Portland Hill Walks

Twenty Explorations in Parks and Neighborhoods

Portland Hill Walks is no ordinary guidebook. No restaurant ratings, no rehashed explanations of how the city got its name. Instead, in twenty meandering, view-studded strolls from forested canyons to cityscape peaks, this lively travelogue answers questions you may never have thought to ask, such as: What street used to be a row of floating homes? What eastside peak, with its "healthful air," was home to tuberculosis sanatoriums? What happened to the lake in Guilds Lake? What Portlander modeled swimwear in the U.S. Senate? Explore the city's streets, stairs, trails, and hidden passageways to discover the stories and spirit of a town rated among the country's most livable places.

Media reviews of this book:

"Pick up a copy of Portland Hill Hikes, lace up some hiking shoes and leave the gas guzzler in the garage... Takes explorers into 20 city neighborhoods [and] includes lots of city history, while pointing out fun ways to get to know your backyard."

—Oregonian, April 29, 2005

"[This] is an excellent guidebook celebrating Portland's landscapes and neighborhoods. ... Foster offers anecdotes on some of the more colorful residents of Portland's past, setting Portland Hill Walks apart from ordinary guidebooks."

—Beverly Close, Oregonian, April 24, 2005

"Foster makes each entry come alive with historical background and keenly drawn observations."

—Alice Joyce, Booklist, April 4, 2005

"Laura Foster provides a real familiarity with the neighborhoods she describes, which only a veteran Portland walker could produce."

—Andrew Weber, Asian Reporter, June 6, 2006

"You'll see and appreciate all sorts of things you didn't know were there if you take any one of Foster's guided tours... A treasure of information, one of the best guidebooks in many years."

—Dan Hays, Salem Statesman Journal, June 5, 2005

Customer reviews of this book:

"What a fantastic job Laura Foster has done with this book. The research and history she has done is outstanding. I have done quite a few of the walks in the book, but never knew as much history of the area as she does — she gives such great detail. It will make my walks so much more meaningful."

—Gina M. from Portland, Oregon, March 18, 2007

"I enjoyed this book very much! Having lived in all areas of Portland, I found it explained many things I was curious about."

—W. B. from Portland, Oregon, January 18, 2007

"This is great. Thank you and especially thank the author for this wonderful collection of Portland history!"

—Kathy E. from Portland, Oregon, August 29, 2006

"Wonderful! A delightful combination of nature and built environment on each walk."

—Jane F. from Portland, Oregon, August 4, 2006

"I love this book. Each walk is so surprising and interesting. Foster presents it beautifully."

—MaryAnn H. from Portland, Oregon, May 25, 2006

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An excerpt from this book:

Plan this walk for a summer or fall Saturday when you can stroll through the outdoor Portland Farmers Market located in the South Park Blocks. This hill walk starts you out in Portland Heights, among the city's most beautiful neighborhoods of mansions and grand homes, and drops you out of the heights to stroll under a canopy of elms in the Park Blocks, a linear park flanked on its southern end by Portland State University (PSU). From there you'll follow the historic Plank Road into Goose Hollow, an old neighborhood at the base of the West Hills, and head back up the steep hillside for a tour of some of Portland Heights' most elegant streets ...

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