Hoyt Arboretum has 12 miles of hiking trails to discover. | Photo by PDXtoday staff
Lace up your hiking boots. We’ve compiled a curated hiking guide for the Portland areawith 18 trails and routes to help you plan your next adventure.
Picture-perfect views
Hoyt Arboretum to Pittock Mansion | 4000 SW Fairview Blvd., Portland
A winding descent will take you from the parking lot through land where 2,300 different trees and shrubs grow (including giant sequoias), before crossing West Burnside Road and making the final climb. Most people know the vista from Pittock Mansion is one of — if not the best — in town, but getting a good sweat going on the way to the viewpoint is much more rewarding than simply driving to the top.
Warrior Rock Lighthouse Point | 38151 A&B NW Reeder Rd., Portland
Your destination is a historic lighthouse — the state’s shortest — built in 1930 to warn ships of a bedrock reef that juts out into the Columbia River. Some of Sauvie Island’s best birdwatching spots (keep an eye out for bald eagles and sandhill cranes) can also be found along this meandering but flat trail.
Looking for even more hikes to explore? Hit the button below or check out our Hike of the Month series.
Sunset Dinner Cruise | Daily | Times vary | Portland Spirit | $99+ | Dine, relax, and take in Portland’s skyline from the water on this two-and-a-half-hour cruise featuring live music and a three-course meal — read: an unforgettable way to spend a summer evening.*
Friday, Sept. 5
Rose City Comic Con 2025 | Friday, Sept. 5-Sunday, Sept. 7 | 1-8 p.m. | Oregon Convention Center | $55+ | “Stranger Things” star David Harbour is one of just many familiar faces you might see at the biggest pop culture convention in PDX.
First Friday PDX | Friday, Sept. 5-Friday, June 5 | Times vary | Locations vary | Free | Take a self-guided tour of 23+ independent galleries, shops, and studios — plus a street exhibition on dates through October — in East Portland.
Saturday, Sept. 6
2025 Portland Dragon Boat Festival | Saturday, Sept. 6-Sunday, Sept. 7 | 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | Tom McCall Waterfront Park | Free | Watch dragon boats race down the Willamette alongside food, beer, and kids activities.
13th Annual Catio Tour | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon | $15 | Tour eight unique catios around the Portland area — cats may be included in the viewing.
POP Cats Portland | Saturday, Sept. 6-Sunday, Sept. 7 | Times vary | Wingspan Event & Conference Center, Hillsboro | $15+ | Speaking of cat events... this convention includes workshops, cat-inspired vendors, unique products, and even a Punk Cats Cattoo Parlor.
Sunday, Sept. 7
Plus-Size Clothing Swap | Sunday, Sept. 7-Sunday, Dec. 7 | Times vary | Sonny’s House of Tattoos and Treasures | Free | Bring three clean, gently used clothing items size XL or larger to swap for three new-to-you pieces.
Fall weather combined with free THC seltzer? Yes, please.
Presented by Cycling Frog
Kick back and unwind this month with some hemp goodness. | Photos courtesy of Cycling Frog
Golden hour hits differently with something chill in hand.
Whether it’s food cart hopping or Forest Park hikes, fall in Portland calls for a proper wind-down. Cycling Frog is offering a free THC seltzer (just pay $2 shipping) — perfect for post-adventure porch hangs, mellow park nights, or cooling off after a stroll. These fruit-forward sips are light, legal, and tuned for peak fall vibes.
Choose between Black Currant, Wild Cherry, or Ruby Grapefruit flavors, each loaded up with both THC and CBD. Grab your free can while supplies last.†‡‡
The first Portland storefront for Canadian clothing brand Duer — which focuses on natural fabrics and timeless styles — is expected to open by late September. The property is expected to span ~1,000 sqft at 820 NW 23rd Ave. (Portland Business Journal)
Closing
Assembly Brewing’s North Alberta Street location is closing, owner George Johnson announced this week. In similar news, Southeast Portland’s Deadshot cocktail bar will also close at the end of 2025. (KOIN)
Real Estate
Ken Kesey, author of renowned novel “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” recently sold his Oregon coast home for $750,000. The sale marks the first in 50 years for the 2.13-acre property — take a look inside. (Oregon Live)
Biz
Goodbye, Umpqua Bank — hello, Columbia Bank. The 70-year-old banking institution rebranded this week in an effort to unify with the bank it absorbed in 2021. Bank users may need to update the name on some third-party websites. (KOIN)
Number
59. That’s how many days are left until daylight saving time ends and the clock falls back one hour. Translation: It’s time to take advantage of golden-hour hangs after work while you still can. Might we suggest a sunset stroll through one of PDX’s parks?
Sports
Go Ducks. Dakorien Moore’s pass blocking grade led all receivers nationally in Week 1. Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Oregon Ducks with Locked On’s daily podcasts. (Oregon Live)
Eat
Serve us up a slice of meat lover’s — that’s the most popular pizza in Oregon, according to a survey by TalkerResearch. No matter how you like your ‘za, consider this your sign to order in by grabbing a slice from one of these local places. (Newsweek)
Seasonal
Sunflower season is in full swing at Topaz Farm on Sauvie Island, where four vibrant fields are set to bloom now through September. Entry is $5 (free for kids under 2), or opt for a $10 season pass and $1 U-cut stems to take home a little sunshine. Plan your visit.*
Festival
Full STEAM ahead. Oregon Science Week kicks off next week, running Monday, Sept. 8 through Friday, Sept. 12. Good news: Tickets are still available for the third annual Oregon Science Festival at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. Secure your spot for live demonstrations, food trucks, and hands-on fun.*
Aside from megapacks and weekly coupons, did you know several retailers offer customers 55+ hefty discounts — sometimes up to 20% off? Learn about key Senior discounts and several more savings hacks older adults should know about to continue saving and building wealth at age 50+.*
Finance
When some of the big investors who backed companies like Uber and eBay before they IPO’d invest in a new company, people take note. That’s the case with Pacaso — 10,000+ everyday investors are already in. But the chance to join them ends Thursday, Sept. 18. Learn more about the opportunity.†‡*
Finance
Finance
This former Zillow exec is targeting a $1.3 trillion market
Presented by Pacaso
Austin Allison’s Pacaso has already earned $110 million+ in gross profit to date. | Image provided by Pacaso
Austin Allison sold his first company to Zillow for $120 million. Now he’s building another real estate innovator in Pacaso.
Pacaso has already made $110 million+ in gross profits to date by disrupting the $1.3 trillion vacation home market, and the same big investors that backed Uber and eBay have already invested.
But unlike Austin’s previous companies, everyday investors (like you) can invest in Pacaso as a private company. Over 10,000 individuals already have.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
In my best Ryan Seacrest voice: Are you the next “American Idol?” The TV singing competition is hosting its virtual “Idol Across America” auditions via Zoom in Oregon on Monday, Sept. 22. If taking the mic is your dream, sign up here.
‡‡Finance “investment method” disclaimer: This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the Nasdaq is subject to approvals. Comparisons to other companies are for informational purposes only and should not imply similar success. Under Regulation A+, a company has the ability to change its share price by up to 20%, without requalifying the offering with the SEC.
‡‡Limit 1 can of seltzer. First-time customers only. Must be 21+.
