Walking Portland: Westmoreland, Eastmoreland, Reed Campus & Reed Lake

This four-mile Walking Portland loop features two adjacent Southeast Portland neighborhoods–one nearly a city in its own right and one a serene enclave of historic homes–with a renowned college campus and secluded marshland lake trail.

Route Map

With our online map, you can zoom in and out to get a better look at the surrounding area. Plus, we indicate best bets for coffee and parties, restaurants and cafes, cool shops, and other items of interest.

Click here for our detailed map.

Directions

Heading Out

1. In Sellwood/Westmoreland, at SE Bybee Blvd. and SE Milwaukie Ave., on right sidewalk, head east on SE Bybee Blvd.
2. Option: Between SE 23^rd Ave. and SE 23^rd Ave., turn right onto walkway of Westmoreland Park & Nature Playground and tour park (highly recommend)
3. Back on SE Bybee Blvd. heading east, walk over bridge and train tracks at SE McLoughlin Blvd.
4. Option: At SE 27^th, tour or take a break at Eastmoreland Garden
5. Proceed on SE Bybee Blvd. as it flows into SE Tolman St. (moderate hill climb)
6. At SE Reed College Pl., turn left
7. Cross SE Woodstock Blvd. and proceed via Eliot Circle onto Reed College campus
8. Proceed toward parking loop and turn left on walkway
9. At center of campus, walk through or maneuver around to backside of Admissions Building
10. At Pedestrian Bridge over Reed Lake, descend stairs to trail
11. On trail, head either left or right, and follow trail around the marshland and back to starting point. Ascend stairs back to campus.

Heading Back

1. From backside of Admissions Building, follow walkway as it descends to SE Bosford Dr. and head west/left
2. At SE 28^th, cross the street and turn left/southeast
3. Continue on SE 28th Ave. as it loops alongside Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, and then turn right onto SE Bybee Blvd. following alongside Eastmoreland Golf Course
4. Follow SE Bybee Blvd. back to starting point
5. Enjoy house-roasted coffee at Kahveology. Lattes are on us.
6. Tell everyone you know how much you love Women Who Walk and the SkyBlue Portland Team, and join us for a new adventure next month. 🙂

Time

Allow 3 hours to tour both extended park loops, longer to gawk at the incredible homes and gardens or linger over coffee or lunch on the way back. And of course, you should do all of these.

Terrain

Mostly flat, Portland-style sidewalks (often uneven and in need of repair) for the greater portion of the walk with a narrow dirt and bark trail with occasional footbridges around Reed Lake.

Difficulty

Easy through the greater portion of Westmoreland and Eastmoreland neighborhoods and only a bit more challenging along the Reed Lake trail.

Detour

On the way back from Reed college, on your right along SE 28th Ave., you’ll pass Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden. It’s a spectacular garden and well worth the time if you have it. There’s an entry fee most days, but Mondays are always free.

Coffee or Lunch

Good options for coffee and pastries before this walk include Kahveology Coffee and Fairlane Coffee, both on SE Milwaukie Ave. Or after the walk, especially if you plan to hit the shops on SE 13th Ave., Blue Kangaroo Coffee Roasters. If lunch is in the works, Grand Central Bakery and Jade Tea House are good options.

Portland Walkabouts

The SkyBlue Portland team hosts monthly group walks through some of Portland Metro’s most beautiful and interesting neighborhoods.
For info on our Portland walking tours, check out our Women Who Walk Facebook page and sign up for a walk on our Women Who Walk Meetup page.

Copyright 2018 Susan S. Bradley. All rights reserved.