Springwater Trail

Springwater Trail Corridor

If we were to compare the system of bike trails to roadways for cars, then the Springwater Corridor Trial would have to be an "Interstate Freeway." You can ride on this major connector for 20 miles and connect with various other bike paths and major streets all over East County. In the early 1900's this route was part of a rail transit system that ran from Downtown Portland all the way out to Estacada. For more info about the trial I have included a "pdf" version of a Springwater brochure.

The pictures below are form the east end of the trail on the Willamette River, to Gresham in the west.


gap between Eastbank & Springwater	Springwater Trail (southbound)	enjoying the day


by Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge	near Oaks Park	near Oaks Park


	There is currently a gap in the Springwater Trail. They are working on plans to connect the two parts and complete the pathway. In the mean time it is an easy ride through the neighborhood streets of Sellwood.

"Three Bridges"

around 36th

near 45th

around 55th

east of Bell Road

occasionally we see another recumbent

somewhere around 75th

under Interstate 205

between Foster and 122nd

east of 136th

just west of 174th

east of 174th

approaching the overpass for 182nd

east of Towle

nearing Gresham's Main City Park

Little League ball field in the park

left off the trial and through the park

Downtown Gresham at Main & Powell

Stop by our favorite coffee shop - corner of 3rd & Main in Downtown Gresham

Okay, I know that Springwater trail doesn't end there. It continues east for a couple more miles before turning into gravel. Eventually it will be paved out to Boring. For now, the main use of the eastern section is for local walkers and bikers. For longer distance riders, the Springwater Trial serves as a the major connector to link Downtown Gresham with other parts of the Portland Metro Area.

To connect several of the rides we show on this website into a long circular route, you can follow this map to get from the Springwater trial down to the Marine Drive bike path. You can also get a printable "pdf" here showing how we linked up these trials into a nice ride of around 55 miles.

From Gresham's Main City Park, head north on Main Street through Old Downtown Gresham. Turn right on Division and proceed east to Kane (also called 257th). Turn left, and head north. This will take you down a big hill and past the Troutdale Outlet Mall. Go under I-84 and turn left just under the overpass (both lanes turn left). This puts you on the frontage road between the freeway and the Troutdale Airport. Follow the signs, taking a gradual right on Marine Drive. (See our Marine Drive page)

The Springwater Trail is a key part of the bicycle path system in the Portland Metro area. Nearly all of our rides include at least a portion of this path. We are fortunate to live only two miles from the trail. We catch it in Downtown Gresham and then use it to connect us up with a number of other routes. Springwater is very easy to ride. Since this right-of-way was originally created for a railway it is very flat, any inclines are very gradual. The only down side to this bike route used to be that the asphalt was poor on many segments. Fortunately that all changes during the summer of 2010 with a repaving project! Now the entire route is very nice. The trial is paved east past Gresham to 267th at Telford Road. From there the trail is gravel into Boring. The old railroad right-of-way continues all the way out to Estacada. The long term plan is to eventually extend the paved bike and pedestrian pathway along that entire route.