Cathedral Park gets its name not from its proximity to a neighborhood church, but from the statuesque Gothic towers and cathedral-like arches of the St. Johns Bridge which it surrounds. Located in North Portland, Cathedral Park sits on the banks of the Willamette River, and while it is a visual treat to travel across the verdant steel suspension bridge, imagine looking toward the heavens and taking in the bridge from the vantage point of the picturesque park below. The rising spires of the bridge's 400-foot towers add to the dramatic setting.
The 23-acre Cathedral Park is believed to be one of 14 Lewis and Clark landing sites in the Vancouver-Portland area. Explorer William Clark and his traveling party camped here on April 2, 1806 on their famous westward expedition. In 1931, the St. Johns Bridge was built and, at that time, was the longest suspension bridge west of the Mississippi River.
Built almost 50 years later, Cathedral Park was not part of the St. Johns Bridge's original design. During the 1970s, local officials decided that the area beneath the bridge needed to match the bridge's beauty. The community spent almost a decade fundraising and combined with state, county, and city funding, the park came to fruition and was officially dedicated on May 3, 1980.
The park includes picnic tables, benches, paved paths, a stage area, restrooms, an off-leash dog area, and boat dock and ramp.
Attraction Information
- Hours:
- 5am to Midnight
- Contact:
- Location: N. Edison St. & Pittsburg Ave., Portland, OR
- Portland Parks & Recreation Phone: 503-823-7529
