Wildwood Trail

Wildwood Trail

Arguably Portland’s most famous trail, Wildwood Trail begins in Hoyt Arboretum, then spans nearly 30 miles in Forest Park. Heavily wooded with natural terrain, Wildwood is the longest trail in the Arboretum, connecting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Overlook Viewpoint, Winter Garden, Wedding Meadow, and Redwood Deck.

Wildwood Trail exits the Arboretum to the north via the Barbara Walker Crossing, leading directly to Pittock Mansion.

Quick Facts

Wildwood Trail wayfinding post.

Surface: Natural surface, packed dirt and gravel

Grade: Generally moderate, occasionally steep, and momentarily 19% about 1.04 miles from the trailhead

Elevation gain/loss: 425 feet of elevation gain, 395 feet of elevation loss

Length: 2.85 miles

Number of benches: 9 trailside (+1 long, low log), 8 picnic tables at the Washington Park Archery Range, and 3 benches on the Redwood Deck

Minimum trail width: 24 inches, 0.97 miles from the trailhead

Typical trail width: 48 inches

Sun exposure: Mostly shaded

Other things to note: Wildwood Trail briefly joins or skirts several trails, presenting visitors with a variety of collection trees. However, the majority of Wildwood Trail is beyond the collection areas, offering a wooded hike that connects other Washington Park destinations, such as the Archery Range and Japanese Garden. 

If you continue on Wildwood Trail beyond the arboretum’s northern boundary, you’ll reach Pittock Mansion in approximately half a mile.

 

Wildwood Trail Preview

Access the Wildwood Trail

The most direct way to access Wildwood Trail is from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (VVM) parking lot.

The Hoyt Arboretum trail map with Wildwood Trail marked in a dashed red line.
Wildwood Trail begins near the memorial, winds through the Arboretum, through other destinations, in Washington Park, back past major Hoyt Arboretum destinations like the Winter Garden and the Redwood Deck, and to the Arboretum’s border at W Burnside.

 

From the VVM parking lot, you can reach Wildwood Trail by heading west and crossing Knights Blvd. The trailhead begins on the west side of the crosswalk, and is marked with a wayfinding sign, wooden sign, and an interpretive sign. 

an interpretive sign about Wildwood Trailhead and Hoyt Arboretum-text and images on the sign vary in ability to read in this image. Headers read Wildwood Trail, and Hoyt Arboretum.
The Wildwood Trail starts at Hoyt Arboretum. Take a minute at the trailhead to learn about Portland’s most famous trail before you set out.

 

a wooden sign marking the start of wildwood trail, the vietnam veterans memorial, and parking lot.
The start of Wildwood Trail near the Vietnam Veterans of Oregon Memorial is marked with this carved wooden sign.

 

Throughout the Arboretum and Washington Park, Wildwood Trail is marked with wayfinding posts at every trail intersection, but you’ll also notice blue diamonds painted on Doug-firs along the trail as a way to mark Wildwood Trail throughout the Arboretum and into Forest Park.

These blue diamonds are painted on trees every quarter mile of Wildwood Trail, starting from the southern terminus.

 

If you have questions about the trail, the Visitor Center provides access to bathrooms and water fountains, and is a great place to grab a map and get some trail advice. For more about arrival and amenities at Hoyt Arboretum, see our Plan Your Visit page: hoytarboretum.org/plan-your-visit/ 

Wildwood Trail intersects with many Hoyt Arboretum trails, and may be accessed from a variety of starting points including Overlook and Oak Trails if starting from the Hoyt Arboretum Visitor Center.

Along the Trail

Adjacent to the Overlook Trail, Wildwood Trail features a viewpoint, where on a clear day, visitors can see Mt. St. Helens and Ranier. The interpretive signs tell the geological and human-centered history of Hoyt Arboretum.

Overlook Viewpoint.

 

“The view” from the Overlook Viewpoint on a clear day. Mike Drewry, 2022.

 

Wildwood Trail passes through the Arboretum’s Redwood Collection. Stop at the Redwood Deck along the trail to appreciate their majesty.

The view from the Redwood Deck looking out and down.

 

The view from the Redwood Deck looking up.

 

Known Obstacles and Usability

Wildwood Trail is fairly rugged with steep slopes and hills throughout, sharp turns, and long narrow stretches with steep drop-offs. There is also significant root intrusion throughout causing wide, irregular bumps to watch for.

Wildwood Trail has frequent, significant root intrusion that causes bumps in the trail measuring up to 5 inches high, and 12 inches wide.

 

NOTE: Wildwood Trail connects to many other park trails throughout the park, and small sections can be explored without needing to hike the entirety of Wildwood Trail.

Resting Spots

There are 8 benches spaced out along the trail. 

The first bench on Wildwood Trail is at the first Intersection with Maple Trail starting from the Memorial.

 

A wooden bench on a dirt trail continuous surface with trail, surrounded by understory vegetation.
The second bench on Wildwood Trail is along the switchback that leads to the crosswalk at SW Knights Blvd.

 

The third bench along Wildwood Trail is is tucked between the Magnolia Trail and the Hawthorn Trail in the Cherry Collection, where the Wildwood Trail begins to venture east, beyond the collection areas of the Arboretum.

 

The fourth bench is a short distance to the east of the intersection of Wildwood Trail and Hawthorn Trail.

 

This bench is just to the east of the final intersection of Wildwood Trail and Maple trail, marking the east end of Maple Trail.

 

The Archery Range, located on the eastern portion of the trail, contains 8 picnic tables.

The Washington Park Archery Range.

 

Amenities at the Washington Park Archery Range include 8 picnic tables, an onsite portable toilet at the Archery Range that is ADA accessible, and a handwashing station.

 

Approximately 0.1 miles north of the Archery Range is a long low log that is suitable for sitting.

This log is a short distance north of the Archery Range and it’s perfect for trailside sitting.

 

This bench is deep in the natural forested part of Wildwood Trail, near the Japanese Garden.

 

This bench is near the intersection of Wildwood Trail and Oak Trail, northwest of the Winter Garden and below Fairview Blvd.

 

This bench is a short distance north of the Wedding Meadow.

 

There are 3 benches on the Redwood Deck, along Wildwood Trail.

 

This is the final bench within the arboretum, as Wildwood Trail continues north across the Barbara Walker Crossing, towards Pittock Mansion and Forest Park.

 

Questions?

Please reach out to Hoyt Arboretum Friends for more information about trails including accessibility concerns.

[email protected]
503.865.8733

 

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