South Waterfront Lower Tram Terminal — Attraction in Portland

This was a fun and inexpensive experience that gave you an amazing birds eye view of Portland from a 360 aerial tram that was very accessible and easy to access.

It is a bit far from the downtown area but a nice walk along the river to get to if you are up to it. We did end up taking the HOP back which had a station a block away from the bottom access point of the aerial tram.

This experience might not be good for those who don't like heights or get motion sickness, but it is a quick ride to the top. Once at the top, you can chill and take in the views and just catch what ever tram you feel like jumping on when ready.

Keep in mind that there are also employees and people visiting the medical center at the top, so this is not a tourist attraction at first, but a mood of transportation for those in need. You might consider that and wait for a tram that doesn't have as many people on it to allow those with a purpose to ride first.

I would say this is a must do when visiting Portland for the first time and well worth...

Quick and easy way to see views of the city and beyond. Tram operators were helpful in pointing out different landmarks and there's even a map above the front and back tram viewing windows to give you an idea of what you are looking out at. Once you're at the top, there are a couple of viewing areas, but because you are also at a hospital you cannot go in unless you have a reason to (i.e. hospital staff or visitor) so plan accordingly as in eat first and use the restroom before you ride the tram up. We made it fun by first stopping at Blue Star Donuts (a few blocks from the lower tram station) to grab coffee and donuts. While you can't eat on the tram, you can enjoy your food and coffee at the donut shop and use the restroom there before riding the tram. Go early! We went up at 9am on a Saturday when it opened and by the time we got back down (before 10am) there was a line at...

I ride the tram every day to get up to work at OHSU, and every day I look forward to the trip. On clear summer days, you can see multiple mountains and a lot of the city. This is always something I make a point to take visitors to do, as the view from the top makes it easier to orient to the quadrants and layout of Portland. Even if you don’t have anything to do up on the hill, when weather is nice it’s a nice area to walk around (especially the fountain area in front of Mackenzie Hall), and there are plenty of coffee shops around.

Tip: when you get off the tram, if you go inside the hospital and walk straight down the hall, there’s a coffee shop on the left with huge windows and great views. It’s a nice place to get a snack or coffee before heading back...