Council Crest Climb

Geographically, Portland would seem to be great city for watching the 4th of July fireworks, which are launched from downtown, near the Willamette River. Because of the city's numerous hills, quality viewing points abound. The big problem is that the trees in the Northwest are ridiculously tall, resulting in little actual firework watching. We found this out when we tried to go to Council Crest Park, where we joined about 200 other eager spectators. Everyone was sitting, eating and drinking, waiting for the show to start. And when it did start, everyone rose to their feet, rushed to the edge of the park....and realized that the trees where in the way. From that point, it was literally a mad dash back to the cars to head back down the hill in an attempt to find a better spot; 200 people trying to make their way down the narrow and windy hills of West Portland. Probably drunk. Good times.

But, as the result of the madness, I found a great quick ride up to the park. Supposedly Council Crest Park is the highest point in Portland, and the ride up to it is therefore pretty short and steep. The start (in downtown Portland) is about 50ft. above sea level while the ride's highest point is 1,073ft. about sea level, reached in less then 4 miles of climbing. The ride is goreous; some amazing views of the city and of the Cascads, and the neighborhoods you ride through have some amazing houses. Aesthetically, it's one of my favorite rides in the Portland area.

I've used the ride as a quick workout before heading home after work or up to school for the day and as a warm up for longer rides, which are easily accessible from the area. Traffic is usually fairly moderate, and most people are aware that cyclists frequent the area. The somewhat sketchy part of the ride is through downtown, which is where I usually start. Generally the roads are wide enough to not be too much of a problem, but there is definitely some high traffic urban biking required.

Directions: I always start in downtown, near the Hawthorne Bridge, on the Tom McCall Waterfront Park. From there, head west on Taylor (toward the hills), cross over 405 and then take a left on SW 15th Ave (PGE Park should be right in front of you), and then a right on SW Salmon St. Salmon Street climbs fairly steeply up a short hill (this is a narrow road, be careful here) before it deadends at SW King Ave. Take a right and then an immediate left onto SW Park Place, west 2 blocks and then a left onto SW Vista Ave. You are going to stay on Vista as it runs through an "S" curve and then climbs up a relatively steep hill. Near the top of this straight stretch you will come to a light (at Spring Street and Vista); continue straight where Vista will veer slightly right up another relatively steep hill (be careful staying on Vista at this point, there is a lot of traffic). Remain on Vista until you eventually wind to a stop sign (the interesction of Vista and SW Broadway Drive). Take a right at the stop sign, and then an immediate left onto SW Greenway Avenue (this is a sketchy intersection, lots of traffic, so be careful). SW Greenway will basically take you the rest of the way up to the park (it turns into SW Council Crest Drive right before the summit).

Wooo!! Lots of directions, but you only need to do it once or twice to get pretty comfortable with it.


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