Guest Blog by Joleen at La Petite Maison Studio
Deep into the dark and dreary forest, just kidding, more like not too far into Forest Park located in Portland, Oregon is an old stone house more commonly known as The Witches Castle.
First, a little bit about Forest Park, it is the largest urban park in the United States and is located in the Northwestern edge of Portland. My recommendation is arriving by car since it will take less than 20 minutes from anywhere in Portland proper, by bus it will take you about an hour (including walking time) and will cost $2.50 one way. If you are up for the walk one of the recommended stops is at W. Burnside and NW Barnes and is about 2 miles or just about 3.2 kilometers from the free Upper Macleay parking lot.
From the parking lot I would say you are on easy street, but the trail is moderately difficult. It is narrow in most places, jagged rocks that threaten to trip you if you’re not careful and slightly steep trails.
This little babbling brook will pretty much lead the way to the castle.
In the summer these trails are lush with greenery and check out the moss on those rocks and fallen trees. So tranquil.
Here we are, this is the Witches Castle today:
The “castle,” built in 1930 was originally a rangers station with bathrooms available to hikers, it has no known connections to any witches. From further internet research the building was damaged in a storm in the 1960’s and was left abandoned and forgotten.
Sometime in the 1980’s local high schoolers rediscovered it and gave it the name “The Witches Castle.”
