6 Best Trails in Lake Oswego: Where to Walk, Jog & Hike

The Portland suburb of Lake Oswego maintains more than 600 acres of parks and green spaces. Many of these areas have trails great for hiking, biking, walking, or jogging with a leashed dog. The InterTwine is a master plan for a series of interlinked public trails running throughout Lake Oswego, which has been in progress for several years. It's well worth exploring the city from the trails system, so keep reading to explore the six best trails in Lake Oswego, Oregon.

Springbrook Park Loop

Springbrook Park is adjacent to an elementary school and junior high school in a neighborhood filled with beautiful two-story townhouses. The park has a trail system that loops around the park for 1.5 miles. Its mix of trails is covered with gravel and wood chips, so it's not suitable for biking. However, the paths provide an easy route for a hike through the woods or taking a leashed dog for a walk.

Birdwatchers will especially enjoy walking the Springbrook Park Loop. The trail is flat and takes 41 minutes to traverse. The park and trail are open year-round, free to use, and beautiful no matter what time of year one chooses to visit.

Cooks Butte Loop

Cooks Butte City Park is centered on a hill that is now an extinct volcano. It has 42 acres of heavily wooded land with a series of trails.

The Cooks Butte Loop is a 1.1-mile trail running through the park and arriving back at the starting point. The best access point for the path is at the end of Palisades Crest Drive, where it dead-ends. Anyone can park for free in this area, but it is a residential neighborhood. Leashed dogs are welcome on this trail.

The loop is a soft-surface dirt trail, which can get muddy after a rainstorm. Nature hikes are allowed on the trail, but it's not suitable for biking. Each year, the period between May and October is the best time to check out the Cooks Butte Loop.

Lake Loop

Locals love the Lake Loop, so it is one of the more heavily trafficked trails in Lake Oswego. It's a seven-mile trail that loops around Oswego Lake in the town's center. The best location to access the loop is on Stafford Road. Start there and head west.

Walking around the lake on this easy-rated paved trail is an excellent way to see some beautiful waterfront homes in neighborhoods near Oswego Lake. At times, the trail deviates from the shore, but it is next to the water at several points.

The Lake Loop is popular with walkers, joggers, dog owners, and those pushing baby strollers. As with most trails in the city, leashed dogs are welcome on the Lake Loop.

Old River Road Pathway

The Old River Road Pathway is one of the best ways to view the Willamette River on foot from Lake Oswego. This 3.5-mile trail begins at George Rogers Park, which borders the river on the east side of Lake Oswego. It's an easy paved trail that offers excellent views of the river along the way. Even after the trail terminates, the Old River Road has a pedestrian path as it continues down to the boundary between Lake Oswego and the city of West Linn. It's private property on both sides of the trail, so there is no river access along this route. Likewise, kayakers cannot carry their boats down the path and then launch from somewhere along the way. All hand-carried watercraft like kayaks and paddleboards can launch from George Rogers Park, back where the trail begins.

To access the trail, park at George Rogers Park and cross the stone footbridge at the park's south end. Hikers will encounter a waterfall on this trail and possibly even some small wildlife.

Stafford Basin Trail (Rosemont Trail)

The Stafford Basin Trail, also referred to as the Rosemont Trail, is part of the InterTwine system of Lake Oswego trails mentioned above. It's a 4.7-mile out and back trail that takes just over two hours to complete. It's rated as an easy trail and is one of the less heavily populated hiking trails in Lake Owego. Don't expect to encounter many people while walking or jogging this trail.

The first section of this trail is located at the corner of Stafford Road and Overlook Drive. The trail follows Stafford Road to the south and Rosemont Road to the east. The trail will lead across the fields' historical area, past the old farmhouse and orchards.

The trail also passes the Friends of Rogerson Clematis Collection. This garden has more than 850 individual flowering clematis vine species and is the largest collection in North America, best to view in spring and summer. Eventually, the trail ends in a loop turn and heads back to the starting point.

Iron Mountain Trails

Iron Mountain City Park is a primarily undeveloped wooded area north of Oswego Lake with a nice trail system running through it. The Iron Mountain Trails are a moderately challenging 1.7 miles in length through the park. The best way to access the trail is by parking at the end of Brookside Road on the west side of the park or at the end of Fairway Road to the east.

The trail is a bit steep and challenging in parts, but there is a scenic overlook at the midway point where visitors can stop and catch their breath while enjoying the lake views. It's also possible to encounter wildlife on this relatively short trail.

Get Outside & Enjoy Lake Oswego's Trail System

The trail system in Lake Oswego is an excellent way to enjoy the outdoors and see some of the various real estate properties in the city. Every trail offers beautiful and unique views that cannot be found simply by driving around, so get out and enjoy them!