Although summer may be my favorite season in Portland, there are also many amazing things to do in Portland in fall. The weather starts getting cooler, and the fall colors are out and gorgeous. It is the perfect hiking weather, and you will not be sorry spending at least two days in Portland during this time.
US Ghost Adventures is an awesome company that offers a variety of guided tours and haunted experiences across different cities in the United States. Visitors can learn the compelling history and stories of the paranormal and the city’s darker side. Make sure to check out the variety of tours offered in [Portland] here. They are very affordable too!
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Where to Stay in Portland
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Portland hotels here! Also, check out this post with some of my favorite Portland hotels.
The following are some of the best hotels in Portland. *means it is one of my favorites!
- Hilton Portland Downtown
- The Duniway Portland*
- Hyatt Centric Downtown*
- AC Marriott Portland Downtown*
- Moxy Portland Downtown
- Kimpton Hotel Vintage Portland
- Home2Suites Portland Airport
- Residence Inn Portland Airport
- Hyatt Place Portland Airport/Cascade Station
- Hampton Inn Portland East
Witch’s Castle
By Emily of The Mandagies
Looking for a thrilling way to celebrate the spooky season? Check out the Witch’s Castle in Forest Park! It’s reported to be one of the most haunted places in Oregon, with stories of a supposed murder and haunting of the area.
The story goes like this: The Balch and the Stump families back in the 1850s got tangled in a messy love affair, ending in Danford Balch claiming that Stump’s wife was a witch. After the murder of Mortimer Stump, the place is said to be haunted by both Stumps (husband and wife).
Many visitors today claim unexplained paranormal activity here. This is a fun place to see in the fall because you’ll find thrill seekers here to try and experience a little scare themselves!
Seeing the Witch’s Castle is pretty easy and straightforward. It’s a 0.5-mile walk from the Upper Macleay Parking Lot. Visiting is free, which makes this a perfect budget-friendly fall activity to do in Portland. It’s also close to the Pittock Mansion, so you can easily see both places on the same day.
While the story is pretty spooky, the reality is that the stone building is probably just an old Forest Ranger Station or abandoned bathroom. However, that doesn’t stop people from hyping up the graffiti-covered building and creating wild stories around it!
During the Halloween season, don’t be surprised if you find some interesting characters there, trying to conjure up spirits of the past. Come during the day, because nighttime could bring some unsavory characters! Either way, it is a fun thing to do in Portland in fall.
Sauvie Island
By Nina and Garrett of Oregon is For Adventure
Right in the heart of the Columbia River, Sauvie Island, a mere few miles from downtown Portland, becomes an autumn wonderland when the Pacific Northwest puts on its fall coat. This expansive island offers an array of activities, making it a must-visit when you want out of the bustle of Portland. It is one of the best places to visit in Portland in fall.
The island’s roads wind through farmland and wildlife sanctuaries. At the end of the road, hikers can explore the seven-mile round-trip trail to Warrior Rock Lighthouse to visit a lonely beach and lighthouse.
There are plenty of things to do on Sauvie Island, but during fall, you’ll find corn mazes, farm-fresh produce, and family-friendly experiences. The Pumpkin Patch invites visitors daily in October for free hayrides to the pumpkin patch. You can also get lost in their “Maize” (a corn maze, get it?).
Topaz Farm has a stunning sunflower maze and a market to stock up on fresh produce. There are also farms that do “u-pick” fruits and if you’re here in winter, there’s even a u-cut Christmas tree farm!
If you’re a bird enthusiast, don’t forget to look up. Nearly a quarter of a million migratory birds, including swans, bald eagles, and Sandhill cranes come through here during fall.
The hikes and beaches are free on Sauvie Island, but you’ll need to grab a parking pass for $10 no matter where you’re parking on the island. As soon as you make it over the bridge to the island, you can stop at the Cracker Barrel Store (no, not that Cracker Barrel!) and pick up your permit. Bring some extra cash for produce or entrance fees, but otherwise, you could visit the island for relatively free!
