America’s Cycling Capital

Time and time again Portland ranks in the top five cities, if not #1, for cycling in the United States. With over 400 miles of bike lanes, dedicated traffic signals, and a community that actively supports alternative transportation, it’s one of the easiest cities in the country to explore by bike.

For visitors, that means you can experience Portland without a car, moving easily between neighborhoods, parks, restaurants, and cultural spots. Whether you’re here for a weekend or a longer stay, biking offers the most efficient and immersive way to see the city.

Bike Maps & Information

If you’re planning to bike around Portland, having the right route makes all the difference. From scenic waterfront paths to neighborhood loops and longer endurance rides, there’s something here for every type of rider.

• Ride Oregon Ride — Suggested routes across Oregon, including bike-friendly accommodations and travel resources.
• Ride With GPS is not only the internet’s best route planning software, they also offer a huge selection of user created rides. Their Navigation APP is a dream, and routes can be exported to one of our rental Wahoo GPS Units. Plus, they’re from Portland too!
• Getting Around Portland — Free information provided by the City of Portland on suggested rides, maps, transportation opportunities, and community resources.

Best Bike Routes in Portland (For Every Rider)

Looking for the best bike routes in Portland? These are some of the most popular rides for both visitors and locals, offering a mix of scenery, neighborhoods, and terrain.

• 11 miles – Our most popular route! The “Waterfront Loop” leads you along Portland’s meandering Willamette river, through Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge, and then back along the westside of the waterfront.
• 22 miles – The “Cathedral Park” A staff favorite, this route takes you through the historic Alberta, Mississippi, and St Johns districts, where good food and drinks are never far away. Cathedral Park is home to the iconic St. Johns Bridge!
• 28 miles – “Short, Steep, and Sweet” Don’t say we didn’t warn you… This ride takes you through some of the best highlights in town, perfect for those energetic riders, pesky relatives (just tell them it’s an adventure) and earning some wonderful descents through the city. Visits the Waterfront, Council Crest, Washington Park, and the Pittock Mansion.
• Further route choices here: Best Rides Around Portland

Self-Guided Bike Routes in Portland!

Prefer to explore at your own pace? These self-guided routes are designed for different riding styles, distances, and interests, from casual city cruising to longer endurance efforts. All routes can be loaded onto a Wahoo Bolt GPS device as an add-on with your rental.

Townie Tours – Easy, low-mileage rides are perfect for first-time visitors and relaxed cruising.
Recommended Bike: Single Speed, Multi Speed, Flat Bar Road, or E-Bike

Waterfront Loop – 5 mi
Waterfront Loop Plus – 11 mi
Books and Coffee – 9 mi
Murals for Miles – 8 mi
Donuts for Days – 8 mi
Dispenseries for Daze – 8 mi
Mystical Portland – 11 mi
Laurelhurst Park – 8 mi

Explorer Tours – Mid-distance rides that take you deeper into Portland’s neighborhoods and food scene.
Recommended Bike: Multi Speed, Flat Bar Road, or E-bike

Murals for Miles Plus – 16 mi
Cathedral Park Loop – 22 mi
Alberta/Mississippi Loop – 15 mi
Rose Garden Waterfront – 16 mi
Veg Foodie – 17 mi
Northeast Ramble – 15 mi
Southeast Ramble – 18 mi

Crusher Tours – Longer rides for experienced cyclists looking to cover more ground.
Recommended Bike: Flat Bar Road, Carbon Road, or E-Bike

Willamette River Loop – 32 mi
Springwater Volcanos – 33 mi
Springwater Volcanos + – 39 mi
Big Eastside Loop – 55 mi
Leif Erikson Gravel – 28 mi
Leif Erikson Gravel Loop – 25 mi
Council Crest & Pittock – 28 mi
Skyline Loop – 22 mi

Super Crusher Tours – Challenging routes with significant elevation gain for full-day efforts.
Recommended Bike: Flat Bar Road, or Carbon Road

Council Crest Skyline – 57 mi

Get To The Gorge!

The Columbia River Gorge is one of the most scenic cycling destinations near Portland, known for its waterfalls, climbs, and open road riding. Many visitors pair a Portland stay with a Gorge ride for a full Pacific Northwest experience.

• Portland now offers an affordable, reliable shuttle service to and from the Columbia Gorge, grab a road bike, hop the shuttle and enjoy the ride! (Just make sure you don’t miss the last shuttle back, or it’s a long ride!) Check out the Columbia Gorge Express for more info.

Where to Stay in Portland

Looking for places to stay in Portland near downtown or bike-friendly accommodations? These options are all within easy riding distance of our shop and provide convenient access to the city’s best routes.

