Hoyt Arboretum — Attraction in Portland

Portland’s Hoyt Arboretum, situated between Washington Park and the amazingly beautiful grounds of the Pittock Mansion, is one of the crown jewels of the extensive park system within the city of Portland. It is a living library of trees, and celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2018. Many of the original plantings have by now grown into giant and beautiful specimens. The Arboretum counts more than 6000 individual trees, and more than 2000 unique species.

The visitors center is a small, nondescript building located at 4000 Fairview Blvd., yet it is packed full of interesting information, resources, free maps and guides, and staffed with a smart and well-informed volunteer and professional staff who can answer your every question. During summer months, free tours are offered on Saturdays, and professional tours are available most other times of the year.

With 12 miles of trails winding through Southwest Portland hillsides, there is a lot of ground to cover and dozens of interesting sites to visit. A couple of favorites include the Magnolia Trail, with over 120 of these amazing living fossils, whose spectacular flowers actually evolved before bees and other pollinators. Instead, they rely on beetles for reproduction.

Be sure to spend some time on Portland‘s famous Wildwood Trail, which winds its way through several parts of the park, including an incredible miniature redwood forest comprised of dozens of the oldest trees in the park. Although these tall beauties are a far cry from the astounding giant sequoias some 480 miles south, along the California coast, this little slice of heaven will give you a taste of the Pacific Northwest’s magnificent redwood splendor.

Perhaps most amazing of all, all of this is just 3 miles from the heart of downtown Portland. Quite literally a 10 minute ride from just about anywhere in downtown. An experience not...

From the moment I saw a photo of the Redwood Observation Deck on Pinterest, I knew this was where I wanted to get married. There was something dreamlike about the tall Redwoods towering over the deck, and the light filtering through the trees. It looked like it belonged in a fairytale. Seeing it in person on our wedding day was even more breathtaking than I imagined.

Booking the venue was a unique experience. Portland Parks & Rec operates on a lottery system, so we had to line up outside their office early in the morning to get our permit. It felt a little old-school, but it also made the process kind of special and exciting. Once we secured our date, everything else fell into place.

The day-of experience was flawless. While a few of our out-of-town guests had a bit of trouble finding the entrance to Bray Lane (where the trailhead begins), once they arrived, it was only a short, easy walk to the deck. Despite being in a public park, the area felt incredibly private. The few joggers we passed were respectful, and there were no interruptions or background noise — just the quiet, calming presence of the forest.

We were lucky to have a beautiful August afternoon. The weather was warm and golden, and the light filtering through the canopy and our chuppah created this soft, ethereal glow. Guests couldn't stop talking about how magical the space felt. It was serene, intimate, and completely unforgettable.

If you're dreaming of a natural, woodsy wedding that feels tucked away from the world (while still being in Portland!), I can't recommend the Redwood Observation Deck enough. It’s already a popular choice for a reason, and after our experience, I understand why. Truly a hidden gem in the heart...

Wanted to warn families about the parking situation. You must pay for parking (which we did) and the app is unreliable (tried to add more time, but it wouldn't let us) and there is no mercy for overstaying (wrote a letter contesting ticket and Portland did not even acknowledge it, simply cashed their check, which was required to be sent with it.) They couldn't even bother to send a copy-paste letter. We ended up paying $10 for parking, plus the additional $44 ticket. All for staying 10 minutes late due to poor signage (for an out of state family to follow forcing us to walk further, and unable to repark due to assigned parking spots), and because THEIR APP failed. Sounds like a scam on families on a budget and out of state tourists to me!!! Ruined our experience, visit, and we have no desire to ever park anywhere in Portland ever again. You have been warned. It's best to not pay immediately, soak in that free time to make sure you are where you're supposed to be instead of paying when you arrive (like a responsible person). We did enjoy the walk, not worth the price tag. Even at the regular fee. Cheaper to enjoy...