Spirit of Halloweentown
By Marshall of Travel Breakdown
“From the mortal world depart, we now on this the night All Hallow’s Eve; back into Halloweentown through the portal, we take our leave.” – Aggie Cromwell, Halloweentown
Halloweentown is an all-time classic Disney Halloween movie and a whimsical town we all wish our grandmothers could have taken us to. Well, the good news is, every year, the town of St. Helens, Oregon, where the movie was filmed, allows visitors to do just that.
From September 16th to October 31st, guests can walk the streets of the beloved Halloweentown and recreate the movie for themselves. They even have the giant pumpkin in the town square, just like in the film. And the best part is, walking the streets of the town is free. They do, however, provide many additional activities that vary in cost, including a haunted house, a giant Halloween exhibit, train rides, boat rides, an oddities museum, and much more.
You can really feel the magic come alive when visiting this beautiful town. The folks who put it on go the extra mile in order to make sure it’s an incredible experience for all who come. They even offer a one-of-a-kind, meet-and-greet experience with the cast from the movies.
This year, the following actors are set to appear on select days: Kimberly J. Brown (Marnie), Emily Roeske (Sophie), Joey Zimmerman (Dylan), and Phillip Van Dyke (Luke).
The quaint town of St. Helens is located just 30 miles north of central Portland and easily accessible by car, ride-share, or train. Remember, it’s the fall season, and in the Pacific Northwest, that tends to be sweater weather, so be sure to dress warm.
Whether you’re a fan of the movie or looking to have some spooky-season fun, a trip to St Helen’s for Spirit of Halloweentown is a must-do activity when visiting Portland in fall.
Pumpkin Patch at Lee Farms
By Karen Chow from Moving Memos
A really fun thing to do in Portland in fall is to go to the pumpkin patch at Lee Farms in Tualatin. Tualatin is a suburb of Portland and around a 20-minute drive from downtown Portland. Lee Farms is on a stretch of farmland between Tualatin and Wilsonville and is my favorite pumpkin patch.
There are so many things to do here, like going on a hay ride and going through a corn maze. Over the years, they’ve built more attractions, so now they have a giant jump pad, which is really fun, and barrel wagon rides.
To eat, they have delicious pumpkin donuts and apple cider, and, of course, lots of pumpkins! They have a really cute market where you can buy gifts, fruits and vegetables, and donuts. It really is fun if you have younger kids or if you’re an adult like me who loves trampolines.
General admission is $15, and an activities wristband costs $29.95, which includes unlimited runs on the super mega slide, hay maze, slides, jump pad, and barrel wagon rides. You can buy tickets in advance online, with an entry time, which might be a good idea as you get later into fall. Lee Farms is open for their Fall Festival from Tuesday – Sunday, September 23 – October 29.
Washington Park
By Jen of Thrifty Northwest Mom
One of the best places to experience the beauty of Portland in fall is Washington Park. This 410-acre park is just 2 miles west of downtown Portland and filled with a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors during the fall season.
Washington Park is home to the Oregon Zoo, World Forestry Center, Portland Japanese Garden, International Rose Test Garden & Hoyt Arboretum. You’ll see fall colors anywhere you go within the park, but the prime spot to see those changing leaves is the Hoyt Arboretum. With more than 12 miles of trails, it’s a nice way to enjoy the outdoors without traveling out of the city + it’s budget-friendly with no admission fees.
The Portland Japanese Garden is a very popular spot during autumn, especially with its stunning Japanese maples. But if you want to enjoy gardens without the price tag or the crowds, try the International Rose Test Garden, which is free to visit. You’ll catch some late-season roses (even into early November) & peaceful moments to enjoy the fall leaves with views of downtown Portland & Mt Hood in the distance.
Make sure to hit up the Rose Garden playground nearby, too, for kids to burn off some energy while parents enjoy the fall colors surrounding the playground.
Parking is very limited within the park, so the best option is to ride the MAX light rail up to the main Washington Park parking lot. From there, you can hop on a free Washington Park shuttle to access locations around the park, including Hoyt Arboretum & the Rose Garden.
