How To Hike To Witch’s Castle (Stone House) in Portland
When we were planning our trip to Portland, we found many attractions we wanted to check out. Witches Castle, however, was…
When we were planning our trip to Portland, we found many attractions we wanted to check out. Witch’s Castle, however, was near the top of the list.
Officially called, “Stone House” (per trail signage), it was given the name, “Witch’s Castle”, by a group of local teenagers many years ago and it just stuck.
You can find it in Macleay Park, which in of itself is located in the much larger, Forest Park. All of this is just a mere few miles from downtown Portland.
In this guide, we’ll cover how to get to the trailhead, trail details, the history of Witch’s Castle, and so much more!
Getting To Witch’s Castle
You can find the castle by hiking the Wildwood Trail. It can be accessed by both Upper and Lower Macleay Park.
*During our visit, the lower park and trail were closed due to construction projects and trail improvements. So the upper trail was our only option.
Lower Macleay Park
Lower Macleay Park is located at the corner of NW 30th and Upshur, just outside of a residential neighborhood.
Its parking lot is fairly large, but I can see it filling up rather quickly in the busy summer months. So plan accordingly.
To reach Witch’s Castle from here, take the smooth, flat trail for 3/4’s of a mile. From what we were told, it is relatively flat and smooth.
Upper Macleay Park
You can find the upper parking lot just passed the Portland Audubon Society. You’ll see a sign (pictured above) indicating you’re in the right spot.
The parking lot can hold a decent amount of vehicles but like the lower lot, it will probably fill quickly during summer time.
There’s a single, portable bathroom and off in the grassy area you’ll find a couple picnic tables. The trail starts where the parking lot ends.
Transportation To The Park
Public Buses: Buses run from the downtown area and throughout Forest Park with multiple stops. For detailed information on, follow this link.
Vehicle: If you have your own vehicle, simply punch “Upper Macleay Park” (or Lower) into your GPS of choice and follow the directions.
Uber/Lyft: Cell reception is good here, so utilizing ride-sharing options is an option (it’s what we did). Just be sure to specify Macleay Park as your drop-off location and not, “Witch’s Castle”.
The Wildwood Trail (Upper)
From the parking lot to Witch’s Castle it’s a half-mile, downhill hike, up until you reach the bridge. After the bridge, it’s easy going with only a few ups and downs.
From the parking lot, you’ll head left on the trail. You’ll almost immediately begin your downhill descent through beautiful moss covered trees and rocks.
As you descend, you’ll begin to hear the sounds of rushing water. That’s because there’s a beautiful creek running parallel to the trail at the bottom.
In a short time, the bridge will come into view. This bridge gets you across the creek and provides an epic view of a beautiful cascade.
Be sure to spend some time here taking all the pictures you can. To us, it was just as much as a highlight as the castle was.
From here, you’re about halfway to Witch’s Castle. The trail will mostly flatten out with only a few ups and downs from here.
Until you reach the castle, you’ll be treated to non-stop gorgeous views of multiple cascades running through moss covered rocks. It’s like stepping into a fairy tale.
You’ll have plenty of areas where you can step off to the side to get that perfect shot. Just be mindful to not walk through the creek itself.
Before you’ll know it, you’ll arrive at Witch’s Castle at around the quarter-mile mark (from the bridge). It kinda sneaks up on you through the trees.
As you can see in the photo above, this is a popular place for taggers (graffiti). Every so often the city will clean it off but that’s happening less and less now.
When we were here (early March), we only had to share the space with a few others. If you come in the summer, though, prepare yourself for crowds.
You’re free to go up the stairs and go into the structure all you like. Just be aware that there will likely be others trying to get their own pictures as well.
Once you’re done exploring the castle, either head back the way you came or keep going onward. From here, it’s less than a mile to Pittock Mansion!
History of Witch’s Castle
By now, you’re probably dying to know how Witch’s Castle got its name and its backstory. It’s an age-old tale of romance, murder, and hauntings!
