Before Portland became the trendy city where you can order the best coffee in America, it was traversed by a steam railway, which connected the city to the Willamette Valley. This was the first version of a rail line that would become an iconic passenger trolley service. Today, Portland's public transportation is made up of a network of trams, light rails, and streetcars, but only one route regularly lets you ride in an old-fashioned trolley car. The Willamette Shore Trolley runs about 5 miles between
Lake Oswego and Southwest Portland, passing some of the most beautiful scenes along the Willamette River, through a historic tunnel, and past charming waterfront homes.
Though the route between Lake Oswego and downtown Portland has existed since the 1880s, its trolley cars were added a century later, in 1987. Two of the original trolleys can be seen at the Oregon Electric Railway Museum, but the trolley that runs on the line today is a modern replica of a Portland Council Crest car. After undergoing maintenance, the trolley reopened for passengers in May 2025, having been converted to an all-electric engine. You can board it at either end of the route — from the north end at Bancroft Street, about a 30- to 40-minute drive from the Portland International Airport, or from the south end in Lake Oswego, the artsy lakeside town with European vibes. The Willamette Shore Trolley runs on the weekends from around Memorial Day to Labor Day, departing from both ends. You can buy round-trip or one-way tickets either online or at the stations. Note that the trolley is not accessible for those in wheelchairs.
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Scenic Points Along The Willamette Shore Trolley Line
Supposing you start your journey on the Willamette Shore Trolley at the Bancroft Street station on the north side of the Willamette Shore route, you'll climb aboard at the station just south of the Lowell Street streetcar stop and grab a seat — you choose a seat upon boarding, since they're not reserved. First, you'll ride through South Portland, going down Moody Avenue, passing riverside office buildings and upscale condominiums. The trolley continues along the woods of Willamette Park, where there's often boating activity. You might even see some swimmers going in for a dip along the Willamette River, since Portland has turned its city into a fun summer swimming hole with beaches and piers.
As the route continues from here, you'll see the busy life and buildings of downtown Portland give way to more natural, peaceful settings. It goes past Sellwood Bridge, with a gorgeous view across the bridge's arches undulating over the river, into the Powers Marine Park. You might notice some interesting wood installations around the park. These are in fact specially designed shelters for endangered salmon and trout. The trolley glides over a couple of high trestles, offering great lookouts over the river and surrounding woodlands. It then plunges into the Elk Rock Tunnel, which was built in 1921 as a more convenient replacement to maneuvering around Elk Rock. You'll cross one more bridge, then ride adjacent to the Willamette Pacific rail before reaching the Lake Oswego terminal.
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