William Shakespeare incorporated forests into many of his most famous plays. In As You Like It, the forest was based on a real wilderness near where Shakespeare lived. The incoming battle scene in Macbeth has an eerie relation of soldiers moving with the trees. A Midsummer Night’s Dream uses an entire majestic forest as its setting for love and discovery. These three works each explore different motifs of how a forest can be interpreted. At times, it may seem creepy and haunted, while in other moments, it is a place of light-hearted fun built for adventure. He also uses forests as a theme throughout many other works of his as well. For Shakespeare, forests represent a new world, a place of ultimate freedom. He lived and worked in a bustling city, so it is easy to see why he would see a forest as a place for both fun and reflection.
Portland is a city that is carved through a forest. In fact, much of the grand Pacific Northwest was built the same way. I try not to take for granted how lucky we are to live here, especially with all of the amazing nature around us at every turn. But every time I am out of town, I am quickly reminded that not every city or town has the same beauty of nature incorporated into its everyday surroundings. Forest Park in Portland, Oregon, is a breathtaking area of pure nature that represents how we live in the forest. For scale, Central Park in New York City is about 840 acres, while Forest Park is about 5,172 acres in size. This place is absolutely massive and would take many days to complete all its trails. This forest has many parking locations scattered throughout for easy access and a plethora of trails built to varying degrees of difficulty and length.
Forest Park has several notable trails, such as the 30-mile-long Wildwood Trail. Remember that you are under no obligation to complete any trail you decide to walk. You can always just walk the distance at your preference and turn back around. Besides hiking, there are many locations built into the forest. The first one to mention is the historic Pittock Mansion. This château sits at one of the highest peaks in Portland and overlooks much of the city. It is also open to the public with tickets needing to be purchased. Depending on where you park your car, it is a relatively short hike to the top. Another location in Forest Park is what locals refer to as the Witch’s Castle. This unmaintained stone house has contributed to a great deal of Portland lore over the years. I must admit, seeing the Witch’s Castle on an early morning hike is quite eerie. For those interested, its exact coordinates are 45.52829°N 122.72507°W.
Another exciting location in Forest Park is the Bird Alliance of Oregon. This 172-acre wildlife sanctuary not only has 4 miles worth of trails but also a care center for birds and other animals. Their Wildlife Care Center accepts injured and orphaned birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians found in Oregon. I will never forget the time I saw a gorgeous snow owl being nursed back to health there years ago. You can support them by making a donation or picking something up from their Nature Store, which is open daily from 10:00am to 5:00pm. If you are in the Forest Park area and need to grab a bite, then Skyline Restaurant should be your first choice. Founded in 1935, it is a classic burger, fries, and milkshake spot serving up some of the best in Portland. For those wanting to go back to the time of doo-wops, swing dancing, and drive-in movies of the 50’s, this restaurant is the spot for you. Not only because it has the charm of a 1950s diner but because it is a 1950s diner. It’s one of the few original ones left in the United States.
There are many more interesting locations within Forest Park, and it is worth exploring to find out what they are. People of all ages can be seen hiking here. Some prefer the long, hill-filled hike that takes all day. Others prefer a short half-hour stroll to take in the sights and hopefully see a woodpecker or hawk soar through the sky above. Families also have their favorite meadow they like to have a picnic at. Whatever your desire, Forest Park and its surrounding forests, like Washington Park, will fulfill it for you. I do not consider myself an outdoorsy person in the slightest. However, for a suburban dad like me, taking a hike through Forest Park is something I never turn down. William Shakespeare wrote about forests being a place of adventure and discovery. Hiking in Forest Park, it is easy to see why he thought that.
Alex is a devoted husband and father born and raised in Portland, Oregon. He is a professional artist, author, and advisor for both Yale and Harvard University’s arts departments. His book, ‘Selling Leonardo: The Art World’s Greatest Scandal’ is available wherever books are sold.