Let’s get to it…….
The Property
Danford Balch, who came to Oregon in 1850 with his family, claimed a large parcel of land in what is now Forest Park. He hired Mortimer Stump, a local man, to clean up the property and build a home.
When the home was finished, Mortimer moved in with the Balch family (this included Balch, his wife, and nine children). Eventually, Mortimer and Balch’s eldest daughter, Anna, would fall in love.
Their relationship would continue and eventually, Mortimer asked Balch for his blessing to marry Anna. I’ll give you one guess as to what his answer was…
An emphatic, “NO!”.
Balch felt that Mortimer wasn’t worthy of Anna and to drive his point home, he threatened to kill Mortimer if they ever eloped. Did that stop them?
This wouldn’t be much of a story if it did, right?
Long story short, they eloped in Vancouver in 1858 and came back shortly after to collect their belongings. Balch was waiting and would make good on his threat.
He shot Mortimer dead. On sight.
Balch tried to make excuses for this but in the end, the Police didn’t buy it. He was sentenced to death and was hanged for his crime (which was the first legal hanging in Oregon).
Balch’s wife (who is often referred to as the “Witch”) stayed in the home and lived there until her death. Local lore says the spirits of Mortimer and Balch continue to haunt the property to this day.
The Stone House
When it comes to the actual structure we have today, well, it was never a home. The home that the Balch family lived in was demolished years ago.
The stone structure, what we refer to as, ‘Witch’s Castle’, was built in 1930 and maintained by Portland Parks & Recreation. Originally, it was supposed to be a restroom and ranger station.
However, in 1962, a big storm came through and heavily damaged the structure. So much so, it was deemed useless and left abandoned.
In the 1980’s, a group of local high school students re-discovered it and dubbed it, ‘The Witch’s Castle”. The rest, as they say, is history.
Things To Know Before Going
Park hours are between 5:00am and 10:00pm.
Dogs are permitted on the trail but you must pick up after them.
Much like other popular areas, vehicle break-ins are common here. We saw multiple piles of glass on the ground in the parking lot.
This trail is UBER popular. It was quiet when we were here, but it isn’t uncommon to see 150+ other hikers (or more) on this trail.
*Side Note…
We’re often asked about the equipment we use to capture the photographs on our site. Below, you’ll find links to that equipment (and more) on Amazon. If you decide to purchase, Amazon pays us a small commission. This helps us keep the site running and doesn’t cost you anything extra.
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21 Weird, Unique, and Fun Things To Do In Portland Oregon
Portland, Oregon’s largest city, has long had a reputation for being, shall we say…weird. That’s no insult, either. Portlandiers wear…
3 minute read | contains affiliate links
Portland, Oregon’s largest city, has long had a reputation for being, shall we say…weird. That’s no insult, either. Portlandiers wear that badge with pride.
That weirdness the city is known for brings in tourists by the millions, annually. Recently, those millions included the two of us.
We visited a number of tourist attractions and local favorites during our visit in order to bring to you, dear reader, our list of twenty-one weird, unique, and fun things to do in Portland.
Some of these include links to their own, detailed posts we typed up. So if you’d like further information on that particular one, give that link a tap (psst, doing so also helps support this site. Thanks in advance).
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Visit our online store today and start your journey of style and adventure. Happy exploring!
A Quick Note About Portland…
It’s no secret. Portland has been in the news a lot recently and you’ve no doubt noticed.
Between the protests, homelessness, and crime, its been never ending.
For prospective, we stayed, ate, and walked around downtown Portland. Not once did we feel threatened and no one ever bothered us.
That said, there are homeless camps everywhere and crimes such as theft and vehicle break-ins are common.
Much like any city you visit, be aware of your surroundings and keep your valuables close by. You shouldn’t have a problem.
That being said, let’s get on with the list!
