Pdxguide

Aah, Rocky Butte, Portland’s “secret” hill! Don’t know where it is? You know that big mount by the airport and the Grotto that’s next to where I-84 and I-205 meet? That’s Rocky Butte! While nearly all of our hills provide great sightseeing opportunities, what makes this butte so special is the near 360� panorama view you’ll get from the top! You’ll be able to see downtown; the west hills; the Columbia and Willamette Rivers; the scary suburban hinterlands east of 82nd; Vancouver, Wash; the various snow-capped mountains; and even the mouth of the Columbia River Gorge itself! This is also a great place to view all the landings and take-offs from the airport. And if that don’t entice you, here’s two more bits that might: 1) Due to it’s secret nature, there’s barely anyone that goes to it, even on those spectacular sunny days where you can see everything, and 2) Rocky Butte Road (on the hills southwestern side) goes through a small tunnel (where the road actually loops around and goes under itself!) How fricking neat is that? Access park via NE Rocky Butte Road, which connects to NE Russell St at NE 92nd St. (Note to bicyclists: this is a steep hill!)