Portland has seen some serious growth in the last decade, making many attractions super crowded. If you are one of those people that can’t stand to be stuck in a crowd, this makes a lot of situations in Portland unbearable. Escape downtown and other tourist spots for a bit of peace and solitude to enjoy a day away from the congestion at these locations.

  1. Forest Park

David Burn / Flickr While you may run into someone every now and then, there is plenty of room for everyone in this 5,000-acre park on the Northwest of town.

  1. Mt. Tabor

Bret Vogel / Flickr Sure, it can get a little crowded in certain areas on the weekend, but there are still plenty of trails looping around the park where you will see nary a soul.

  1. Powell Butte

Sarah McDevitt / Flickr Located in Southeast Portland, Powell Butte, like Mt Tabor and Rocky Butte, sits on an extinct cinder cone butte. Nine miles of trails around and up the butte allow you plenty of alone time in nature.

  1. Rocky Butte

brx0 / Flickr To avoid crowds, you are not going to want to head here on a special event such as a lunar eclipse, but most days and nights it is pretty empty here. Sunset is a popular time, but with plenty of room to spread out, it does not feel crowded atop the butte.

  1. City Parks

TMImages / Flickr Unless there is a festival or tournament going on, city parks are a great place to beat the crowds. Waterfront Park, Sellwood Park, Fernhill Park and Laurelhurst Park are some favorites.

  1. Hoyt Arboretum

Mary Anne Thygeson / Flickr Commune with the trees and nature at this amazing 189-acre homage to trees complete with 12 miles of trails.

  1. Weekday Excursions

Flickr / Braden OMSI, the zoo, the Japanese garden and the art museum can all be fun and crowd-free with one major caveat. You must visit during the week when everyone else is at work or school. If you can break away from your schedule, this is a perfect time to see these popular attractions without any of the crowds that are seen on the weekends.

Where do you go to escape the crowds in Portland?

David Burn / Flickr

While you may run into someone every now and then, there is plenty of room for everyone in this 5,000-acre park on the Northwest of town.

Bret Vogel / Flickr

Sure, it can get a little crowded in certain areas on the weekend, but there are still plenty of trails looping around the park where you will see nary a soul.

Sarah McDevitt / Flickr

Located in Southeast Portland, Powell Butte, like Mt Tabor and Rocky Butte, sits on an extinct cinder cone butte. Nine miles of trails around and up the butte allow you plenty of alone time in nature.

brx0 / Flickr

To avoid crowds, you are not going to want to head here on a special event such as a lunar eclipse, but most days and nights it is pretty empty here. Sunset is a popular time, but with plenty of room to spread out, it does not feel crowded atop the butte.

TMImages / Flickr

Unless there is a festival or tournament going on, city parks are a great place to beat the crowds. Waterfront Park, Sellwood Park, Fernhill Park and Laurelhurst Park are some favorites.

Mary Anne Thygeson / Flickr

Commune with the trees and nature at this amazing 189-acre homage to trees complete with 12 miles of trails.

Flickr / Braden

OMSI, the zoo, the Japanese garden and the art museum can all be fun and crowd-free with one major caveat. You must visit during the week when everyone else is at work or school. If you can break away from your schedule, this is a perfect time to see these popular attractions without any of the crowds that are seen on the weekends.

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