 0.3 miles up to Ponytail Falls. 

I 100% recommend hiking the extra 0.3 miles even though it is quite steep, it is so worth it. Ponytail Falls is so special because you can walk behind the waterfall.

It’s so convenient that these two beautiful waterfalls are quite easy and quick to get to. If you don’t have a whole bunch of time to visit the Columbia River Gorge, I think these two are a must see. 

Triple Falls

We also hiked the Triple Falls Trail which is a 3 mile out and back hike. It leads you to a stunning waterfall with 3 separate sections. Hence the name Triple Falls. This is not a popular trail like the other ones I’ve mentioned in this post.

The terrain on this hike is rocky, the trail is overgrown in spots, and it can be a little sketchy at times. So proceed on this hike with caution. Feel free to omit this hike if you don’t have the time on your 7 day itinerary, but non-crowded hikes can be hard to come by in Portland. So if you’re looking for more solitude in the Columbia River Gorge then this may be a great option.

Vista House

The Vista House is an iconic landmark of the Columbia River Gorge. It’s a stone building that today serves as a visitor center, museum, and an elegant rest stop.

You’ve probably seen it perched up atop the cliff while driving the Historic Columbia River Highway to get to the waterfall hikes.

The view you get from the Vista House is gorgeous in itself and worth seeing, but you can also enjoy checking out the exhibits inside, the gift shop, or even have a small treat at the café after your day of hiking.

It’s completely free to visit and worth driving up to while you’re exploring the Columbia River Gorge.

Portland Itinerary Day 7: Last Minute Quirky Attractions

On our last day of our 7 day Portland itinerary, we had a late night flight so we pretty much had the entire day to explore still. It was like a “see everything else we want to before we leave” kind of day.

Everything we didn’t already see, we crammed it all in on this final day. 

Portland Troll Bridge

You can’t have a 7 day Portland itinerary without visiting a few of the area’s quirky attractions. The first one we set out for was the Portland Troll Bridge. The bridge is located in northwest Portland, a little ways out of the city. 

The bridge is actually an old train trestle that is no longer in use. But now it’s part of a community art piece. 

The most believed story of how the Portland Troll Bridge came to be, is back in the early 2000’s, a mother who lived in the area attached a troll doll to the bridge to surprise her kids. And it pretty much just snowballed from there after other people in the community started attaching trolls to it too. 

You can find the Portland Troll Bridge at 16498 NW McNamee Rd.

It’s a windy road through the forest but within a few minutes of driving on McNamee Rd, you will drive under the bridge where colorful trolls can be seen hanging from. It’s impossible to miss.

Portland’s Giant Troll

The next attraction of the day also has a troll theme. But this time, it is a troll 100x the size of the ones you’ll see on the bridge.

This giant troll is known as Ole Bolle and it was made by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. Dambo has made hundreds of other giant troll sculptures from recycled wood and has placed them all over the world.

Ole Bolle lives in the woods on the campus of Nordic Northwest, a non profit organization that educates and celebrates Nordic culture. 

You can find Ole Bolle at this address: 8800 SW Oleson Rd. From there you can easily follow the signs to see the troll. It is free to visit.

Witch’s Castle in Forest Park

We next set out for Forest Park to find the Witch’s Castle, also known as the Stone House. 

The Witch’s Castle is part of old stone ruins of what used to be a bathroom for hikers. Back in the 60’s a terrible storm came through and damaged the structure and caving in the roof. It became abandoned until a group of local kids rediscovered it and used it as a hangout space calling it the Witch’s Castle. 

Today, you can take an easy hike down to the stone house and walk all around the inside. 

As you can see from my photos, there is a ton of graffiti all over the structure, which I think heightens the appeal. It was neat to walk around and view the art people have made.

The easiest and quickest way to the Witch’s Castle is to take a leisurely 0.5 mile walk down through a beautifully forested area. There is moss covering the ground as a small creek runs alongside the trail. It really is so serene!

The trail you take is called the Wildwood Trail, the same trail that runs through the Hoyt Arboretum and Pittock Mansion. So I would recommend hiking to the Witch’s Castle at the same time as when you visit the arboretum and mansion if you can.

Council Crest Park for Sunset

To end our one week trip in Portland, we made a point to find somewhere to watch the sunset. We chose to go to Council Crest Park which is the highest point in Portland thinking we would get awesome views of the sunset. 

This park doesn’t quite give you a good view of the setting sun due to all the trees along the border of the park. However, there are a few clearings in the trees which provide you with little views of the changing colors of the sky. You can also see the peaks of Mount Saint Helens and Mount Hood from the park which is very beautiful during sunset. 

And that will conclude my complete 7 day Portland itinerary! I hope you were able to get some ideas on places to see and things to do when you visit Oregon. Thank you so much for reading!