Hood River
By Jess of Uprooted Traveler
Located just 40 minutes east of Portland, the adorable city of Hood River, tucked at the foot of Mount Hood along the Columbia Riva, is the perfect place to soak up autumn vibes.
There are tons of things to do in Hood River to celebrate fall. For example, the town is home to the adorably-named Fruit Loop, a 35-mile scenic drive past fruit stands, breweries, and cideries. Stop at one of the U-pick farms, like Packer Orchards, to choose your very own pumpkins, pears, or apples—and possibly pick up some tasty apple cider donuts.
The city also hosts an annual Harvest Festival in the middle of October, complete with arts and crafts, cozy food, ranging from homemade pies and pumpkin beer, and live music.
To get to Hood River, you’ll drive along the Historic Columbia River Highway Scenic Byway, one of the most stunning drives in the country. While the Pacific Northwest is known for its pine trees, you’ll still enjoy stunning foliage along the drive, thanks to deciduous trees, like cottonwood or big-leaf maple, that dot the landscape.
While you’re in Hood River, be sure to stop at Panorama Point, an overlook with sweeping views of Mount Hood, the surrounding valley, and its dazzling fall foliage. It makes for such a fun place to visit in Portland in fall.
Fall Ice Cream at Salt & Straw
By Ashley of Adventuring with Ashley
Ice cream at Salt & Straw is a must-do on your things to do in Portland in fall. This Portland original is known for its handmade Portland-sourced ice cream that is unlike any ice cream you have ever tasted. With three conveniently located shops in Portland, Salt & Straw is the perfect way to cool down on a warm fall day or grab a cone and take a walk exploring the neighborhood.
Salt & Straw sells 13 “classic flavors” daily, including a few vegan options year-round, including Sea Salt with/ caramel ribbons (my favorite.) But you’ll find “The Scoops and Skulls series” in the fall. This series includes classic fall flavors: Jack O’ Lantern ( chunks of pumpkin bread swirled with yummy cream cheese frosting) and The Great Candycopia (salted butterscotch ice cream with bits and pieces of classic chocolate candy).
Feeling adventurous, try Don Bugito’s Creepy Crawly Critters (creamy green matcha tea ice cream with Don Bugito chocolate crickets and toffee-brittle mealworms.) Or, in honor of Dia de los Muertos, try the Blackberry Tamales (a vegan option of masa coconut cream sherbet and marionberry sherbet) or the Chocolate Champurrado w/ Sesame Toffee ( spiced champurrado with bits of Mexican style sesame toffee.)
With so many unique flavors, including a few “weird” ones, after all, it is Portland, it may be hard to pick a flavor. Don’t worry. Salt & Straw has an ice cream flight on the menu, the perfect way to taste four flavors.
Visit the Willamette Valley
Portland in fall is the perfect time to visit the Willamette Valley. If you visit in early fall, you may catch the tail end of harvest season. To get here, you will need a car, hire a driver, or take a tour that leaves from Portland. Check out this tour or this tour to enjoy a preset itinerary with a guide and driver. The Willamette Valley is only 15-20 minutes south of Portland.
Visiting the Willamette Valley is fun for any wine lover. This 150-mile-long valley contains over 700 wineries and will make for a fun afternoon away from Portland. It has some amazing wines and makes really good Pinot Noir.
Make sure to visit Brick House Wines, as they have some of the best Pinot Noirs in the region. Other favorites include Adelshime Vineyards and Montinor Estate. The tasting start at $15ish and can range to $50. Plan on spending about $100/ day if you want to hit several vineyards. If you have more time, you can even venture down to Salem and check out the wineries in that area.
Other Things to Do in Portland in Fall
Portland in fall is such a fun time to visit the area. From outdoorsy things like hiking and pumpkin patches to delicious things to do, such as eat fall treats, there is nothing short of fun for everyone. Other fun things to do in Portland in fall include grabbing pumpkin pie from Portland pie, visiting an apple orchard like Oregon Heritage Farms, and exploring haunted houses.