1) Voodoo Doughnuts
Much like you can’t visit Seattle without hearing about Amazon or Starbucks, chances are good that if you’re coming to Portland, someone will mention Voodoo Doughnuts.
They’re not the best doughnuts in the city (in our humble opinions), but they’re delicious and certainly the best at making creative, unique doughy treats.
A few of our favorites include the Bacon Maple Bar, Dirt, The Homer, Vicious Hibiscus, Maple Blazer Blunt, and the Voodoo Doll (their signature donut).
They have a couple locations but for the true experience, head to the Old Town store. This is the original location.
Get there early to avoid the line (it gets long). We arrived around nine and were able to walk right in but during the tourist season, that rarely happens.
They also accept online orders and offer delivery through DoorDash and Uber Eats if you don’t want to make the trip to the store.
2) Funhouse Lounge
Catching a comedy show at the Funhouse Lounge is one of those quintessential Portland experiences you must do.
They offer a variety of shows such as comedy musical parodies, stand-up comedy, improv, amateur nights, burlesque, and more.
They also have a clown room you can check out while you’re there. Unfortunately for us, it was being used as a storage room at that time, so we couldn’t see it.
The show we came for, however, was hilarious! It was a musical parody of the classic film, Pulp Fiction. The actors and actresses were superb.
To see their current schedule and purchase tickets, check out their website.
3) Mill Ends Park
This one definitely falls under the “weird” category of this article. Mill Ends Park is a tiny (and we mean, TINY) urban park in the middle of the street near an intersection.
With a total area of just 452 square inches in a two-foot circle, Mill Ends Park is likely the smallest park you’ll see anywhere in the world.
There’s only room to safely fit two to four people, max. So if there’s a group already there, hang out on the sidewalk until they’re done.
It is located near the intersection of SW Taylor and S Naito PKWY and can be easily accessed from the Tom McCall Waterfront Park (near the fountain).
4) The Freakybuttrue Peculiarium and Museum
Unfortunately, we ran out of time and couldn’t visit this awesomely weird place, but you definitely should!
This museum is packed with creepy exhibits, merchandise, and artwork. Per their website, it isn’t recommended for small children.
For further information, you can check out their website here.
5) Witch’s Castle
Witch’s Castle was one of the highlights for us. Not just because we got to explore the ruins of this local favorite, but because the hike on the way was stunning!
Located in the boundaries of Forest Park, the hike to Witch’s Castle (or Stone House) begins at either the Upper or Lower Macleay Park along the Wildwood Trail.
It’s a short, half-mile hike from the upper trail or a near equally short 3/4 mile hike from the lower trail to Witch’s Castle.
The lower portion of the trail was closed during our visit, so I can’t speak on what it’s like. The upper portion, however, is stunning.
If you’re in Portland and you’re even remotely into hiking, you need to check this one out. For more detailed information, read our guide here.
6) Pioneer Courthouse Square
Long known as, “Portland’s Living Room”, Pioneer Courthouse Square is a 40,000 square-foot public space in the center of Downtown Portland.
When there’s not a pandemic going on, the city holds many local events and concerts here. It also features a few local food trucks and a Starbucks.
Even when there isn’t an event going on, it’s still worth checking out. There’s plenty of artistic exhibits to see and during the holidays, the city Christmas Tree is on full display.
7) Wishing Tree
Since 2013, tourists and locals alike have been writing their wishes on little white tabs and hanging them from this special tree.
It’s located on the corner of NE Morris street and 7th avenue on private property. The owner of the property keeps blank tabs on the tree. Simply pick one and write down your wish.
8) McMenamins Kennedy School
Kennedy School was originally built in 1915 and served as a public elementary school until 1975. It closed and remained vacant for years.
The McMenamins brothers, who were the founder’s of Oregon’s first post-prohibition brewpub, purchased the property and began restoring it in 1997, saving it from demolishment.
A lot of effort was made to preserve the building and its contents, such as; using school book pages as wallpaper, framing yearbook photos, and painting murals of former students.
