Fall Fun in Lake Oswego & Nearby
Updated: 7 hours ago
Here's a list of FUN things to do this fall. I'll keep adding to this as I learn about new things to do.
Make a Scarecrow
Play Tennis, Bocce, Corn Hole
Play tennis at George Rogers Park
Two recently repaved/repaired courts we can walk to at GRP!
Invite friends to play Bocce on the court at Foothills Park. Bring your own bocce balls.
Play Corn Hole with a view of the river at GRP. Bring your own bags.
Go for a Hike!
Cooks Butte Trail
Leaving from Stephen's Meadow. If you walk around the meadow and then join the paved path connecting to Cooks Butte Loop and walk back to the car through the neighborhood, it's a 2.5 mile walk/hike. The Cooks Butte only portion is a moderate hike mostly through the trees up to a meadow that covers 1.2 mi, with an elevation gain of 265 ft. https://www.ci.oswego.or.us/parksrec/cooks-butte-park
Tryon Creek State Natural Area is great for hiking in the shade
Trillium Trail → Cedar Trail loop (easy/moderate, not a big commitment). Tryon Creek has about 8 miles of trails through a forested ravine system. Shaded, so we don't go on sunny fall days. They now charge for parking at Tryon Creek.
Mary S. Young State Park in West Linn
Walk from Hazelia Field up the Hill to Oswego Hills Winery
Nice paved path that is a long the road. You'll need to run across Rosemont Road to reach Oswego Hills Winery. They are open to the public Saturdays and Sundays from 12 to 5pm. 450 Rosemont Rd, West Linn. Check their website to be sure they're open for guests as they often host weddings and events there. https://oswegohills.com/
Powell Butte Nature Park
16160 SE Powell Blvd, Portland
Paved paths and non paved paths. Beautiful views. Dog friendly.
Silver Falls in the fall isn't as crowded in the summer.
See the fall colors right in LO
On Kruse Way! Drive or walk down Kruse Way off Boones Ferry Road to see a stunning lineup of maples turning brilliant shades of orange, red, and yellow.
At George Rogers Park
The summer crowds are gone, go enjoy the park!
Get Out On Your Bike!
See the schedule at Swan Island Dahlias to know if it's closed so you won't be riding around with lots of cars. https://dahlias.com/
Banks Vernonia Trail - worth the drive!
We prefer mostly flat, scenic rides. Here are some near LO:
George Rogers Park to Old River Road
The Old River Road pathway is about 3.5 miles round trip and mostly level. You can ride out to Cedar Oaks Elementary School in West Linn and turn around.
Cook Park & Tualatin River Trail
Start at Cook Park in Tigard and follow the Tualatin River Greenway. Virtually flat, paved, river views, lots of shade, 2-10+ miles depending on the route.
Willamette Park in Portland
A lovely city park of about 26 acres in south Portland, located at Southwest Macadam Avenue and Nebraska Street along the Willamette River. You can ride all the way into Portland. 6500 S Macadam Ave, Portland, OR 97219. Need to pay for parking.
Tryon Creek State Natural Area
Now you need to pay to park there. Many paved trail options from about 1-4 miles.
Mostly shaded. It's paved but it's not flat. The 3-mile paved bicycle path parallels Terwilliger Boulevard on the east edge of the park, from Boones Ferry Road to State Street (Oregon Highway 43) in Lake Oswego. It is part of the Portland metropolitan area bikeway system 40-mile loop.
Visit Beautiful Gardens
Elk Rock Garden
Hidden gem! Used to be called Bishop's Close. This is a historic 13-acre hillside estate garden in Dunthorpe overlooking the Willamette River with views of Mt Hood.
No dogs. Not open on the weekends. Free.
Open 8am to 5pm Monday - Friday at 11800 S. Military Lane in Portland
Luscher Farm
Especially fun before Halloween when the flowers are still blooming and the community gardens have so many funny, clever scarecrows out. During the autumn scarecrow display you'll see dozens of handcrafted, whimsical scarecrows (traditionally numbering over 90) created and styled by volunteers and the Friends of Luscher Farms. Ongoing daily through the end of October, accessible during regular park and garden hours (dawn to dusk).
