1. Grant Park / Mt. Tabor Loop

This is a honey of an east tour, linking together some older residential areas, three parks, a golf course and spectacular views of the city plus the only extinct volcano (Mt. Tabor) located within a city in North America.

The run begins at Grant Park, long a mecca for runners on the east side of the city. Grant Park is located on NE 33rd Ave. just a few blocks north of Broadway. If you’re coming from the west side, take I-80 and use the 33rd Ave. exit. Turn right on 33rd, cross Broadway and look for the park on your right.

Start the run by circling the high school along the grass. Pass the front of the school and continue north on 36th Avenue. About half-way up the hill a jog to the left, then to the right will put you on Alameda. Follow the map through the golf course, and across the freeway heading south.

As you approach Thorburn Street you will begin a climb that will climax at the top of Mt. Tabor – an elevation gain of about 400 feet in little over a mile. If you head in the general direction of the top of the mountain, you will eventually reach the park entrance at 60th and Yamhill. Run into the park and turn right toward the volcanic crater. Turn left at the crater and follow the roads to the top of the hill and the spectacular view of the city.

Begin the trip back by retracing your steps downhill to the crater. Turn left and wind down the hill on your trip to Laurelhurst Park. Use the alley shown on the map. It will stop at 39th, across from the park. Run through the park, stopping for water, and emerge at the northwest corner of the park on S.E. Ankeny.

Run west on Ankeny until you reach S.E. 28th. Turn right and run north crossing Glisan, Burnside, Sandy Blvd., the freeway, and N.E. Broadway.

A few blocks north of Broadway make the right turn on N.E. U.S. Grant Place for the final stretch back to Grant Park.