The Rock Creek Greenway Trail is a paved trail where you can walk, run, hike, bike, skate, or roll. It’s a wonderful place to bring the whole family for a day of picnicking and fun or to go solo to enjoy a quiet moment by the creek. 

Just 20 minutes from downtown Portland, this one mile (one way) paved trail follows Rock Creek from Orchard Park north to Rock Creek Boulevard. You can combine this walk with an additional mile of paved trail and wetland boardwalks within the 21-acre Orchard Park, and then continue into Orenco Woods Nature Park for even more trail options.

We started our hike from Orchard Park where there is a small parking lot. You can also take TriMet bus #48 to NW Cornell Road and John Olsen Ave, then connect to the Rock Creek Trail and head south to Orchard Park.

Orchard Park offers drinking fountains, a playground, restrooms and picnicking. It also contains a nine-hole disc golf course. Trail signage is found along the path. There are many benches throughout the park, along the path and around the playground.

There are interesting attractions in the playground, including bobbers [animal figures you can bounce on] and a climbing boulder. The playground is surrounded by grass with a ramp entering the bark chip surface. 

We continued as far as Evergreen Parkway for a recommended short loop. Points of interest along the trail include hundreds of native trees and shrubs that help maintain a healthy watershed. On our visit, part of the trail was closed to protect beaver dam activity on Rock Creek. Parts of the trail may also be closed during periods of high water.