Bike Portland: Bridges, Neighborhoods, Poetry and Roses

The Tilikum Bridge and the poetry written into Portland's sidewalks

A guided bike tour of Portland starting from the inner Southeast, riding through neighborhoods, rose gardens and art districts, crossing the Tilikum Bridge and the Willamette River waterfront, with a live English-speaking guide who stops to read poetry, point out public art, and share stories about the city's bridges and urban design. The tour runs three hours or a shorter two-hour option. Bikes, helmets and water are provided.

Step-by-step itinerary

Bike tour through Portland neighborhoods

• Get fitted for bike and helmet
• Ride through inner Southeast Portland
• Visit Ladd's Addition rose garden
• Stop at Clinton Street greenway
• Ride along Orange line MAX art path
• Cross Tilikum Crossing bridge
• Explore South Waterfront neighborhood
• Stop at doughnut or ice cream shop
• Visit South Waterfront Greenway
• Relax at Poet's Beach
• Pass 1980s housing and retail development
• Ride through Tom McCall Waterfront Park
• Ride under Hawthorne Bridge

The experience

You start at the shop on SE Main Street, get fitted for a bike and helmet, and roll out into the neighborhoods Portlanders actually live in. The ride moves through Hawthorne, past the original food cart pods, then into Ladd's Addition: a neighborhood laid out in a labyrinth pattern with rose gardens tucked between the streets. The Clinton Street greenway takes you past an original streetcar stop and a theater that shows funky, artsy films when it's open. The pace is slow enough to notice things: word play carved into concrete barriers, a mural by Irish street artist Fin DAC that runs along the MAX light rail path.

The Tilikum Crossing is the centerpiece. It's one of the only bridges in the world built only for bikes, buses and pedestrians, no cars allowed, and the tour stops on it so you can see how the counter device tracks every cyclist who crosses. From there you drop down to the South Waterfront, past the Aerial Tram (Portland's bullet-shaped cable car), and into Poet's Beach, a small sandy beach created by the Human Access Project with poetry written by local students along the shore. You'll ride the South Waterfront Greenway, pass under the Hawthorne Bridge, and learn why that iconic structure sometimes goes up and down with no ship underneath it.

The route covers most of the city's quadrants and two bridges, running along the Willamette River for stretches. The guide will point you toward the best doughnuts or ice cream in the city (you buy your own), and the whole day is built around riding, not stopping to lecture: the neighborhoods and the art and the river do most of the talking. Water is included. Bikes and helmets fit to your size are part of the package.

What’s included

• Bike and helmet fitted to your size.
• bottled water.
• a live English-speaking guide who shares stories about Portland's bridges, neighborhoods, public art and urban design.
• stops at rose gardens, hidden river beaches, art districts and the Tilikum Bridge.

Options for this experience

2 options

Two hour rideGuide in English · 10:00 and 15:00Lasting two hours, this ride is an easier, highlight-focused version of our regular tour.

Cycling tour of Portland: bridges, neighborhoods, poetry and rosesGuide in English · 09:00 and 13:30

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

Information

Lasts 3h, runs every day, 4 start times, from US$ 47 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day except Tuesday and Wednesday: 09:00, 10:00, 13:30 and 15:00Tuesday and Wednesday: 09:00 and 13:30

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish

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

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (under 13)

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

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Around Portland Tours

Is this one for you?Book the full three-hour tour if you want to ride the whole arc from inner Southeast through the South Waterfront and back across a second bridge. Choose the two-hour option if you have less time but still want the neighborhoods, the Tilikum Bridge and the river without rushing through the stops.

Traveler reviews

4.86★★★★★★★★★★

323 verified traveler reviews

5 ★294

4 ★20

3 ★4

2 ★3

1 ★2

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 13).

How many miles is the Portland bike tour?

The full tour covers 7 to 11 miles depending on the route and stops. The two-hour option is 5 to 8 miles. Both are easy riding with little climbing.

What is the Tilikum Bridge and why does the tour cross it?

The Tilikum Crossing is one of the world's only bridges built exclusively for bikes, buses and pedestrians, no cars. The tour stops on it to show you the counter device that tracks cyclists and to share the history of Portland's newest and most unusual bridge.

Will I see public art on the bike tour?

Yes. The tour passes word play carved into sidewalks and concrete barriers, a large mural by Irish street artist Fin DAC along the MAX light rail path, and poetry written by local students along Poet's Beach on the South Waterfront.

Do I need to bring my own bike or helmet?

No. Bikes and helmets are provided and fitted to you at the shop before the ride starts. Bottled water is also included.

What neighborhoods does the Portland bike tour visit?

The tour covers inner Southeast Portland, including Hawthorne, Ladd's Addition with its rose gardens, the Clinton Street greenway, the South Waterfront, and sections along the Willamette River and Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

Can I book a shorter version of this tour?

Yes. A two-hour option covers 5 to 8 miles and visits most of the city's quadrants, two bridges and the Willamette River, with the same guide and included bikes, helmets and water.