Trails Program
Safe and Accessible Trails
Forest Park Conservancy works closely with Portland Parks & Recreation to maintain and improve more than 50 miles of soft surface trails in Forest Park and Marquam Nature Park for the use and enjoyment of all visitors. Trail maintenance and improvement projects happen year-round. We rely heavily on our vibrant community of volunteers to help us lead trail work events, report hazards after storms, collect data about trail use, educate the public, and so much more.
You can help us by reporting trail hazards, including trees down across the trails and fire lanes. Please email us to report a downed tree. When you report a tree, be sure to include the tree’s location, approximate tree diameter, and any other useful information. If you include photos, all the better!
If you want to scout trails and report regularly, consider one of our Volunteer Leadership Opportunities, such as the Rapid Response Program volunteer program.
Tending Land Together
The basics of trail work are simple, but the variations are endless. Workers have to develop “trail eyes”—a special way of reading the land—to be successful. And although a trail can technically be re-benched or a rock wall built by just one skilled person, it will usually get done quicker and be of higher quality if done in community. Part of the beauty of trail work is that it takes a combination of technical knowledge, new ideas, head-scratching, and hard work, making it fulfilling for beginners and long-time professionals alike.
We invite you to join us in whatever way works best for your life: email Zac Peal, Director of Programs & Community Engagement to ask how you can get involved.
Working by the Seasons
Here in the Pacific Northwest, we tend to trails year-round in a never-ending seasonal rhythm:
Spring: We repair storm damage, remove downed trees, and work on special trail projects in areas that need more focused repair than regular maintenance can provide.
Summer: As plant life reaches for the sun, we work to brush the park, which means trimming back vegetation on the sides of the trail. Not only does this prevent branches from impeding hikers, but the way we brush also serves as a subconscious visual guide for hikers to walk where we want them to for the long-term health of the trail. As trails dry out, this is a perfect time to haul construction materials farther into the park with trucks and power wheelbarrows without tearing up the trail.
Fall: Early fall is a great time for re-benching trails since the soil is moist but not muddy. We use this time to correct outslope on trails and finish up special projects before winter. In November and December, we host as many volunteers as possible to help us rake leaves from all 47 miles of soft-surface trails before they get wet and muddy. Raking trails may seem like an unusual practice, but trust us! We have experimented, and the soil composition, rainfall, and unusually high use of our trails make raking an essential tool to prevent costly and time-consuming repairs later on.
Winter: The trails are muddy, the winds and rains are blowing in, and trees tend to fall across the trail all winter long. We use this time to clear drains and culverts, correct other drainage issues, and help PP&R clear downed trees. Winter is also when we dive into planning the project and volunteer training calendar for the rest of the year.
If you want to support our trails program, volunteer with us or consider becoming an FPC member.