Forest Park Gravel Bike Tour: 28 Miles Urban Forest

28 miles of car-free gravel through America's largest urban forest, starting in the city.

A guided gravel bike and e-bike tour in Portland covers 28 miles across Old Town, the Pearl District, and Forest Park: the 5,000-acre urban forest carved into the West Hills. You ride from the shop through historic neighborhoods, climb into the forest on a former fire lane, and return via the St Johns Bridge with views of the Willamette River and North Portland. A guide leads the route and interprets the stops along the way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Pearl District10m
2. Alphabet District10m
3. Forest Parkpassing by

Urban forest gravel bike tour

• Meet at Old Town shop
• Ride through Pearl District
• Cycle through Alphabet District
• Climb to Forest Park
• Ride 11-mile Leif Erikson trail
• Cross St Johns Bridge
• Visit Cathedral Park
• Pass University on Willamette River
• Stop at hilltop park with river views

The experience

The tour starts at the shop in Old Town, Portland's oldest neighborhood, where you meet your guide and choose between a Carbon Gravel Bike or a Gravel E-Bike depending on your preference and fitness. From there you pedal through the Pearl District (a former warehouse zone now lined with bars and lofts), and into the Alphabet District, where Victorian homes have become boutiques and galleries. The route covers ground through neighborhoods that show Portland's layers: industrial past, cultural present, and the city's commitment to walkable, human-scaled blocks.

The climb into Forest Park is where the ride shifts. You leave the streets behind and pedal uphill through Victorian homes perched on the hillside until you reach the park itself. Once inside, you follow the Leif Erikson trail, an 11-mile car-free gravel path that runs through 5,000 acres of Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedar, and Oregon Vine Maple. The trail is fast and flowy, a former fire lane, and as you ride, glimpses of Portland and the Willamette River appear through the trees. This is the core of the experience: a half-day in a temperate forest that feels remote despite sitting inside the city limits.

The return route offers a choice. You can retrace your path back to Old Town, or head over the St Johns Bridge into North Portland. The bridge, completed in 1931 and once the longest suspension bridge west of the Mississippi, carries you across the river with views of the West Hills. On the North Portland side, you pass Cathedral Park, a former Lewis and Clark camp location now anchored by a rose garden and river views. The entire tour takes about three and a half hours and covers 28 miles, so it suits fit beginner cyclists as well as experienced gravel riders.

What’s included

• An interpretive guide who leads the route and explains the neighborhoods and forest.
• use of either a Carbon Gravel Bike or a Gravel E-Bike for the full 28 miles.

Options for this experience

11 options

Carbon Gravel Bike, size SGuide in English · 10:00Height 5'3" - 5'8" (160 - 173 cm): Ride one of our 2024 Giant Revolt Advanced bikes. A helmet is included.

M Adventure E-BikeGuide in English · 10:00Height 5'7" - 5'11" (167 - 178 cm): You will ride a Giant Explore E+ E-Assist bike (minimum age 16).

L Adventure E-BikeGuide in English · 10:00Height 5'9"-6'1" (175 - 188 cm): You will ride a Giant Explore E+ E-Assist bike (minimum age 16).

See 8 more options

XL Adventure E-BikeGuide in English · 10:00Height 6'2" and over (188 cm and over): You will ride a Giant Explore E+ E-Assist bike (minimum age 16).

Carbon Gravel Bike, size XSGuide in English · 10:00Height 4'11" - 5'5" (150 - 165 cm): Ride one of our 2023 Giant Revolt Advanced bikes. A helmet is included.

Carbon Gravel Bike, size MGuide in English · 10:00Height 5'7" - 5'11" (170 - 181 cm): Ride one of our Carbon Gravel Bikes. A helmet is included.

Carbon Gravel Bike, size MLGuide in English · 10:00Height 5'9" - 6'1" (175 - 186 cm): 2024 Giant Revolt Advanced Carbon Gravel Bike

Carbon Gravel Bike, size LGuide in English · 10:00Height 5'10" - 6'3" (177 - 191 cm): 2024 Giant Revolt Advanced Carbon Gravel Bike

Carbon Gravel Bike, size XLGuide in English · 10:00Height 6'2" and over (189 cm and over): 2024 Giant Revolt Advanced Carbon Gravel Bike

XS Adventure E-BikeGuide in English · 10:00Height 4'11" - 5'4" (150 - 163 cm): You will ride a Giant Explore E+ E-Assist bike (minimum age 16).

S Adventure E-BikeGuide in English · 10:00Height 5'3" - 5'9" (160 - 175 cm): You will ride a Giant Explore E+ E-Assist bike (minimum age 16).

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesThursday to SaturdayDeparts at 10:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (16 to 17 years) · Under 16: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Cycle Portland Bike Tours & Rentals

Is this one for you?Choose the e-bike if the uphill climb into Forest Park concerns you. The motor handles the steep sections while you focus on the gravel riding and the views. Pick the Carbon Gravel Bike if you want the full leg workout and the feel of a pure gravel ride. Both options follow the same route and return within three and a half hours.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (16 to 17 years). Children under 16 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the difference between the Carbon Gravel Bike and the E-Bike on this tour?

The Carbon Gravel Bike is a lightweight pedal-powered option for riders who want to power the climbs themselves. The Gravel E-Bike has a battery to assist on the uphill sections into Forest Park. Both follow the same 28-mile route, and your choice depends on whether you want the full leg workout or prefer the motor's help on the steeper terrain.

How much climbing is involved on this tour?

The most significant climb happens as you leave the city and pedal uphill through Victorian neighborhoods to reach Forest Park. Once you're in the park, the Leif Erikson trail itself is gravel and relatively rolling, though the initial ascent to get there is real. The e-bike option makes this section much easier if climbing isn't your strength.

What is the Leif Erikson trail like to ride?

Leif Erikson is an 11-mile car-free gravel path that runs through Forest Park on a former fire lane. It's fast and flowy (meaning smooth and rideable at speed) with towering trees on both sides and occasional views of Portland and the Willamette River through the canopy. It's the heart of the ride and the reason gravel bikes work so well here.

Can I see the city from inside Forest Park?

Yes. As you ride the Leif Erikson trail through the forest, glimpses of Portland appear through breaks in the trees, and the views expand when you reach the St Johns Bridge section on the return. The bridge itself offers wide vistas of the West Hills and the river below.

Do I need to be an experienced cyclist to join this tour?

The tour is designed for fit beginner cyclists as well as experienced gravel riders. You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness, and the e-bike option makes it accessible if you're less confident on climbs. Your guide will set the pace and highlight the route's historical and cultural stops along the way.