If you’re anything like me, you’ve been staring at screens way too much lately—emails, listings, Zillow, Instagram, your HOA’s passive-aggressive Facebook group… all of it.
So this week, let’s hit pause on the Portland real estate chaos and talk about something far more therapeutic: trees, trails, and the oddly satisfying pain of training for Hood to Coast.
🌳 Forest Therapy: Portland’s Parks That Don’t Suck
The Portland metro area is basically a nature lover’s playground—as long as you don’t mind dodging the occasional off-leash doodle or rogue e-bike. If you’re feeling burnt out, mentally fried, or just want to hide from humanity with a book and a snack (zero judgment), here are a few local spots that hit the reset button:
📍Forest Park
Welcome to 5,200 acres of pure PNW escape. With over 80 miles of hiking and biking trails, Forest Park is Portland’s biggest backyard—and the ultimate spot for trail runners, mountain bikers, or people who just want to sit under a tree and pretend their phone doesn’t exist.
Pro Tip: The Wildwood Trail is the most iconic, but the lesser-used Firelane trails are clutch if you’re anti-crowd.
📍Tryon Creek State Natural Area
Just south of downtown and tucked between Portland and Lake Oswego, Tryon Creek is lush, shady, and full of gentle loops for a low-key hike or a trail run that won’t destroy your joints. Bonus points: it’s rarely too crowded and you might actually hear birds instead of leaf blowers.
📍Mount Tabor Park
If you want a little nature with your skyline views, Mount Tabor delivers. Yes, it’s a literal extinct volcano in the middle of Portland.
Yes, you should take a picnic and feel smug about it.
Whether you’re walking, running, or just doing dramatic stretches like you’re in a Nike ad, Tabor gives you nature and a solid quad burn.
📍George Rogers Park (Lake Oswego)
Want a quick escape with river access? This one’s got shady trails, grassy areas for reading or napping, and a sandy stretch along the Willamette. It’s also perfect for those “I need to pretend I’m on vacation for two hours” kind of afternoons.
🏃♂️ The Madness That is Hood to Coast
If you’re new to Oregon or somehow haven’t heard of Hood to Coast, let me explain:
It’s a 199-mile relay race that starts on Mount Hood and finishes in Seaside, aka: Run. Eat. Sleep (in a van). Repeat. Cry. Laugh. Reach the beach.
A Quick History (Because It’s Actually Pretty Cool)
- Started in 1982 by Bob Foote (a high school track coach) and a few friends.
- They thought: “Let’s run from Timberline Lodge to the ocean.”
- 8 teams ran it that first year.
- In 2024? Over 1,000 teams apply and only about half get in.
- It’s now one of the largest and most iconic relay races in the freaking world.
People fly in from everywhere to crawl through Oregon’s forests, highways, and coastal hills with nothing but neon vests, protein bars, and way too much caffeine holding them together.
Why I’m Doing It (Besides the Obvious Masochism)
There’s something incredibly satisfying about pushing your limits with a team of lunatics who cheer you on while you’re ugly-running through the night with a headlamp.
My endurance is improving, my knees are constantly filing HR complaints, and my foam roller has become my new best friend.
And honestly? It’s been a great reminder of why we live here—this is Oregon life. Getting outside, hitting the trails, breathing real air (not HVAC), and doing things that make you feel like you earned that beer afterward.
🏡 So What Does This Have to Do with Real Estate?
Everything! Because buying or selling a house isn’t just about square footage and countertops—it’s about lifestyle. It’s about knowing that within 10 minutes, you can be standing in Forest Park, completely detached from city noise. Or watching the sunrise from Mount Tabor. Or training for a race that’s equal parts suffering and glory.
Living in the Portland area means access to some of the most beautiful public land in the country.
If your current space doesn’t quite match the life you want to live—bigger yard, closer to the trails, room for your bike gear, or just something that doesn’t make you feel claustrophobic—we can talk about that.
(After I ice my knees, obviously.)
🌿 Final Thought:
Go outside. Seriously. The market will still be here when you get back. And I promise you—scrolling exterior home photos on Zillow is not a substitute for sunshine.
And if you need a list of trail snacks or the best post-run breweries in Portland, you know where to find me.