• The Society Hotel – .1 Miles From Shop – Super neat restored hotel in historical Old Town
• The Mark Spencer Hotel – .6 Miles From Shop
• The Ace Hotel – .6 Miles From Shop
• The Jupiter Hotel – 1 Mile From Shop
• The Friendly Bike Guest House – 2.5 Miles From Shop
• Travelers House – Affordable, laid back, and a Yurt to boot!. 3.3 Miles From Shop
• Caravan – The Tiny House Hotel – A Truly Portland Experience. 3.7 Miles From Shop
• Air BnB – Various Residences Throughout Portland – Are you an AirBnB host and want local cycle maps for visitors to your space? Drop us a line and we’ll send you a pack of our shop maps for free!
• McMenamins – Various Locations, Staff Favorite is Kennedy School in North East – 4.7 Miles From Shop

Best Places to Eat in Portland

Portland is known for its food scene, from food carts to award-winning restaurants. These are some of our go-to spots after a ride.

Sizzle Pie – Multiple locations across town, hands down tasty pizza with vegetarian and vegan options.

Nong’s Khao Man Gai – Great Thai street food and one of Portland’s hottest Food Carts.

Pok Pok – You don’t get to be named one of the best restaurants in the US by sitting idle, and owner Andy Ricker is certainly no slouch. Check out their whiskey soda lounge while you wait for your table (it’s worth it).

Bunk Sandwiches – As the name implies, these are some tasty sandwiches. But don’t take our word for it, try em’ yourself!

Hopworks Bikebar – One of our favorite breweries! Check out the Velvet ESB, or wash down sliders with a light Hefe Hop. Earn discounts on your beer while peddling their electric bicycles, and see some the best handmade frames made by builders all across Oregon.

Pearl Bakery – Pearl starts off right with top quality ingredients, and a dedication to excellence in their craft that puts them at the top of our list.

Bridgeport Brew Pub – Try the soft pretzel! So good, it comes with spicy mustard and Beer Flavored dipping sauce! Also try the King Pin Red ale if you like Reds.

Prasad – If a cafe nestled in a Yoga studio sounds like a weird eating recommendation, prepare to be pleasantly surprised. (Veggie/Vegan friendly)

Art, Music & Events

Portland has a strong arts and music culture, with something happening every night. These resources are the best way to find events during your visit.

PC-PDX.com – What’s going on tonight? Quick, check the single largest nightly database of everything musical going on in our city soundscape! – Staff Favorite

Mercury listings – Music listings by date and venue location.

Willamette Week listings – News, Politics, Culture + and Stuff To Do in Portland, Oregon.

Portland Art Museum – At over 120 years old, the Portland Art Museum is an institution special to our hearts here in Portland. With a curious and unique permanent collection, and traveling exhibits that come from near and far, this museum makes for an excellent visit any time of the year.

PDX Pipeline – Since 2005 PDX Pipeline has listed over 10,000 Portland events and specials – worth a look if you’re searching for that special something.

Other Things To Do in Portland:

Beyond biking, Portland offers plenty to explore—all easily accessible by bike.

Powell’s Books – Powell’s City of Books is currently the worlds largest independent bookstore, filling an entire city block and stocking over a million new, used and rare books. Few visits to Portland are complete without a quick stop to this unique location.

The Portland Japanese Garden – Featuring a large expansion to be completed in 2017, the Portland Japanese Garden is a 5.5-acre haven of tranquil beauty nestled in the scenic west hills of Portland, Oregon. The Japanese gardens also feature one of our favorite views of Mt. Hood on the horizon.

Lan Su Chinese Garden – What happens when the city of Portland collaborates with our sister city of Suzhau, China to take over a block of Old-Town? Beautiful Ming Dynasty style gardens, and and excellent spot to spend an hour, or the day. These gardens were crafted by artisans from Suzhou, and are regarded as the most authentic Chinese gardens outside of China.

Oregon Maritime Museum – If you’re curious where the last sternwheeler in service as a tugboat in the U.S. rests, look no further. The Oregon Maritime Museum packs the history for the nautically inclined in all of us.

OMSI – Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. A giant museum with an OmniMax theater, great kids exhibits, and one of the submarines used in the filming of “The Hunt for Red October“!

Staff Favorites

Ground Kontrol – Where your childhood goes to come alive. Bring $5 and a buddy, and enjoy the best of the Arcade generation. As an added bonus, Ground Kontrol is a member of Portland’s growing “Barcade” scene – why not have a pint while you get schooled by Tron?  While you’re there, also make sure to check out the Sophie Edition.

Case Study Coffee (NE Alberta) – World class without the sass. You’ll have to visit Case Study in NE Portland to discover what it’s like to drink coffee like you’ve never had before.

The Bye and Bye – A Portland Bar. One of our local hideouts with great eats and a kickass patio.

Podnah”s Pit BBQ – Epic Texas style BBQ on NE Killingworth St.