Here are our photos from August: https://www.oldtownlakeoswego.org/post/local-lo-agri-tourism-at-luscher-farms-in-august-2026
Lee Family Farms in Tualatin
Get a pie. Go through the corn maze.
21975 SW 65th Ave, Tualatin, OR
The Japanese Garden
Get a free digital pass from the Library!
Go drive the Fruit Loop
Get a pie, stop to taste wine with a view of Mt. Hood, pick apples...
Go Out to Eat!
Our favorite restaurants in the summer in LO that we can walk to:
KIN Izakaya and Sake bar
Great New Japanese Restaurant! No sushi. Lots of other wonderful food. I could eat there every night! Love the skewers, roasted eggplant, cucumber salad, and sashimi. And the friendly service.
Nicoletta's Table
Great food, service plus a lovely patio and live music many evenings https://www.oldtownlakeoswego.org/post/nicoletta-s-table-is-a-favorite-restaurant-in-lake-oswego
Lake Theater & Cafe
Lake Theater has great salads and pizza with a deck overlooking the lake. Locally owned. Once the summer crowds leave, they make more interesting food and pizzas. You can also eat inside and look out at the lake.
Willamette Valley Vineyards
Mann's on the Lake
Great for Sunday brunch!
Lovely outdoor deck on the lake and nice inside dining tables with lake views.
LO Coffee Shop & Wine Bar in Downtown LO - locally owned!
Ovation Coffee
Nectar Frozen Yogurt
Go to LORAC
Water Fitness at LORAC: Learn about our experiences going to the deep and shallow water fitness classes.
There are two classes offered M-F. Check the schedule as it changes.
Take a class, go to the gym that overlooks the golf course
Go golfing! Or practice at the putting green or driving range
Go See a Live Play or Musical at Lakewood Center
Location: The Lakewood Center for the Arts / 368 S. State St. Lake Oswego
Browse the Local Shops in LO
Lots of boutiques, bookstores, galleries, coffee shops, and places to be inside or outside depending on the weather
Go to the LO Farmers Market
Goes through October
Find Live Music
Often LO Coffee House & Wine Bar brings in live music. It's free. Always fun to see friends there and enjoy hearing live music.
Nicoletta's Restaurant often has live music for restaurant guests.
Willamette Garage in West Linn often hosts free outdoor music
And they have great "food carts"
Check out bands coming to Headliners Club
The Headliners Club at 17880 SW McEwan Rd
Fun dance bands you've heard at the LO Summer Outdoor Concerts often play here in the fall and winter months: Dancehall Days, Hit Machine...
Rolling Hills Church hosts paid Christian concerts
Check their calendar: https://rollinghills.org/calendar/
Our Rec Center LORAC hosts some live music events once a month
Live & Local at LORAC schedule: https://www.ci.oswego.or.us/LORAC/live-local-lorac
Host a potluck dinner or pie on the patio gathering with neighbors
In our Old Town neighborhood, we love to send texts to neighbors saying, "It's a good night to BBQ. Want to come over?" Or another favorite to get that Melba started was, "Pie on the Patio at 7pm."
One of the things I've realized as a neighborhood association chair is that it's pretty easy to live around a lot of people without actually meeting or getting to know many of them.
How about hosting a dinner for neighbors 1x/month. At a restaurant. Each person pays their own bill. Or at your home.
Go Find a Sunset!
The sunsets are beautiful from this bench at Luscher Farms
We drove out to Vista Point/Crown Point to watch a great sunset from there
Go to Troutdale first to Sugarpine for an early dinner and soft serve ice cream!
Check the website to make sure they're open: https://sugarpinedrivein.com/
Bring chairs to place out on the sidewalk at Crown Point Vista area to watch the sunset
Please share you favorite things to do in the fall here
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