Oregon · Hiking

Founders Trail

Photo: mjfmjfmjf, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

0.5 mi
round trip: 275 ft
climb: 643 ft
high point: Out and back
route: May–Sep
best months

Founders Trail is a short, easy out-and-back hike in Oregon, about half a mile from the community of Willamette Heights. The trail is roughly 1.1 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 275 feet, and it reaches a high point of about 643 feet. The climb is gentle overall, with the steepest stretch at the start, where the grade reaches about 21 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July and August highs around 80 to 81°F, with only three or four wet days a month. That station sits about 480 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the trail run a little cooler. The hike takes about half an hour. The Jay Trail and Woodpecker Trail both start within a tenth of a mile, and the Lower Macleay Trail is about 0.3 miles away. Paddlers can find Fanno Creek about 5.5 miles off.

Best time to go · May–Sep
Best time to visit Founders Trail
Best months: May–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
1. Jan
  47° / 37°
  19 wet · 1 snow
2. Feb
  51° / 39°
  16 wet
3. Mar
  56° / 41°
  18 wet
4. Apr
  61° / 44°
  16 wet
5. May
  68° / 49°
  12 wet
6. Jun
  73° / 53°
  8 wet
7. Jul
  80° / 58°
  4 wet
8. Aug
  81° / 59°
  3 wet
9. Sep
  75° / 55°
  7 wet
10. Oct
  63° / 48°
  13 wet
11. Nov
  52° / 42°
  18 wet
12. Dec
  46° / 37°
  20 wet · 1 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Portland Kgw-Tv, OR, 2.1 mi away at 159 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Founders Trail

Best time to visit Founders Trail