Resources

Do you bike, hike or ride horses on Powell Butte?
You have an  opportunity to participate in a pilot project to test the theory that people can have more trail access and take better care of the trails by staying off them when they are muddy.

In past wet seasons, PP&R managed a trail closure program. The problem was that trails were closed when rain was expected or there were only a few wet spots. There were different opinions about what is wet – and when bike tires, horse hooves, feet or paws could damage trails. PP&R listened to trail user frustrations and agreed to a pilot project to test the theory that trail users can take good care of a nature park using self-management on trails.

You will see new signs posted at trailheads and trail junctions: Trails closed when muddy. If a trail is dry, enjoy! If a trail is muddy and you can see your tracks, please do not use it. As always, please use consideration when passing other trail users. Thanks for taking care of Powell Butte Nature Park!

This is a collaborative effort with Portland Parks & Recreation, Northwest Trail Alliance, Friends of Powell Butte, and equestrians.

SIGN – Trails Closed When Muddy

Friends of Powell Butte Nature Park sign Trails Closed When Muddy

Powell Butte Nature Park, Portland, Oregon sign Trails Closed When Muddy

SIGN – On Muddy Days

Friends of Powell Butte Nature Park sign On Muddy Days

Powell Butte Nature Park, Portland, Oregon sign On Muddy Days

Directions
Google Map – entrance south of SE Powell and 162nd Avenue – MAP
trail entrances – SE 148th and Gladstone, SE Ellis, SE Holgate and the Springwater Corridor
Tri-Met bus serves with No. 9/Powell route

Gate Hours
Fall: 7:00 AM-8:00 PM (Labor Day until switch to Pacific Standard Time)

Winter: 7:00 AM-6:00 PM (until switch to Daylight Savings Time)

Spring: 7:00 AM-8:00 PM (until Memorial Day)

Summer: 7:00 AM-10:00 PM (Memorial Day to Labor Day)


Park hours: 5:00am-10:00pm. Vehicle access is restricted to the visitor center and parking lot. The entry gate is closed promptly without exception and all visitors should plan on returning to the parking lot in time to vacate the park before closing time. For safety and security reasons, the parking lot access is restricted to the seasonal hours listed below.

Neighborhood Associations
Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhood Association – http://pgpride.org/

In the News
(.pdf) – The Over-Loving of Powell Butte” (see Page 5) by Tamra Dickinson of Friends of Powell Butte. East Portland Neighborhood Association News, April 29, 2009.

Links
government:
Portland, Oregon Parks & Recreation, Powell Butte Nature Park – Powell Butte Nature Park Improvement Project
City of Portland Bureau of Water Works – Powell Butte Reservoir 2 Project
City of Gresham Parks and Regional Recreation Division

parks and greenways in the area:
Portland Parks & Recreation Springwater Corridor
Johnson Creek Watershed Council – http://www.jcwc.org/
40 Mile Loop – http://www.40mileloop.org/
Portland Parks & Recreation Leach Botantical Gardens
Portland Parks & Recreation Natural Area Beggar’s Tick Marsh

user groups:

Northwest Trail Alliance
http://www.nw-trail.org
NWTA Mission Statement
To create, enhance, and protect mountain bike riding opportunities; to advocate for trail access; to promote responsible mountain biking; and to build, maintain, and ride sustainable trails.
Who We Are
Northwest Trail Alliance (formerly Portland United Mountain Pedalers) is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization based in Portland, Oregon. We are one of the Northwest’s leading mountain bike advocacy and trail stewardship groups. Created in 1988 as a grassroots club of local riders, focused on maintaining bike access to Forest Park – Portland’s renown urban park -, we have grown into a regional advocacy group, stewarding trails and advocating for trail access across a wide radius around Portland; from Forest Park and Powell Butte within the city limits of Portland, to the southern foothills of Mount St Helens, to the western slopes of Mount Hood, to Tillamook State Forest and Scappoose. In December 2009, Northwest Trail Alliance enrolled in the newly launched chapter program of the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) and became the first IMBA Chapter in the Northwest.

Oregon Equestrian Trails: http://www.oregonequestriantrails.org

Help shape the future of Mount Scott/Scouter Mountain Trail and Scouter Mountain Nature Park. 
For more information about Mount Scott/Scouter Mountain Trail, visit www.oregonmetro.gov/scottscouter or contact Mel Huie at 503-797-1731 or Email.

For more information about Scouter Mountain Nature Park, contact Tim Richard at 503 813-7542 or Email.