Mt. Tabor

The origin of stairclimbers. Up or down the workout is real ~ trails paved or unpaved, playground for little ones or sports courts, horseshoe pit, picnic tables everywhere and off leash area for pups. Street park at the bottom of limited lot at the top. Bathrooms at the summit as your reward. This volcanic cinder cone is an awesome bicycle hill climb and fun descent. One of Portland's best parks.

Not sure how I never reviewed these when I lived in Portland for 5 years, forever ago? These are a fantastic resource that I never took enough advantage of. I was in my late 20's and early 30's though... I could drink dozens of beers per week and, as long as I climbed a mountain on the weekend, maintain a healthy-ish body weight. Not so much anymore. If I live in PDX now, in my mid-40's, I'd probably be here every other day, listening to podcasts, and suffering up and down these stairs.

These stairs aren't messing around. I believe the official start of the stairs is on 69th Ave just south of Yamhill. Use the free street parking here. Then proceed up, up, up, up some more even when you think you're done, and then up one last 5-step staircase to add insult to injury. Eventually you'll get to the top of Mt Tabor for a great view of the city, a nice picnic spot, a paved loop around, before you go back down, down, down. Props to anyone who runs these stairs. Walking up is enough exercise for me!

Came here to see the inactive volcano. There was a nice little field of grass right next to the volcano and a basketball court with some nice big trees. Not a bad view at all for those playing basketball.

Love this place! Some many trails! So many places to just sit and take in the scenery. It's huge just make sure you pay attention. Or you'll end up like me running through the trees on the other side of where you parked. Haha good thing for GPS! I found my way back to my car for sure! I did enjoy the fresh air! This will be forever in my line up of outdoor workouts!

I'm writing this in the year of the flu, 2020, while isolated during social distancing. This is a great place to workout while the gym is closed, or when you just want to do something functional and outside. These stairs are wide, so you can keep a safe distance from your germy neighbors. There are a series of stairs, then a couple steps on flat concrete, more stairs, flat, and so on. The last bit at the top is a short dirt trail up to the summit. I just read a review that said it wasn't a very good workout. LOL! Let me help you. First of all, plan to do at least 5 circuits (for me a full workout is 10). Up, down = 1 circuit. Change up your climb. 1st circuit is warm up so take it easy, 2nd circuit can be 2 steps at once, 3rd circuit quick trot, 4th - turn your body a bit and take slightly sideways steps. Be creative. Want to make it a full body workout? I knew you would. There is a round concrete pad near the top. On each circuit, on your way down, drop and give me 10 pushups. Can't do a pushup? Get on line and look at floor pushups, where you start by being flat on the ground then push up from there and return to the ground. Gimme 10! On our knees? No problem, give me 10! If you can only do 1 full pushup right now, then do that, then do the rest on your knees or reverse style, but give me 10! In a couple weeks of this you'll be doing more full pushups and fewer modified and one day you'll congratulate your bad self because you did 10 you freaking beast! Note: the steps are also a good place to build your push ups. If your feet are lower than your hands, that relieves some of the burden. This week you can do 10 if you have your hands on the 2nd step, next week the first step, after that it's 10 traditional .... build that core, that chest and back! Looking good, feeling strong. So 10 circuits and 100 pushups still not giving you the burn? Ok, on one of those flat spaces between steps, face away from the step, reach back with one leg and put your toe on the first one, and give me 10 split squats. Keep your upper body straight, core engaged. Make sure you can see your toe on that front foot when you drop your knee into the squat, if not your form is a little off. Take a look at this on line if you've never done it before. It's a butt burner! I dont recommend more than 3 sets of this on each leg. But what about the other 7 circuits? So glad you asked! 1st circuit split squats, 2nd circuit front and back lunges, third circuit convict squats. Rotate that for 9 circuits. That leaves circuit #10 to just go up and down (with your final 10 pushups) feeling amazing and accomplished. Oh no, still not enough? I haz immense respect for your physicality, friend. Why not take a long lap around the park? There are some very challenging uphills on the south side. As for me, 10 up and downs, with 10 sets of pushups for a total of 100 ( f*ya! ), 30 split squats on each leg, 30 front and back lunges on each leg, and 60 convict squats, is a really solid workout. Works all my muscle groups and satisfies my heart. And best of all, its outside and cost nothing. Train every day friends. Stay healthy. Peace, strength, courage, love.

