Council Crest Inclement Weather Update
Last updated Thursday, January 26, 2024: Due to severe winter weather, there may be safety hazards at this park. PP&R Urban Forestry and Land Stewardship teams are working to address safety and access issues as promptly as they can.
Trailheads and trails are still icy, and there may be downed trees, creating hazardous conditions for trail users. PP&R recommends to stay off trails and to use caution if visiting the park. Please be aware that it will take PP&R staff time to clear trails.
For reporting trail hazards or failures - contact parktrails@portlandoregon.gov. For additional information and updates, visit the trail closures and delays webpage.
If you do visit Council in the next few days, please be aware of your surroundings, and check for any downed power lines, hanging branches, or other potentially hazards. To report any tree-related emergencies on City property, including streets and roads, call (503) 823-TREE (8733).
For regular updates and more information on inclement weather, visit the PP&R inclement weather page.
If you or someone you know needs shelter due to inclement weather please call 2-1-1, or visit the Multnomah County Care for When It’s Cold website.
Motor vehicles may access the park beginning at 8am daily but are not allowed at night.
- April 1 through October 31, the park is closed to motor vehicles at 9pm.
- November 1 through March 31, the park is closed to motor vehicles at 7pm.
The gate may remain closed during inclement weather.
To reserve a wedding site, please call 503-823-2525.
At 1,073 feet above sea level, Council Crest is one of the highest points in Portland. Originally known as Talbot's Mountain after its pioneer settlers, it has also been known as Glass Hill and later as Fairmount, the name of the road that encircles it. As far as how it got its current name, there are two widespread theories. The first is that Council Crest got its name because it was here where Native Americans held meetings and built signal fires. The second stems from McArthur's Oregon Geographic Names. where the author suggests it was named in 1898 by delegates to the National Council of Congregational Churches, who met at the summit.
The water tower that now stands atop Council Crest used to be a 77-foot-tall wooden observatory, part of the Council Crest Amusement Park which operated from 1907-1929 and was torn down in 1941. From the top of the hill, one can see five mountains in the Cascade Range: Mount Hood, Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams, Mount Jefferson, and Mount Rainier. In addition, the park boasts a fantastic 180-degree view of Portland and surrounding towns.
In July 1956, a welded, sheet bronze drinking fountain featuring a mother and child was installed in the park. Sculpted by Frederick Littman, an associate professor of art at Portland State College, it has been mistakenly identified as a pioneer woman. The sculptor said the statue did not represent a particular era; it was simply a mother and child playing in the park and depicts joy. The fountain was made possible by a $6,000 bequest to the city in 1949 from the estate of Florence Laberee, widow of local builder and contractor George P. Laberee.
In the 1980s, the statue was stolen in the middle of the night by vandals who used hacksaws to dismantle it from its base, sawing through the mother's ankles. Nearly 10 years later, during a narcotics raid on a home in northeast Portland, officers found the statue under a cover in the backyard. The statue was returned to the park and placed in the center near the entrance, as opposed to its original location on the eastern side of the park.