Council Crest Park

This is a great hike within Portland which boasts a good amount of elevation and great views at the top. It's 3.3 miles round trip with 820 feet of elevation gain. The Marquam Nature Park Shelter Trailhead is a great place to start. Follow the "council crest/4T trail' signs and you wind up through the beautiful Southwest portion of forest park. Some nice houses come to view in the woods, and soon you realize you're in a neighborhood in the hills. You cross a few intersections, keep following the signs and marveling at the houses, and eventually you reach council crest. Council crest is widely known as one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Portland.