Is Portland a good city to visit with a dog? Portland, Oregon is an extremely dog-friendly city. There’s no shortage of restaurants, coffee shops, and breweries that are excited to have their patios filled with pups. It’s a spacious and walkable city with lots of green spaces and tons of dog-friendly adventures around, so if you’re planning a trip to Portland, your dog will undoubtedly love to be along for the ride.
Traveling in Portland with a Dog
Portland is a sprawling city that’s relatively easy to walk or drive and park wherever you’re headed to in the city. It’s a city that loves its bikes, too, which isn’t always the easiest way to get around with a dog. Whether you’re in downtown or surrounding neighborhoods, there are plenty of walkable options for food or drinks.
Public transportation in Portland only allows pets that are secured in carriers to ride on their buses, making it a difficult option for medium or larger dogs. We recommend renting a car to get around the city, or ordering an Uber Pet if travels around the city are minimal during your visit.
The Best Dog-Friendly Parks in Portland
Portland is filled with more than 200 parks, big and small. Chances are, it wouldn’t be hard to bump into one while traveling around. We have a few to highlight that are nothing short of dog paradise.
Generally in Portland parks, dogs are required to be on a leash unless otherwise noted.
Washington Park:
Washington Park is a sprawling park located in the hills just to the west of Downtown Portland, making it a quick getaway that feels completely out of the city. It includes the city’s zoo, a rose garden, and plenty of open green spaces, and even a dog-friendly arboretum with over 2,300 different species of trees. Dogs must remain on a leash at all times while visiting the park, and some areas such as the zoo or the Japanese Garden are off limits to dogs.
Mt. Tabor Park:
A nearly 200-acre park sitting on top of an extinct volcano, Mt. Tabor might be the ultimate park for dogs. The park has over 5 miles of dog-friendly trails, and most important, a 4-acre off-leash dog play area that winds through the woods with tons of open space to sniff and explore.
Sellwood Riverfront Park:
The park itself is a large and grassy getaway, stretching along the Willamette River south of Downtown Portland. While dogs are allowed in all areas of the park, there is a 1.5-acre designated off-leash area where dogs can run free and splash in the water. Make sure to bring a towel, as visits tend to get a little muddy.
The Best Dog-Friendly Hikes Near Portland
It would be years before someone could visit all of the great dog-friendly hikes in the region, but we’ve gathered a list of some of the favorites.
Temperatures and conditions can vary greatly depending on the season, and trails are often muddy during the winter and spring months due to heavier rainfall. Make sure to check for updates on trail conditions before traveling over to the trailheads.
Forest Park:
Entering Forest Park, it’s hard to believe that it’s technically still within the city limits of Portland. The densely-wooded park that sits in the mountains west of Downtown has 70 miles of trails, and is a favorite of mountain bikers, trail runners, and trail-loving dogs. A well-marked and beloved loop within Forest Park is the Wild Cherry, Wildwood, Alder, Dogwood Loop (look it up, it’s real!) which creates a figure-8 through the park at roughly 6 miles long.
Lacamas Regional Park:
A quick 30-minute drive from Downtown Portland over the Washington border is worth it for this 312-acre park with access to beautiful trails, creeks, lakes, and even waterfalls. The park’s trails are relatively flat, making them a bit easier to navigate than some of the other more mountainous terrain near Portland. The Lake to Lake trail loop is a great way to take in some of the park’s best water features and wildflowers, sitting at just under 5 miles for the whole loop. The park is welcoming to dogs on leash.
Dog Mountain:
Don’t be fooled: the trek is not as cute as the name. Dog Mountain stands nearly 3,000 feet tall and offers some of the best views of the Columbia River Gorge. The Dog Mountain trail is a steep, 5.9-mile loop that, unlike much of the region’s densely-forested trails, has plenty of exposed viewpoints along the way. Because of the elevation, winter and early spring months commonly mean snow, ice, or extremely cold conditions can be found near the top of the mountain. If your dog loves a good challenge, Dog Mountain is worth the trip.
Dog-Friendly Day Trips Near Portland
Day trips along the Columbia River and out to the rugged coastline are favorites of Portland natives. It’s a paradise for dogs who love to hike and swim.
Cannon Beach:
It’s over an hour-long drive to reach the Oregon coast, but Cannon Beach is a perfect stop for an ocean-loving dog. The beach itself is cold and rugged year-round, with off-leash access everywhere except near Haystack Rock to protect the native birds. Haystack Rock, itself, is quite the marvel and one of Oregon’s most famous landmarks. The surrounding walkable town is also filled with coffee shops and restaurants with dog-friendly patios to warm up after a stroll along the beach.
Sandy River Delta:
Nicknamed “thousand acres,” this natural area along the Sandy River and the Columbia River has nearly 1,500 acres of off-leash space for dogs to roam, hike, and even swim. It’s a favorite excursion for the dogs of Portland, and it’s sure to be a trip that tires out even the most energetic dogs. The nearby town, Troutdale, has plenty of dog-friendly options like the famous Sugarpine Drive-In to stop by after a day out by the river.
Multnomah Falls:
One of the most iconic stops in the Columbia River Gorge, Multnomah Falls is an easy add-on to any Portland-area adventure. While dogs aren’t allowed on the paved trail up to the base of the falls, leashed pups are welcome on several nearby Gorge trails and viewpoints that still deliver big scenery and waterfall energy. It’s a great place to stretch your legs, soak in the misty views, and then head deeper into the Gorge for dog-friendly hikes, river access, and picnic spots just down the road.
Hood River:
A town roughly an hour drive from Portland that acts as a jumping-off point for adventures up Mount Hood or in the Columbia River Gorge area. The town is filled with dog-friendly restaurants and breweries, and has plenty of nearby dog adventures in parks or trails along the surrounding rivers.
Best Dog-Friendly Neighborhoods in Portland
A dog will enjoy nearly every neighborhood in Portland, as they are walkable to an extent and filled with green spaces. We’ve listed a variety that should cater to different dog visitors depending on their comfort with city life.
Northwest Portland:
Nestled right at the foot of Forest Park, Northwest Portland is filled with shops, restaurants, and bars while only being steps away from feeling like you’re in complete wilderness. The neighborhood has plenty of hotels to choose from, and is close to many of the city’s museums and concert venues.
Sellwood - Moreland:
Sellwood is a spacious and residential neighborhood in southern Portland with easy access to Sellwood Park and beautiful walks along the river. It’s a calm neighborhood, but still offers plenty of restaurants and bars within walking distance. It’s also a fairly quick 15-minute drive to reach Downtown Portland or most other neighborhoods in the city.
East Portland:
For a taste of Portland culture, a visit to East Portland is well worth it. It’s a bit more edgy and quirky than other neighborhoods, but it’s loaded with dog-friendly bars and restaurants, as well as tons of great food cart options. East Portland is also a quick drive away from Mt. Tabor for a great dog adventure.
We hope you and your dog enjoy your trip to Portland!
Portland is a city made for outdoors-loving dogs. We hope you embrace all of the wilderness and the weirdness the city has to offer. It’s all a part of the adventure!