These days, what was old is now new again as Kennedy School retains much of its original charm. In the former classrooms, you can now find bars, restaurants, lodging, shops, and more!
To get information on room rates and more, check out their website here.
9) Pittock Mansion
Pronounced, Pit-tick, this beautiful home was where Henry and Georgina Pittock lived in the early 1900’s. Henry Pittock was the owner of the newspaper, The Oregonian, and is often credited as the man who built Portland.
Georgina found her way to Portland along the Oregon Trail and would go on to find success in founding numerous charities and organizations such as Ladies Relief Society and Women’s Union.
The family would occupy the mansion until 1958, when the Grandsons of Henry and Georgina would put it up for sale. It sat empty for years and was heavily damaged by storms.
After holding fundraisers, the city would eventually acquire the property and restore it. Today, self-guided tours are offered to the public.
To purchase tickets or for more information, go here.
10) Portland Japanese Garden
Once dubbed by former Ambassador of Japan, Nobuo Matsunaga, as, “the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden in the world outside of Japan”, the Portland Japanese Garden is a can't-miss destination.
Unfortunately, we were rained out on this day and couldn’t go (expensive cameras and water don’t mix). To see pictures of this beautiful place, head over to their website here.
11) Eat Gourmet S’mores at ‘1927 S’mores Company’
Remember sitting around the campfire and enjoying that sweet, chocolaty classic, S’more? Well, you can now enjoy one in a downtown setting as well.
Located on SW Alder street in Downtown Portland, 1927 S’Mores Company serves up amazing gourmet s’mores and hot chocolate.
In our travels, this is the first time we’ve encountered a place solely dedicated to s’mores, so we felt it deserved a spot on this list.
Be sure to get there early, as the interior isn’t spacious at all. You can view their Yelp profile here.
12) Powell’s Books
Powell’s Books is the largest independent bookstore in the world. It has served Portland since 1971 and is beloved by locals and tourists alike.
The store has multiple entrances, several levels (with elevators), and has over one million books for sale. You can find just about any book you could think of here.
The original, flagship location can be found on W Burnside street in the downtown area. If you’d like to browse their inventory online, you can do so here.
13) The ‘Keep Portland Weird’ Mural
Remember at the beginning of this article when I stated, “Portlandiers consider their weirdness as a badge of honor”? Here’s the proof.
It’s one of the many murals found throughout the city, but it’s special because it represents the city’s quirky nature and the individualism of its citizens.
It’s painted on the back of Dante’s Nightclub in Old Town, right across the street from VooDoo Doughnuts (making it an easy two-for-one trip).
The exact address is 350 West Burnside street.
14) The Redwoods at Hoyt Arboretum
This is another one we got rained out on and wish we had more time to explore. This short loop trail starts near Hoyt Arboretum and goes through a beautiful forest of redwood trees.
You can find it in Washington Park, not too far from the Japanese Garden and Portland Zoo.
15) Cartlandia
Since Kisha is a natural-born foodie, us coming here was a no-brainer. With over 30 food trucks to choose from, Cartlandia is every foodie’s dream come true.
It is located on SW 82nd avenue and is open daily from 7am to 9pm. Covered seating is plentiful and on-site parking, while limited, is available.
Here, you can find just about every category of food, including; BBQ, Mexican, Asian, Egyptian, breakfast, desert, and so much more.
For up-to-date information on which carts are currently on site, check out their website here.
16) White Stag Sign
This one is more for the Photographers out there (unless you happen to enjoy staring at signs in the middle of the night).
You could always photograph or see the sign during the day but at night, when it’s all lit up, is best, in our opinion.
The sign is viewable from the waterfront, but it is partially obstructed by trees. To get the best view, head up to the Burnside Bridge.
Either side results in a great photo but in my opinion, I liked the left side of the bridge (facing the sign) the best. This area can be a bit sketchy a night. So if you go, be cautious.
