Tryon Creek State Natural Area – Portland, Oregon – Moquistang; one little mustang who does it all.

Tryon Creek State Natural Area – Portland, Oregon

Nov 18, 2025

November 18, 2025

Submitted by: Jamethiel Morse, please check out her blog; We Are On the Loose

Located just 15 minutes from downtown Portland, this state park offers equestrian trails year round. Perfect for a quick after-work ride and trails with enough grade to make it a conditioning ride or a leisurely stroll.

Trail Stats:

Up to 5.2 miles, two main loops plus an out and back
Elevation Gain: 350 feet
Elevation Loss: 350 feet
Max Elevation: 315 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Footing: Well maintained gravel footing.
Hoof Protection: Solid barefoot OK but shoes/boots recommended

← Back to Trail Catalog
← Explore more trails in the Portland Metro area

Facilities: Protected horse trailer parking, saved even when the rest of the park is full. Pull through lanes can fit between 6 and 10 trailers of various sizes. Porta-potty, picnic table, park info board and tall mounting platform with steps available at trailhead.

Water Sources: None.

Trail Info: Park at the horse parking lot off of Terwilliger Blvd. One trail leads out from the horse parking lot, this is the North Horse Loop. Follow for 1 mile, the trail splits and you can go left or right, this is a loop. The trails meet at the High Bridge. Crossing the High Bridge gets you onto the West Horse Loop. .5 miles from the bridge, you can take the Boones Ferry out and back, this is an excellent wide, gradual up hill for a canter and adds 1.3 miles. Return to the West Horse Loop and follow around back to the High Bridge, then return to the Horse Parking lot. 5 miles total, if you do everything twice you can get 10 miles and over 1000 feet of climbing/loss.

Trail Challenges: This is an urban park, so people can be clueless around horses. Bring extra treats to let the kids (and everyone!) meet and greet your horse. The bike and horse trails are separate so you don’t have to deal with bikes, but there are runners and families. Dogs are on leash almost 100% of the time, this is a heavily patrolled area. Bridges.

Permits: Annual Oregon State Park pass or a day pass. $30 annual, $12 day use non-resident, $10 day use resident.

Backcountry Sites: Not suitable for overnight use.

Cell Service: Great service, all carriers.

Fuel: Lake Oswego – nothing great for big rigs.

GPX File: OHT: Tryon Creek Horse Trails

Maintained By: Oregon State Parks

Directions: Horse trailer parking is located at the main entrance to the park, off of S. Terwilliger Blvd, horse parking is the first right upon entering the park.

Resources:

Map: