Portland, OR: Columbia River Loop

Escape from Portland on this 21-mile loop that cruises bike lanes and paths before tracing the Columbia River in the shadow of Cascade Range peaks.

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Author:	Bicycling Magazine
Date:	2 Dec 2008 5:16:41 PM
Activity:	Bicycling ActivitySearchBicycling
State:	Oregon (OR)
Distance:	21.76 mi (Change units)
Survey Elevation:	Total Gain: 858 ft Total Loss: 860 ft Net Change: -2 ft
Difficulty:	5 / 10
Tags:	Portland, Oregon
Rating:	Unrated Rate it

A 21-mile loop starting just outside of Portland’s city center, this route starts from the Rose Garden (home to the Portland Trail Blazers), a landmark that’s easily accessible from just about anywhere in town. Heading north on bike lanes, the route wanders through quiet city outskirts before synching up with the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard bike lane, bee-lining north to Marine Drive.

Riding east along Marine Drive, you’ll be treated to far-reaching views of Cascade Range peaks (when they’re not shrouded in mist). At mile 8.9, turn onto a multi-use bike path paralleling the Columbia River and continue riding east past the Portland International Airport (be sure to stop along the way to appreciate to up-close perspective of planes landing and taking off).

Returning southwest to Portland proper, the route shoots along Sandy Boulevard, a route that is sometimes congested, but otherwise manageable for cyclists.

-Mapped by David Schloss

TO TRAILHEAD: This route starts and finishes at the Rose Garden.

Position Format:	Datum:

Tracks

Portland

Distance: 21.76 mi	Points: 876	Calories: none
Total Time: none	Speed: 0.0 mph	Pace: 0:00 / mi
Active Time: none	Speed: 0.0 mph	Pace: 0:00 / mi

#	Distance	Instruction	Distance to next
1	0.00 mi	Start - Head North on NE Wheeler Ave.	Then go 0.16 mi
2	0.16 mi	Bear Right - N. Williams Ave.	Then go 2.07 mi
3	2.23 mi	Turn Left - N. Killingsworth St.	Then go 0.09 mi
4	2.32 mi	Turn Right - N. Vancouver Ave.	Then go 1.66 mi
5	3.98 mi	Bear Right - N. Schmeer Rd.	Then go 0.18 mi
6	4.15 mi	Turn Right - Turn off road onto bike lane and stay right.	Then go 0.03 mi
7	4.19 mi	Straight - Continue on bike path as it parallels OR-99	Then go 1.34 mi
8	5.53 mi	Bear Right - Veer off OR-99 down to N. Vancouver Way.	Then go 0.08 mi
9	5.61 mi	Turn Left - Union Ramp Heading toward NE Marine Dr.	Then go 0.06 mi
10	5.67 mi	Straight - Continue on NE Marine Dr. NE	Then go 2.97 mi
11	8.64 mi	Turn Left - Cross NE Marine Dr. (at crossing) onto bike path	Then go 0.02 mi
12	8.66 mi	Turn Right - Bike Path	Then go 4.03 mi
13	12.69 mi	Turn Left - At end of path, turn onto the NE Marine Drive bike lane	Then go 0.76 mi
14	13.45 mi	Turn Right - NE 122nd Ave	Then go 0.63 mi
15	14.09 mi	Turn Right - NE Marx St.	Then go 0.46 mi
16	14.55 mi	Turn Left - NE 112th Ave.	Then go 0.22 mi
17	14.76 mi	Turn Right - NE Wygant St.	Then go 0.79 mi
18	15.55 mi	Turn Right - NE 96th Ave.	Then go 0.07 mi
19	15.62 mi	Turn Left - NE Sandy Blvd. bike lane	Then go 4.90 mi
20	20.52 mi	Turn Right - NE Couch St.	Then go 0.49 mi
21	21.01 mi	Turn Right - NE Martin Luther King Blvd./OR 99	Then go 0.54 mi
22	21.55 mi	Turn Left - NE Multnomah St.	Then go 0.21 mi
23	21.76 mi	Stop - Rose Garden

Points of Interest

The Rose Garden

Location: 45.531410, -122.665808
This route starts and finishes at the Rose Garden (home to the Portland Trailblazers), a landmark that's accessible from just about anywhere in Portland. From the west side of the Willamette River, cross Steel Bridge and follow the bike path until you can see the Rose Garden, then cross the train tracks.

Steel Bridge View

Location: 45.527483, -122.669182
A view of the Steel Bridge from the west side of the Willamette. © David Schloss

Williams Avenue

Location: 45.544471, -122.666645
Despite its proximity to Portland's city center, Williams Avenue is a quiet thoroughfare with a bike lane and well-suited to bikes. © David Schloss

Bike Lane Entrance

Location: 45.587224, -122.663555
Here, the route hops onto a bike lane paralleling NE Martin Luther King Boulevard to the north. © David Schloss

NE Marine Drive Turnoff

Location: 45.602622, -122.678983
Be sure to not to miss the turnoff ramp from NE. Martin Luther King Boulevard down to NE Marine Drive (heading east).

Bike Path

Location: 45.599664, -122.617185
Here, take the pedestrian crossing across NE Marine Drive and turn right pick up the bike path as it parallels the Columbia River. Washington state is on the far shore.

Columbia River bike path

Location: 45.599274, -122.606220
© David Schloss

Airport View

Location: 45.597675, -122.596650
Stop here for a great view of planes landing at and taking off from Portland International Airport.

Marina

Cascade Views

Sandy Detour

Location: 45.558295, -122.547340
Here the route jogs south and west through residential streets to avoid a traffic dense stretch of Sandy Boulevard.

Little Vietnam

Location: 45.544110, -122.598667
As you descend toward Portland proper, the neighborhoods along Sandy Boulevard seem to change from block to block. You'll know you're getting closer to Portland when you roll past an increasing dense stretch of Vietnamese Pho joints.