60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Portland

60 Hikes Within 60 Miles

by Paul Gerald

It's time to take a hike! No more excuses like "there's nowhere to go around here," "the woods are too far from the city," or "I don't have time to wander the trails." With 60 Hikes within 60 Portland as your guide, you have dozens of places to hike to your heart's content, and all within an hour's drive or less. Trailblazers scour the earth for the best places to explore, and yet they often overlook their own backyards. 60 Hikes within 60 Portland blows the lid off the myth that you can't have a great hike close to home. The Portland area may be an ever-expanding metropolis, but there are still plenty of super hiking options, including short hikes, long hikes, hikes for kids, urban hikes, rural hikes, wildlife hikes, historic hikes, and many others. Whether you live in Portland or the surrounding area,, 60 Hikes within 60 Portland provides you with the information you need to choose the perfect day hike, including maps, directions, trail lengths, hiking times, and a wealth of detail about the trail itself. So lace up those boots, sling that pack, and hit the trail! (6 X 9, 240 pages, b&w photos, maps)

Genres: Reference, Travel, Nonfiction, Outdoors

240 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2001

About the author

Paul Gerald is a professional freelance writer and lover of the outdoors whose work has appeared in newspapers around the country, as well as Northwest Airlines WorldTraveler, Dish Magazine, Weissmann Travel Reports, and Nike's web site."

Reviews

[Lafcadio]

I haven't tested any of the information yet, but I have noticed a pattern. If all you knew about this book was the title, you would know that it contained information about hikes, and that all those hikes were within 60 miles of Portland. The hiking, as far as I can tell, is true, but the 60 miles part is more of, say, a guideline, or maybe a cheap marketing ploy.

More than half of the 60 hikes in this book are more than 60 miles from Portland, and they're not just stretching it up to 68 or so. There are many in the 70, 80, and 90 mile range, with the farthest hike being 103 miles away. When I purchase a book called 60 hikes within 60 miles, I expect it to contain just that. And it's not like there aren't enough places close enough to Portland to go hiking.



OK, now I have tested some information: Directions to Opal Creek Wilderness.

"Turn left (east) onto OR 22 and follow it 22.5 miles, and then turn left onto Little North Santiam Road, following a sign for Elkhorn."

Seems simple enough, right. When you get to that intersection of "Little North Santiam Road," you find a road to the left called "North Fork Road" and one to the right called "Jennie Road." Just ahead is a bridge over a river, with a little tiny sign that says "Little North Santiam R.," meaning river. The author has mistaken a sign labeling a river that happens after the turn (albeit by a very short distance) as a street marker. This can be very confusing if, like me, you double check your route with a map. I couldn't for the life of me find "Little North Santiam Road" in the vicinity of 22.5 miles down OR 22 on the map, because it doesn't exist.

I decided to go for it anyway, and noticed the mistake as I hesitantly turned left on North Fork Road. I will forever be suspicious of the information in this book (this hike was 92 miles from Portland, by the way).

[reading is my hustle]

It bugs me that this book states in the title that the hikes are all within a 60 mile range of PDX. THEY ARE NOT. Not by a longshot. It was pretty much the reason I was interested in the book.

So there is that.

Then there is the fact that the directions suck.
And I mean really suck.

So there is that.

Two stars b/c I am a generous soul.

[Jessie]

so far...meh...the descriptions of the trails and landmarks seem somewhat vague and about half the hikes in the book I already know about...hell, anyone who's lived in portland a year or two and isn't a complete recluse knows where half these hikes are. Still, there seem to be some gems and in the spring, I will test them out. Will probably need to supplement what I read in the book with RS maps, teh intarwebz, etc...

[Chelsea]

This book has so many great hikes in it! The descriptions give you a really good feel of what to expect. I just went on a hike that takes you behind a huge waterfall in the gorge. It was amazing. Thanks for the book Emily!

[Jodi]

the lies! most of these hikes are 80-90 miles from portlandia. but damn, it's worth it. easily digestible, personal, and accurate (unlike many of the hiking books i've experienced). i carry this book with me in the same fashion as ibuprofen and my car keys...

[Peder]

All the hikes are also found in Sullivan's 100 Hikes in NW Oregon and SW Washington; Sullivan's book is very clear in its descriptions. Therefore, my suggestion is to purchase the 100 Hikes in NW Oregon and SW Washington first.

[Ariel]

This is about 3.5 for me. It has some great ideas to get me out of the house, but some of these hikes are ~90 miles away instead of the advertised 60, while neglecting some closer-in hikes that do fit the parameters.

[anne s.]

Good, but nothing you can't find online with a little digging. Nice to have it handy in the car, though.

[Eliz Palma]

loved it because it helped us to know if we could take our daughter in her stroller or needed to carry her.

[Rick Mackinnon]

A great introductory book about men and women who made a huge impact on church history.

[Ashley Gorze]

Favorite hiking book I own!

[Erica]

If you like to hike and live in Portland, buy this book! It's an extremely handy reference guide to trails in the area.

[Diana]

This is a nice reference book, but be warned - several hikes are over 60 miles.

[Cecily]

This is my favorite Portland area hiking book so far, and I've read a few.