Courtesy of Bob Wayt

by Jamie Hale | The Oregonian, OregonLive

The Portland area is full of good hiking opportunities, but not all are suitable for the whole family. Taking kiddos up Angel’s Rest or up the side of Mount Hood isn’t always the best idea, but thankfully there are plenty places that are truly family-friendly.

For this article, “family-friendly” means hikes that don’t climb much in elevation, are relatively short and come with other amenities, like nature centers, playgrounds, bathrooms and picnic areas. Every family is different, of course, so use your best judgement.

The geology of the Willamette Valley lends itself well to flatter, easier hikes around Portland, and even some of the steeper climbs feature trails designed for hikers of all abilities. There are many we’re leaving out here, but this dozen should be plenty to get you through the sunny days of spring and summer – many are great in the fall and winter too, when the changing season can transform the experience.

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1. Cooper Mountain

Found on the western outskirts of Beaverton, Cooper Mountain Nature Park features three miles of trails through forest and prairie, home to some rare plants and animals. An easy loop hike takes you around the perimeter of the park, to an overlook and to a side loop, though shorter hikes are possible too. The park also has a nature-themed playground and a nature house where kids can take classes and go on guided walks.

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Stephanie Yao Long/The Oregonian

2. Hoyt Arboretum

Portland's Hoyt Arboretum is home to more than 2,300 species of trees, 63 of which are vulnerable or endangered. The park is accessible by MAX and bus, and is included as a stop on the free Washington Park shuttle. You can tour the visitors center or hike a full loop around the park, which doesn't gain much elevation but does run 4.7 miles in all. Several other nature trails snake their way through the arboretum for shorter walks.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

3. Kelley Point Park

Known for its beaches at the confluence of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers – and potentially dangerous swimming conditions – Kelley Point Park is also a nice place to walk with younger kids. An easy 1.7-mile loop hike will take you around the park, along paved pathways and sandy beaches. Grassy picnic areas and parking lots are available at the north Portland park.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

4. Mount Tabor

One of the best things about Mount Tabor is the wide range of recreational opportunities available. Biking and hiking are both possible at the southeast Portland park, and the latter can be done on any of three trails: the easy 1-mile Red Trail, moderate 1.7-mile Green Trail and more difficult 3-mile Blue Trail. Playgrounds, basketball courts and grassy areas abound at the park.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

5. Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge

Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge might play second or even third fiddle in an area best known for Oaks Amusement Park and the Springwater Corridor, but the 168-acre complex of wetland, meadow and forest is as beautiful as it is serene. An easy 2.3-mile hike will take you around the whole thing, though the hike does include a segment along the Springwater Corridor bike path. Look for the old Portland Memorial Mausoleum inside the refuge, now covered with a 45,000-square-foot wildlife mural – one of the largest in the country.

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Stephanie Yao Long/The Oregonian

6. Oxbow Regional Park

What makes Oxbow Regional Park one of the best natural areas around Portland? That would be the 16 miles of trails, old-growth forests, a serene setting along the Sandy River and the many educational opportunities offered there, from mushroom foraging hikes to an annual festival marking the spawning of salmon. More adventurous families can hike the wilder north side of the park as well.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

7. Smith and Bybee Lakes

Kids who love animals may delight at the sights afforded at Smith and Bybee Lakes, a natural area off Marine Drive in north Portland, where paved trails lead to viewpoints and blinds designed for viewing local wildlife. On one visit, I spotted bald eagles feasting, turtles sharing the trail, pelicans drifting in the lakes and a heron that I accidentally spooked. A 2.1-mile walk will take you through the whole park.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

8. Tryon Creek

There are a lot of ways to explore Tryon Creek State Natural Area in southwest Portland, but one of the best might be to start at the nature center next to the parking lot, grab a map and wander the trails. Wooden bridges cross the many small creeks and streams that run through the park, and if you show up in spring, you'll likely see pretty trillium flowers blooming. Adventurous explorers can loop the park in a 5.7-mile hike.

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9. Tualatin Hills

Found in Beaverton, the Tualatin Hills Nature Park features a complex, sprawling trail network – paths both paved and soft-surface – that makes it perfect for wandering. The nature center is a good place to start, but the real fun comes in the discovery of rough-skinned newts in breeding pools, wildflowers peeking out of the ground and many species of birds coming in and out of the wooded park.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

10. Wapato Greenway

Ditch the beach and hike Sauvie Island's gorgeous Wapato Access Greenway instead. A 2-mile loop will take you around Virginia Lake and along the Multnomah Channel of the Columbia River. Watch for wildlife and enjoy some truly towering oak trees that once were plentiful in the Willamette Valley. Picnic tables and a bathroom are available at Hadley's Landing at the southern end of the hike, while a group shelter sits near the trailhead.

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Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

11. Washington Park Loop

Washington Park is well known for all its attractions – the Rose Test Garden, Japanese Garden, Hoyt Arboretum, Oregon Zoo, etc. – but an easy 4-mile loop hike takes you around the whole park. That might be too long for some kiddos, but the trails and pathways in the park allow for endless customization. Pick a few favorite attractions and make an adventurous day of it.

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Michael Lloyd/The Oregonian

12. Woods Park

Woods Park, officially known as the Woods Memorial Natural Area, is 36 acres of forest in southwest Portland, and can be fully explored via an easy 2.1-mile loop hike. Boardwalks and wooden bridges help navigate the woodland setting known for its abundance of wildflowers. A few big trees remain from the logging done in the park area 100 years ago.

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See more: For more difficult hikes, check out the comprehensive Portland Hiking Guide, which covers trails within the city.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

NORTHWEST TRAVEL GUIDES

20 reasons to love McMinnville: The Willamette Valley town might be best known for pinot noir and UFOs, but there's plenty more to love about McMinnville too.

Southern coast hikes: Get away to the southern Oregon coast this year, and you'll be rewarded with many spectacular hiking opportunities.

Festival of Sail: The world-touring tall ship festival returns to the Oregon coast this summer, with a new guest: a giant rubber duck.

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--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB