Willamette Moorage Park

A River Runs Through It

Tucked along the Willamette River in southwest Portland, Willamette Moorage Park is a little slice of nature that offers a peaceful escape from city life. This natural area, accessible from Macadam Avenue, isn't just another park - it's an essential piece in the patchwork of riverside habitats that make Portland special.

Sitting within the Willamette River floodplain, this greenspace gives you a chance to reconnect with nature without leaving the city limits.

Where the Wild Things Are

If you're a wildlife enthusiast (or just enjoy spotting creatures), you're in for a treat. The park is practically a mini wildlife sanctuary. Keep your eyes peeled for gulls, sandpipers, cormorants, kingfishers, and swallows darting about.

Head to the north end of the park and you might catch sight of great blue heron and bald eagle nests over on Ross Island. Look east across the water and you'll spot osprey and Canada geese making their homes atop transmission towers near Oaks Bottom.

And if you're lucky, you might even glimpse some beavers going about their business - these industrious engineers are regular visitors to the area.

A Step Back in Time

There's some fascinating history here too. The locals used to call this area 'Carp Flats' - a nod to the carp fishing that was possible when seasonal floods rolled through.

Nature history buffs, take note: the south end of the park hosts one of the largest Oregon white oaks you'll discover anywhere along the Willamette Greenway. This magnificent tree has been standing since the Revolutionary War, silently watching as America itself took shape.