17) Tom McCall Waterfront Park
While you’re nearby checking out White Stag, be sure to spend some time exploring Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
It runs adjacent to the Williamette River and is around 36 acres in size. You’ll get amazing views of Portland’s many bridges and see many art installations along the way.
Cherry Blossom Trees dot the walking path and are a special treat for the eyes if you get here while they’re in full bloom.
18) Mount Tabor Park
Located just a short drive from the downtown area, Mount Tabor Park is a large forested park covering what was once an active volcano!
It has hiking trails, tennis courts, playgrounds, and amazing 360-degree views of the city and surrounding landscapes.
19) The Portlandia Statue
The Portlandia is a sculpture by Raymond Kaskey. It’s easy to find as it’s right along the sidewalk and above the entrance of the Portland Building on SW 5th avenue.
The sculpture was commissioned by the city in 1985, is 34-feet high, weighs 6.5 tons, and is based on the Portland city seal.
It is located just a few blocks away from Pioneer Courthouse Square, making it an easy jaunt once you’re done exploring that.
To get photos form an elevated position, head over to the building across the street and go up the escalator.
As it’s private property, I asked a Security Guard if it was ok and he let me go in. So keep that in mind if you decide to do the same.
20) Discover Art Murals
Portland, including and especially the downtown area, is littered with amazing art murals on the sides and rear of buildings and walls.
21) Chase ALL The Waterfalls
While you won’t find any in the city itself (aside from the few cascades in Forest Park), you’ll find a whole bunch of them just outside of it.
Just around 30-minutes or so up the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Byway is where you’ll find the majority of them.
A few of the most popular ones include Multnomah Falls (the tallest waterfall in Oregon), Bridal Veil Falls, Elowah Falls, Latourell Falls, Wahkeena Falls, and so much more!
List Recap:
VooDoo Doughnuts
Funhouse Lounge
Mill Ends Park
The Freakybuttrue Peculiarium and Museum
Witches Castle
Pioneer Courthouse Square
The Wishing Tree
McMenamins Kennedy School
Pittock Mansion
Portland Japanese Garden
1927 S’mores Company
Powell’s Books
The ‘Keep Portland Weird’ Mural
The Redwoods at Hoyt Arboretum
Cartlandia
White Stag Sign
Tom McCall Waterfront Park
Mount Tabor Park
Portlandia Statue
Art Murals
Chase Waterfalls
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You can further support us by staying on and reading one or more of the related articles above.
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Idaho’s Mammoth Cave: The Perfect Family Friendly Destination
Southern Idaho is so packed full of amazing natural wonders you could easily spend the entire month exploring it all. One of them can be conveniently found just 8-miles north of the historic town…
Southern Idaho is so packed full of amazing natural wonders you could easily spend the entire month exploring it all. One of them can be conveniently found just 8-miles north of the historic town of Shoshone.
We’re referring to, “Idaho’s Mammoth Cave”, a volcanic cave formed by a massive eruption millions of years ago. It was discovered in 1902 by settling sheepherders and is currently the largest volcanic cave in the world open to the public.
That’s not all this place offers, though. Also on site is what they dub, “Shoshone Bird Museum of Natural History”. It’s a massive collection of exotic animals, rare rocks, dinosaur fossils, and more!
Let’s get into it and fill you in on how you can visit this amazing place for yourself.
Mammoth Cave
Idaho‘s Mammoth Cave entrance sign. Shoshone, Idaho.
How To Get There
Address: 251 West Thorn Creek Street. Shoshone, ID 83352
If you’re coming from Shoshone or Twin Falls, Mammoth Cave will be on your left. You can’t miss it as you’ll see big blue wooden signs spelling out, “CAVE” (pictured above) just off the highway.
Idaho’s Mammoth Cave entrance. Shoshone, Idaho.
From here, continue another couple miles or so on a fairly well-maintained gravel/dirt road until you arrive at the pedestrian entrance and parking lot.
