Choosing a hike from Forest Park’s 80+ miles of trails can be hard. Of the countless potential routes, none has a more impressive finale than the hike to Pittock Mansion. I’m a local, and it’s my go-to destination when a friend visiting from out of town wants to try Portland’s hiking trails. The mansion is impressive, but the real treat is the spectacular view from the grounds. On the way, you’ll pass the ruins of the Witch’s Castle, a wildlife sanctuary, and the ferns of your wildest dreams. Here’s how to hike to Pittock Mansion.
Pittock Mansion Viewpoint
Pittock Mansion hike options
Shorter version (start at the Oregon Bird Alliance):
2.6 miles out-and-back, moderate
500 feet elevation gain
Free parking
No great public transit options
Longer version (start at Lower Macleay Park):
5 miles out-and-back, moderate
1,000 feet elevation gain
Free (but limited) parking
Near TriMet bus lines 15, 26, and 77
Includes the Witch’s Castle
Alternate route (start in Washington Park): I think of the Pittock Mansion hike as coming from the north, but it’s not the only route. Washington Park’s trails connect to Pittock Mansion via the Hoyt Arboretum. I’ll mention it towards the end as an option.
No hiking: You can park directly at Pittock Mansion. Parking is metered at around $2.40/hour. The lot can fill up during popular times, especially on summer weekends and during special events. Download the Parking Kitty app to pay. A few turnouts on the drive up have free parking.
Witch’s Castle
Know before you go
Cost: It’s free to hike to Pittock Mansion and see the grounds. There’s an admission fee to tour the house ($17 for adult admission).
Amenities: Restrooms and picnic tables are at Lower Macleay Park, the Oregon Bird Alliance, and Pittock Mansion.
Parking: Lower Macleay Park only has a few parking spots. I’ve never seen one available. Look for street parking nearby, or take public transit. Parking is easier at the Oregon Bird Alliance, but can still fill up at popular times like summer weekends.
Dogs: Leashed dogs are welcome in Forest Park. They can be on the grounds of Pittock Mansion, but not inside the house.
Kids: The hike to Pittock Mansion is kid-friendly. It just might be a lot of uphill walking for younger kids.
Accessibility: If you start at Lower Macleay Park, the first quarter mile of the trail is paved, without barriers like steps or steep grades. After that, it switches to an uneven, natural-surface trail. If you drive to Pittock Mansion, the paths around the grounds are paved and barrier-free. The mansion’s interior is partially accessible. Find details here.
Difficulty: The Pittock Mansion hike has a lot of uphill walking no matter where you start. If you’re like me (and most other hikers), you’ll be breathing hard by the end. It’s still doable for most fitness levels and doesn’t require training. The trail is well maintained. It has some rocks and roots but no major obstacles. It can get muddy. Hiking boots are ideal, but sneakers will work.
Season: You can hike to Pittock Mansion all year. The trails rarely get snow in the winter.
Lower Macleay to Pittock Mansion
Start here
Lower Macleay Park has the only universal access trail in Forest Park. It starts at an accessible picnic area and restroom building. For the next quarter mile, it’s flat, paved, and in great condition. You’ll walk under the Thurman St. Bridge, pass some metal sculptures in a grassy field, then head into the woods. The pavement ends at the stone viewpoint overlooking Balch Creek.
End of the pavement
The Pittock Mansion hike stays pretty flat and easy for the first mile. It follows Balch Creek through a dense forest of maples and conifers. Late October and early November are great times to see the changing leaves on the vine maples and big-leaf maples. You’ll pass a tiny waterfall that dries to a trickle by late summer.
Lower Macleay Trail
In less than a mile, you’ll reach Forest Park’s spookiest landmark, the Stone House, better known as the Witch’s Castle. The haunting appearance of the mossy ruins has inspired local legends. The reality is less romantic. It’s a decommissioned park restroom. In more recent years, it’s been a hub for high school parties, moody photo shoots, and graffiti art. Although the building’s past doesn’t involve witches, the land it sits on has some colorful history. The former landowner shot the man who eloped with his daughter in the mid-1800s, although not in this location.
