The abandoned stone house in Portland’s Forest Park has become an iconic structure. Dubbed the Witch’s Castle here’s everything you need to know about visiting the Witch’s Castle in Portland, Oregon.
Table of contents
Hiking to the Witch’s Castle
The fastest way to get to the Witch’s Castle in Forest Park is to start by parking on NW Cornell Road. There is a small parking lot and a few spots on the side of the road which can easily get crowded on busy days.
Once you park you’ll head north down the Wildwood Trail. It’s about a 10 minute walk that takes you down a 135 foot descent to the Witch’s Castle. The trail is fairly easy with plenty of forest scenery along the way.
After 0.5 miles of walking you’ll get to the Witch’s Castle located on Balch Creek. Of course you can keep hiking the Wildwood Trail through forest park from this point or head down the Lower Macleay Trail. No matter what your plans are the Witch’s Castle is a great place to stop for a moment to enjoy the view.
It’s great to sit and enjoy the moss covered structure. Of course you can walk inside and take as many photos as you want. There are also a few spots behind the Stone House to take pictures of the structure from different angles.
After visiting you’ll head back up to the parking lot after. Overall you’ll likely want to plan 30 to 45 minutes to visit the Witch’s Castle.
History of the Witch’s Castle in Portland
The Witch’s Castle which is also known as the Stone House or Macleay Park Shelter is a two-story building in the heart of Portland’s Forest Park. The stone structure was built in the 1930s and designed as a public toilet and pavilion for hikers.
During a storm in 1962 the main waterline to the Stone House was damaged and the city opted not to repair the waterline. This lead to the structure being abandoned and is now an iconic part of Forest Park.
In 2017 the Stone House got its name as the Witch’s Castle after local news ported teens having parties at the Stone House as “Witches”. The Witch’s Castle has since become a popular tourist attraction and typically covered in graffiti and moss.
Witch’s Castle Pictures
Here are more pictures of the Witch’s Castle in Forest Park. If you’re a photographer I’d recommend bring a zoom lens like a 24-70mm.
I hope you enjoyed my guide to visiting the Witch’s Castle in Portland Oregon!
