Portland’s running scene blends natural beauty, urban charm, and deep-running culture into one of the most beloved environments for runners in the country. The Willamette riverfront offers smooth, scenic miles with easy access to bridges, waterfront parks, and loops favored by runners of all levels. Just minutes away, Forest Park is one of the largest urban forests in the U.S. and provides an extensive network of soft-surface trails, while neighboring Washington Park adds hilly, leafy routes ideal for strength-building miles. Across the city, parks like Mt. Tabor, with its volcanic slopes and panoramic views, give runners even more variety in their daily routes. Portland’s identity as a running hub is reinforced by the presence of Nike’s global headquarters just outside the city, along with a wealth of public tracks and fields that make speed work accessible. Layered onto all of this is a vibrant run club scene that spans casual social groups, competitive teams, and neighborhood-based crews, making it easy for runners to find community whether they’re logging trails, track sessions, or riverfront loops.