This is a good place to get a quick cardio workout especially during the pandemic when indoor gyms are still closed. I think there's 200+ steps, which I thought would be pretty challenging since I haven't worked out for a few months ((embarrassed to admit)). However, the steps are not very tall or steep, making it not much of challenge if you walk up at a normal pace. Obviously you can make it more difficult by running up the stairs like some of the crazy people I saw passing me on the way up. I was here on an overcast day with some rain showers and it was still pretty crowded so I can't imagine how busy it would be on a sunny day, but it seemed like everyone was wearing face masks so that was comforting! Also take some time to walk around the park besides just using the stairs. There's a lot of trails!

I decided to train for my trail run race on Mt Tabor and that training included these stairs. I started at a good pace until I found myself slowing down the further I attempted to climb. My quads were burning, my lungs were screaming, I was sweating profusely, and my mind kept telling me to stop but I kept climbing. I finally reached the top only to find I wasn't at the top. False. Peak. [insert expletive] you, Mt Tabor stairs. So many thoughts may cross your mind, like they did mine, whilst running up the nearly 300 steps. For instance: "I can do this!" and, "This isn't so bad." and, "Holy [insert expletive]!" and, "Whose bright [insert expletive] idea was it to put in stairs?" and, "Why the [insert expletive] am I still trying to run up them?" and, "[insert expletive]! I can't breathe!" and finally, "Ahh, thank [insert expletive] G!" These stairs are excellent at messing with your emotions but also helping you with any type of training or exercise you put yourself through. There's a love-hate relationship with them and when I'm asked, "Did you make it to the top top?", I can proudly reply, "[insert expletive] yeah, I did!"

Do you suffer from high self-esteem? Then why not try the Mt Tabor Stairs? They're guaranteed to make you feel like an out of shape turd in no time! It's no secret that I like to work out, and lately I've been on a roll. I've been running farther and more often, I've replaced the ice cream in my diet with protein shakes, and I've other people are actually asking ME for advice in the weight room. I'm feeling AWFULLY good about myself. "Buffalo Bill dancing in front of a mirror and asking himself pointed questions" good. Or at least I was. Then I tried to run the Mt Tabor stairs. I've been officially put in my place. You guys! These stairs are serious! Beginning at SE 69th and Taylor, there are 282 stairs that go up the side of a frickin' dormant volcano! When you think you've reached the top... SURPRISE SUCKER! Over the horizon you'll see more and more flights. And then some more. I absolutely cannot run these steps without my lungs being on fire about 3/4 of the way up. At the very top I can barely breathe and I might vomit. It's not a good look. But it IS a great workout. At the top is a nice section of the park with newly-remodeled bathrooms, park benches with gorgeous views of downtown Portland, and some lovely trees under which to lay down and contemplate the poor decisions in your life. Like running the Mt Tabor Stairs. There's also a loop at the very top which you can run, if you still somehow manage to have some energy. If so, you're in better shape than me.

