Willamette Greenway Trail

I’ve got 280 checkins here — virtually all of them with my dog Zoey. Most days we walk from home, down NW Overton to NW 9^th, then cross over to the waterfront by the Police Equestrian training facility. We walk south on the Greenway Trail, with how far we go depending on how long of a walk we want to take. If we turn right and cross the pedestrian bridge over the tracks to Union Station then head home via NW Glisan it makes for a 3.5 mile outing. If we have more time and energy, we continue along the Greenway Trail, under the Steel Bridge into Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Sometimes we turn off at NW Everett (about a 4 mile loop) or continue to SW Morrison (about a 5 mile loop).
There are always some sort of birds along the way (geese, ducks, seagulls, crows, sky rats {pigeons}) for Zoey to boss around. There are always other dogs being walked for her to get in some quality butt sniffing. There are kitties on condo decks along the boardwalk for her (and me) to say «hi» to.

Mind the gap.
As someone who regularly plays in and along the Willamette River, I should be raving all about the Willamette Greenway Trail. I’m kind of an ‘Easy A’ girl when it comes to parks and recreation. The problem is those pesky missing links.
The goal to «maintain and enhance the scenic, recreational, historic, natural and agricultural qualities of the Willamette River and its adjacent lands» is outstanding. The desire to link various parks in and around the metro area is excellent. In execution, there is something lacking.
The Willamette Greenway Trail system is everywhere in and around the Willamette River. There are the highlights that we all see on a daily basis like Tom McCall Waterfront Park and the Eastbank Esplanade. But parts of the trail venture far east (Troutdale) and south (Wilsonville) of the city proper.
Having attempted to bike and hike on both sides of the river, there are sections of excellence and others of deep frustration. South Waterfront, I’m pointing a finger at you!
I deeply enjoy the Springwater Corridor and Eastbank Esplanade, but man it is a whole different vibe on the west side of the river. Due to construction that seems like it will never end, there isn’t a good waterfront trail for a long stretch between downtown and John’s Landing. It is deceptive because I see people walking in front of those high rise condos when I’m on the river, but the developers have basically just paved a trail for the several hundred yards in front of their own building. On the west side you are also constantly barraged with «Private Property», speed limit signs and some challenging parking. Unfortunate because they have wonderful views of the river in the southwest. Sigh.
I realize it is the nature of the beast (progress), they can only set aside so much land and preserve it from development. So in concept, five stars. Unfortunately, it still feels like a work in progress. One that has been irking me on a weekly basis. It is a very worthy project indeed, so I hope one day it will be gap free. Here’s to hoping.

This trail is the «pretty girl’s best friend» — it parallels the river, much like the Springwater Corridor does on the East side, but it still has some ugly to work out. It helps make a great loop from the Steel Bridge down to the Sellwood Bridge (via the Eastbank Esplanade and the Springwater Corridor), across the Sellwood to the this, the Willamette Greenway Trail, back up to downtown.
You go through Willamette Park, and a scenic, paved trail along the water brings you behind condo after condo after (seriously? again?) condo built along the river. The barn swallows don’t seem to mind — they were everywhere when we walked the trail. It was also high cottonwood season, so be forewarned if you’re allergic.
It gets a bit confusing once you hit South Waterfront, but at that point, you likely know your way back to downtown. There is even an opportunity for «oh my god my legs are going to fall off, I’m taking the damned streetcar back.» Except I didn’t.