Great Downtown PDX Pedestrian Path
The Eastbank Esplanade and Tom McCall Waterfront park loop also known as the Steel Bridge to Hawthorne Bridge loop, this is a nice short distance, easily walkable for most folks in an hour. It is completely ADA-compliant and wheelchair friendly. Between the river, the river traffic, the homeless folks and the bits of art and history, there is always something to look at.
Waterfront park is the “older” portion of this loop. The path lines the seawall, giving you an almost continuous view of the river. The park contains the Battleship Oregon Memorial, the Founders Stone, Salmon Street Springs, the Oregon Maritime Center & Museum, and the Japanese American Historical Plaza.
The Eastbank Esplanade is the new portion with many art projects, historical markers, docks, and a floating walkway. Benches line portions of Esplanade, and at Madison Plaza, there is even a tiny park as well as a statue of former mayor Vera Katz. There’s lots to look at, but keep sharp! Lots of traffic from bicyclists, runners, skaters, and walkers. I’m about to ride my bike down there now.
A wide walkway/bikeway on the Hawthorne Bridge allows passage on the south side of the loop, and the Steel Bridge pedestrian and bicycle walkway, level with the pathways on both side, allows passage on the North.
Here is my GPS Nike App that mapped our my route when walking with a client last week. We left from LA Fitness in the Pearl and completed 6.15 miles! It was awesome!
