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Nansen Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 225 Google reviews · Running trail in Lake Oswego, Oregon · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Nansen Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Lit at nightScenicHillyTrailhead parkingQuiet

Small hilltop park for peaceful strolls, hikes and picnics.

What runners say about Nansen Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (225 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 8 mentions

“Small park but beautiful view over south Portland area & surrounding hillsides.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 4 mentions

“A very beautiful peaceful hilltop park in a cozy corner.”

Nice little climb. If you take the trail from the bottom it's a big little climb. 360 view is a little blocked by enormous houses but not a lot of people. Good for a picnic or cartwheels.

★★★★☆ — L , Dec 2022

Nice little walk up from PCC Sylvania to the top, good views if it's clear.

★★★★☆ — Mike , Mar 2017

The summit of mountain park hosts a patch of grass and a few benches. You get almost a 360⁰ view of the greater Portland area. There's no going any higher up than this. Similar to the North Pole in that once you're there, you can't go any more north. See what I'm saying?! There's a STEEEEP hill to climb to get there.

★★★★★ — Sean , Jun 2024

Small park but beautiful view over south Portland area & surrounding hillsides. Great Park to walk up to including all the designated trails through the neighborhood to get there. Grabbed a shot of the moon tonight from the park. Unfortunately, the park lights are very bright at night though.

★★★★★ — Jim , Aug 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 225 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 26 mentions

“Nice hike for the community with lovely views at sunset, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say it’d be better with sidewalks on the streets leading up to the park.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 9 mentions

“Love the climb when biking up to this beautiful view.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 4 mentions

“A very beautiful peaceful hilltop park in a cozy corner.”

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💡 Lit for night running 3 mentions

“Unfortunately, the park lights are very bright at night though.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 3 mentions

“Easy parking in a roundabout”

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Plan your run at Nansen Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • Websitemtparkhoa.com

Hours

Monday 6 am–10 pm
Tuesday 6 am–10 pm
Wednesday 6 am–10 pm
Thursday 6 am–10 pm
Friday 6 am–10 pm
Saturday 6 am–10 pm
Sunday 6 am–10 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Nansen Park

69 Nansen Summit, Lake Oswego, OR 97035

Get directions

Running trails near Lake Oswego

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Mountain Park trail path

5 ★★★★★ 2 reviews

Lake Oswego, OR

under a mile away

Woods Memorial Natural Area

4.6 ★★★★★ 238 reviews

Portland, OR

LoopPavedShadedScenic

Native trees & greenery cover this heavily wooded park that features paved paths & hiking trails.

1.5 miles away

Springbrook Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 59 reviews

Lake Oswego, OR

Dog-friendly

52-acre natural space providing dirt & wood-chip hiking trails & wildlife viewing opportunities.

1.5 miles away

Iron Mountain Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 164 reviews

Lake Oswego, OR

Crushed gravelScenicDog-friendly

Forest reserve with hiking paths plus a playground and a pond for wildlife.

2.0 miles away

Red Fox Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 82 reviews

Lake Oswego, OR

40 miLoopMixedScenic

Popular park with hiking trails ranging from easy to difficult through a well-preserved forested area.

2.1 miles away

Tryon Creek State Natural Area

4.8 ★★★★★ 2,694 reviews

Portland, OR

40 miLoopMixedScenic

658-acre forested area along a ravine with well-maintained trails for hikers, horses & leashed dogs.

2.2 miles away

All running trails in Lake Oswego, OR →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.