SW Trails Urban Hike #1: Gabriel to Oleson

Our first self-led urban hike was also the first one listed by the SWTrails PDX group — Hike #1 Gabriel to Oleson. If it was good enough to be their first to list, it was good enough to be our first to walk.

Summary

We started and ended this urban hike at the SW Community Center by Gabriel Park. This hike is a loop, so technically you could start at any point along the route; but the park is convenient and has a lot of parking.

This 5.2 mile walk goes through the Maplewood neighborhood through many quiet streets and a few parks. This first experience is what introduced us to the realization that there are several neighborhoods and parks we’ve never seen before. There was also quite a bit of variation in the areas we walked through, in look and feel…keeping the hike interesting throughout.

Note: there are a couple of areas that you’ll need to pay attention to so you’ll get onto the right path (some of the transitions are subtle). But overall this hike was very enjoyable.

SW Hike #1: Gabriel Park to Oleson

Neighborhood: Maplewood, Portland, OR

Distance: 5.2 Miles

Elevation Change: 200ft

Type: Loop

Start/End: Gabriel Park, SW Community Center

Tool Limitations

The written directions for this urban hike on the SW trails website are confusing. I think the author of the instructions expected users to rely on the map or the Explorer for ArcGIS app to help hikers navigate this route. Thankfully those were available; otherwise, I suspect we would’ve taken a wrong turn more than once.

The one thing I don’t like about the app and map is that my face feels like it’s constantly staring at the screen, trying to figure out where to go. And that is just counterproductive to what we’re trying to accomplish by going out on these urban hikes. The app is also a little challenging because the distance shown on the map looks longer than the actual distance. Sometimes you’ll come up on your turn much more quickly than you think, or you’ll miss it altogether. So, I wrote out directions in more detail than the website. Hopefully, these will be helpful if you take this route yourself.

Directions

Start at SW Community Center (SW 45th Ave & SW Vermont St)
Head west on SW Vermont St.
Left on SW 52nd.
Right on SW Florida St.
At SW 55th, jog diagonally across the street to the right and continue of SW Florida.
Left on SW 60th.
Right on SW Miles Ct.
Follow road to the right and continue on SW Miles Ct.
Left on SW Oleson.
When you see the OES sign across the street, veer down the road on the left until you get to the Hideaway Park entrance.
Go left into the park. Walk along the path pass the play structure until you reach the set of stairs. Walk up the stairs.
You’ll come out on SW 68th Ave.
Walk then turn right on SW Canby St.
Left on SW 60th Ave.
Left on SW Miles Ct.
Right on SW 59th Ave.
At the bottom of the street, it will feel like you’re about to walk up into someone’s yard. But at the end of the block, there will to be a path into April Hill City Park on the left.

April Hill City Park is a sweet woody park that starts here with a skinny dirt trail. You’ll also come across a wooden walking path and a few bridges you’ll cross.

Follow the path through this lovely park and you’ll come out into a large grassy field.
Take the paved path to the right past the play structure. You’ll exit the park and onto SW Logan Ct. You’ll start seeing SW Trails #3 signs.
Right on SW 54th Ave
Left on SW Custer St. You’ll pass by a great little coffee shop, Maplewood Coffee & Tea.
Follow the curve of the street, left onto SW Maplewood Rd. You’ll see the SW Trails #3 sign.
Left on SW 48th Ave
Right on SW Miles Ct. As you walk down this road, you’ll see a sign that says Dead End/Private Driveway on a dark red sign posted on a telephone pole. Don’t worry, that message is for cars. Keep walking and you’ll see a trail on your left hand side. When you take that trail, you’ll find yourself in the parking lot of the Multnomah Presbyterian Church.
There will be another small trail entrance that will wind you down to SW 45th Ave.
Cross 45th. It’s a bit of a busy road, so be careful. On the other side, they’ll be a trail entrance into Gabriel Park.
Wind your way up to the paved path. We took the path to the left and got back to the dog park/tennis courts/skate park/parking lot pretty quickly.