Witch’s Castle
After the Witch’s Castle, you’re on the Wildwood Trail. In about 0.2 miles, you’ll reach the bridge over Balch Creek. It’s also where the flat part of the trail ends. If you turn around here, it’s a nice and easy 2-mile out-and-back hike. Since we’re heading to Pittock Mansion, we’ll continue up the hill.
Bridge over Balch Creek
About a quarter mile past the bridge, you’ll reach the Oregon Bird Alliance parking lot. The wildlife sanctuary makes for a fun detour if you have time. It’s free to visit and has enclosures that house birds being rehabilitated. It also has a lovely trail network worth exploring, although perhaps not on the same day as the Pittock Mansion hike. To continue, follow the trail next to the parking lot away from the Oregon Bird Alliance. Signs point the way to Pittock Mansion.
Follow signs toward Pittock Mansion
At the crosswalk, head across NW Cornell Rd.
Cross here
After crossing, the trail splits where Upper Macleay branches off from the Wildwood Trail. You can go either direction. They join up again in about half a mile. I’d lean toward the Upper Macleay Trail to get some of the uphill walking out of the way sooner, but the experience is similar regardless.
Go either way
The rest of the hike to Pittock Mansion is steadily uphill. The vegetation looks different now that you’re farther from Balch Creek. More conifers and ferns, fewer maples.
Upper Macleay Trail
When the Wildwood Trail and Upper Macleay Trail meet back up, follow the sign to continue uphill toward Pittock Mansion. It’s about 0.5 miles more, and you’re there.
Head up the steps
Pittock Mansion is one of Portland’s most rewarding hiking destinations. Come for the stately mansion, stay for the views and the gardens. No matter the season, you’ll see something beautiful and colorful, from hellebore blooms in the winter to changing maple leaves in the fall. Follow the paved paths around Pittock Mansion to reach a spectacular viewpoint overlooking downtown Portland and, on clear days, Mount Hood. The viewpoint has benches and picnic tables perfect for a snack break.
Mount Hood from the Pittock Mansion viewpoint
If you’re interested in touring Pittock Mansion, look for the ticketing counter on the walk up to the house, next to the restrooms. To me, the grounds are the biggest draw, but if you like seeing historic homes, it’s worth having a look inside. Completed in 1914, the house is the former home of early industrialist Henry Pittock and his family. The city of Portland bought it in the 1960s, renovated it, and opened it to the public in 1965. Pittock Mansion appeared in the 2026 stop-motion animation film Wildwood. It’s not a spitting image of the real-life version, but it bears a strong resemblance.
Pittock Mansion
Getting there
Lower Macleay Park:
Address: 2960 NW Upshur St, Portland, OR 97210
You can reach Lower Macleay Park by car, bike, or bus. If you bike, use the bike rack at the trailhead. Bikes aren’t allowed on the trail.
If you drive, you almost certainly won’t find a free spot at the trailhead. Look for free but limited street parking in the neighborhood.
By bus:
The #15 stops about 8 minutes or 0.3 miles away.
The #77 stops about 10 minutes or 0.4 miles away.
Oregon Bird Alliance:
Address: 5151 NW Cornell Rd, Portland, OR 97210
If you start from the Oregon Bird Alliance, you pretty much have to drive. The closest bus stop is 1.5 miles away, so you might as well start at Lower Macleay Park instead.
Washington Park to Pittock Mansion
Barbara Walker Crossing
Distance: 2.5+ miles
Elevation gain: 500+ feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Parking: Metered in any Washington Park lot
Many potential hikes start from Washington Park’s trail network and end at Pittock Mansion. The most direct way is to start at the Wildwood Trailhead on SW Fairview Blvd. From here, it’s about 2.5 miles to Pittock Mansion and back. From the Hoyt Arboretum Visitor Center, it’s about 4 miles, and you’ll get to see the Redwood Deck on the way. No matter where you start, your destination is the Wildwood Trail, which will take you to Pittock Mansion. A highlight of the hike is taking the Barbara Walking Crossing above busy Burnside St. to enter Forest Park.
Enjoy your hike to Pittock Mansion!
With love,
Emma
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