We were looking for a little exercise climbing stairs. Based on the reviews we were expecting lots of stairs. We arrived and climbed a few flights of nice wide concrete steps. We crossed the road and saw another flight off to the left. We climbed that to the top and were like "thats it?" We honestly expected a lot more. Beautiful park! but its certainly not a stair climbing challenge

Superman has his General Zod. Batman has his Joker. I have the Mt. Tabor Stairs. Nemesis in all but name. Mt. Tabor Park is an idyllic place - tall trees, forested trails, meandering roads for biking and walking, and fabulous views of the city to the west and Hood to the east. These stairs, however... these fucking stairs. Every day they punish me. Me and the myriad of other folks prone to self-torture. Up and up and up they go, starting at the NE park entrance on 69th and heading up from there to the loop at the top-o-the-hill. Have I counted the steps? No. I've been too busy panting, burning, heaving, grunting, spitting, swearing and generally cursing my existence as I run, walk, trudge and drag ass up the steps, time and time again. I have left my fair share of sweat on these hallowed paths, there's no doubt. Some days I run the steps. Some even two-at-a-time. Other days it's a casual trot. And on many, it's simply a walk. Up and down, up and down, up and down. I do this so often that I recognize the regulars here. From the ripped out dudes wearing vest-weights to the little old ladies determinedly making their way up to the summit. I sometimes get the occasional high-five from some other person in the throes of this masochistic activity... misery loves company. Plenty of hellos, lots of knowing grimaces. No matter who's on the steps at any given time of day, we're all in this self-pity party together. And there's a loose sense of circumstantial camaraderie. Aside from it's use as a monumental, municipal device for burning calories, the Mt. Tabor stairs are the quickest, most direct way to walk up this hill. You can park along the street at the entrance and huff it up to the tippy-top in no time. Or if you don't want to feel the thigh burn, you can take any of the myriad of gently-sloping roads or trails that wind their way to the same ends. When you make it to the top, don't forget to head around the loop and say hi to Harvey. I'm through with you for today, stairs, but I'll see you again tomorrow... jerks.

I came here looking for a night shot of the city of Portland and this park is NOT the place for photographers to get some night shots. The park itself usually closes at 10pm but there was a ranger when I visited who was telling cars to park at the bottom of the park around 9:15pm, hence why I ended up using the stairs to reach the top. The good thing about the stairs is that you avoid the mud and it offers a quick and easy way to reach the top. Once at the top, walk around and find some benches near a cottage/house. There should be a semi clear view of the city lights, but tree branches have gotten in the way and the view is no longer a "prime place". Even though there was a ranger going around the mountain or checking up on the car parking lots, I personally did not feel very safe just because there is a lack of street lights on the stairs. I can see this park being a popular spot for the residents that live near it, otherwise for tourists, I would say there is nothing that special about this park.

So you want to work on your glutes? The stairs at Mt. Tabor are there to help with that! With over 200 steps that are nicely sized one way, you can ascend and descend to your heart's content.

They are stairs and there is a looot of them. Perfect for a workout, so put on your running shoes and start doing laps up and down the stairs. You'll be in shape in no time. Plus, it's free!

Stairs. Supposedly 282 of them. A good push to get up and down them, and a nice view from the top, especially of the new-ish Tilikum Crossing bridge . . . . The bottom of the stairs are near the north-east corner of the park, where 69th dead-ends into the park. You can park in the neighborhood or along the driveway that leads to the summit (though the driveway is closed to motorized traffic on Wednesdays).

feeling old and out of shape? your about to feel even older and more out of shape. but while your huffing and puffing enjoy the serene landscape and greenery. the trees. the moss. and the feeling of nature as you grunt and groan. expect more groaning as people in shape pass you by. know that if you did this everyday? you could be like them make sure you head to the top, walk that off, and lather rinse repeat. feel better? I DO

Great workout running up these stairs, there's another staircase that's pretty grueling on the other side near the reservoir.

Um, BEST STAIRS IN THE WORLD!!! They get you to the top, look beautiful and are awe inspiring. I tried to live on the stairs but they kick me out. Hot dog!

These stairs will kick your ass no matter what your fitness level is. Plus the view for Mt Tabor is always a welcomed sight.

These stairs are great for climbing up, or down! Stiars are pretty mind blowing, if you think about it.

for stairs, these are pretty nice. a great way to switch up your work-out. i'm no expert in stairs, but probably some of the better i've seen.