Top 14 Awesome Places to Visit in Portland in the Fall

The Hoyt Arboretum is sometimes called the Living Museum of Trees and it’s one of my favorite places to visit in the Fall. With 189 acres of trees within the Washington Park complex, the arboretum is one of the best places in Portland to observe the fall foliage. The garden has countless species of trees, including rare or endangered ones.

The Hoyt Arboretum is perfect for hikers and nature lovers because you can walk among the trees that cover 12 kilometers of trails, including some dramatic paths that take you over the ravines. If you’re more in the mood for quiet studying, I’d suggest checking out the nature center and massive research library.

You cannot come to Portland and skip out on doing a brewery tour, no matter which season you visit. However, visiting a brewery in the fall is special.

I’d recommend choosing a tour that visits multiple breweries as then you can enjoy the weather and beautiful scenery as you go from place to place. Fall is the peak season for brewery tours, particularly at breweries that like to make seasonal beers.

You have plenty of options for brewery tours in Portland. Some of the best ones are City Brew Tours and Pedal Bike Tours. If you only want to visit one brewery, check out Upright Brewing, Great Notion, or any one of Portland’s amazing options.

As the weather cools down and grey skies become more prevalent, sometimes there’s nothing that you want to do other than relax and get pampered. If all you want to do is slow down, why not book a spa vacation?

Luckily, Portland has many options for relaxation. One of the best spa experiences is the FivePine Lodge and Spa. The luxurious getaway located just outside of Portland has all the amenities you need for a relaxing getaway.

Visit their spa to take advantage of treatments such as a thermal soaking tub, massages, and more, and stay overnight in one of the gorgeous wooden cabins.

The Portland Japanese Garden is one of the top places to visit in Portland, Oregon in the fall. Although the garden excels during any season, fall is when the foliage comes alive.

The Japanese garden was designed with the principle of seasonality in mind, and it changes with the season. Whether you just want to check out the foliage or make repeat visits to see the garden change, you will be a welcome guest.

The garden is divided into five sections: The Flat Garden, Strolling Pond Garden, Tea Garden, Natural Garden, and Sand and stone Garden. All are worth a visit but don’t miss the Strolling Pond Garden and its famous maple tree.

Sauvie Island is one of the largest islands on the Columbia River. Its natural wonders cover 24,000 acres just 10 miles out of downtown Portland.

Although Sauvie Island is a must-visit for Portland nature lovers in any season, in the fall, you have to check out the Pumpkin Patch, which is open from June to November.

The Pumpkin Patch is so much more than just picking pumpkins. Check out the Patch’s two corn mazes, including a spooky haunted one made just for Halloween.

While you’re on Sauvie Island, check out nearby Topaz Farms, which also offers pumpkin picking, hayrides, and weekend parties serving microbrews.

If you’re visiting the Portland area with kids around fall, then you must take a day trip to Liepold Farms. This family-owned farm in the ironically named town of Boring is packed with fun for the whole family.

Get in touch with nature by picking your seasonal crops, including pumpkins.

If you’re tired of picking pumpkins, then check out the other activities that the farm has to offer. All fall, the farm organizes hayrides and a corn maze.

You can also snack on caramel apples and corn on the cob (and the adults can taste some farm-brewed cider).

Crater Lake National Park may be a bit of a drive outside of Portland, but it is worth the trip in any season. The spectacular park consists of sheer cliffs surrounding a crater lake or a lake formed in the caldera of a collapsed volcano.

The lake is the deepest in the United States.

The spectacular views of trees and cliffs reflected in the lake are stunning during any season, but in the fall, when the foliage is at its peak, you must visit this national park. Enjoy acres of hiking, trekking, and gorgeous views.

Autumn leaves are unfortunately often accompanied by autumn rains. When you want to get away from not-so-nice weather, sneak inside and check out some of Portland’s incredible museums.

Portland has so many museums that you are bound to find something to interest anyone in your group.

Art lovers can check out the Portland Art Museum or the Center for Native American Art. STEM nerds can go to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, while those looking for a unique experience can check out the Oregon Maritime Museum, hosted on board an actual ship.

The South Park Blocks is one of Portland’s most popular city parks. This is where residents come to live and relax. Like any natural space in Portland, one of the draws of South Park Blocks is the foliage in the fall.

However, it’s also a great space to come and people-watch as Portlanders soak up the good weather before winter.

Come on Saturday to check out the farmer’s market.

Cathedral Park is one of Portland’s most iconic historic parks. Widely believed to be a site where the Lewis and Clark expedition landed, the park is now mostly recognizable by the nearby St. Johns steel suspension bridge.

The bridge, with its Gothic-inspired supports and towers, is one of the park’s primary draws.

For prime photo-taking opportunities, come during autumn when you can take pictures of the foliage contrasting against the striking bridge.

For hikes that cover excellent landscapes and offer views of fall foliage, you don’t even have to leave Portland property.

The Maple-Wildwood Loop Hike covers several parks of trails in Forest Park, right in Portland.

The trail takes you through some of the best spots in Portland to check out the changing leaves. Highlights along the way include a view of the Cascade Mountains and spectacular groves of maple trees, red cedars, and Douglas firs.

The Leach Botanical Garden, located in southeast Portland, was a private estate that was turned into a botanical garden that is open to the public.

The garden consists of a stunning Manor House and landscaped grounds planted with seasonal plants with trails for meandering.

All areas of the garden are beautiful, but in the fall, check out the native plant areas featuring species that are common in the Pacific Northwest. Check out the garden’s events, including volunteer-led tours and night hikes, if you want to learn more about this special area.

Even the youngest visitors to Portland can enjoy the fall weather and delightful foliage. The Columbia Children’s Arboretum is part of Portland’s network of city parks.

Several decades ago, the park was created by students from local schools, and today’s children can now come to learn about trees and enjoy an oasis of calm in northern Portland.

The major draw of this park is the trees, which show their spectacular foliage in autumn. However, when you take your kids on a walk here, tell them to keep an eye out for beavers that live in the moat.

After a long day looking at leaves or braving the rainy autumn, there’s no better way to warm up than with a belly full of spirits. If you’re in search of spirits in Portland, the Multnomah Whiskey Library is the best place to go.

The cozy, vintage lounge has over 1,000 spirits in its selection, including some of the best whiskeys around. Have a tumbler of your favorite spirit, or ask the bartender to make you a cocktail.

Although the Multnomah Whiskey Library is for members only, non-members can buy a daily Hall Pass to see this unique space.