Find a spot to park along the fence line and walk through the entrance. You’ll see animal pens off to your left and a residential home up ahead. Continue walking until the path turns right to the Bird Museum. This is where you’ll pay the admission fee.
Admission Fees
Idaho’s Mammoth Cave. Shoshone, Idaho.
$12.00 per adult
$6.00 per child ages 6 - 12 years
Free for children 5 years and under
Your admission fee includes access to both the cave and museum. You can choose to skip the museum and only do the cave but it will not get you a discount. It’s also your choice on which order you’d like to do each attraction.
Bird Museum of Natural History
Idaho’s Mammoth Cave Bird Museum. Shoshone, Idaho.
After we paid, we choose to walk through the museum first. Initially, I wasn’t excited about it because I’m not into birds that much. However, after walking in, I quickly realized it was much, much more.
The museum is packed to the gills with all sorts of native and exotic animals, birds, dinosaur and fish fossils, art artifacts, Native American pieces, rare rocks, minerals, and much more.
Dinosaur fossil at Mammoth Cave Bird Museum. Shoshone, ID.
Bears at Mammoth Cave Bird Museum. Shoshone, Idaho.
It’s touted as being one of the largest private collections in the world and we don’t doubt it. You could easily spend a couple hours or more exploring all the displays and is worth the price of admission alone.
When you’re finished looking through the museum, simply head out the same way you came in and let the attendant know you’re ready to explore the cave.
Mammoth Cave
Entrance to Mammoth Cave. Shoshone, Idaho.
After notifying the attendant that you’re ready for the cave, they’ll give you a quick run down on what to expect and hand each person a lantern. If you have your own flashlight, you can use that instead.
(We should warn you that there is NO natural or artificial light once you get past the cave’s entrance. The lantern was the only source of light. We turned ours off and couldn’t see our hands in front of our faces).
Mammoth Cave entrance. Shoshone, Idaho.
After getting your lantern, you’ll be directed down a dirt path that does a half circle around the building you were just in and towards the cave’s one and only entrance/exit.
Watch your head and keep an eye on the little ones. The entrance is a bit of a squeeze and you immediately begin a descent into the cave via a narrow path.
Inside Mammoth Cave. Shoshone, Idaho.
Inside Mammoth Cave. Shoshone, Idaho.
As you reach the bottom of the stairs and begin to make your way through the cave, you’ll begin to take notice of the unique color of the cave walls. This is due to a rare growth of mineral deposits that give the walls a look of pure silver.
You’ll also take notice of name markings on the walls. This was not due to vandalism (well, kind of). It was done by the early settlers who were the first to discover the cave back in 1902.
Silvery walls inside Mammoth Cave. Shoshone, Idaho.
Inside Mammoth Cave. Shoshone, Idaho.
Many different animals made use of the cave for shelter such as bears, buffalo, and horses. The bones of which have been discovered along the cave’s dirt floor.
The walk from the entrance to the end of the cave is only 1/4 of a mile. At the end of the designated path, you’ll see a sign describing the scene ahead of you. The ceiling of the remainder of the cave is about 50 feet high and surrounded by thick layer of lava rock.
End of the trail. Mammoth Cave. Shoshone, Idaho.
From here, you’ll simply turn around and go back in the direction from which you came. In and out, you’re looking at a half mile’s worth of walking along an easy dirt path.
Adults and children of all ages would be able to complete the trail. You’ll need to watch your footing, but the occasional rock is your only real hazard.
Unfortunately, the sheer nature of the cave floor and its entrance would make it difficult for those with certain handicaps and impossible for those in need of a wheelchair. The museum, however, can be enjoyed by all!
Conclusion
We hope this article about Idaho’s Mammoth Cave has inspired you to visit this wonderful place for yourself. If so, please consider supporting our website by sharing it with your friends and family on social media. You can further show support by staying on and reading one or more of the articles above.
Safe travels and thanks for reading!