In Portland’s Southeast quadrant, you can find the public park of Mt. Tabor. Founded in 1909 and sprawling over 176 acres, this park offers scenic views of downtown Portland from afar, as well as plenty of walking trails, a playground, a basketball court and an amphitheater. While Mt. Tabor may seem like your average park and neighborhood, it has a long history as a volcanic cinder cone that sits right under the feet of Southeast Portland.
Mt. Tabor is part of an ancient history and is one of the 80 volcanic vents found in the Boring Volcanic Field. Named after the town of Boring, Oregon, these volcanic vents and flows are found all over the greater Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area. These cinder cones first formed over 2.7 million years ago when basalt-based eruptions occurred within the Portland basin, creating the volcanic field.
The last eruption occurred 57,000 years ago with the famous Beacon Rock in the Columbia Gorge. Beacon Rock, an 848-foot tall pillar, is the central plug that was left of the youngest volcano in the Boring Volcanic Field. Now, Beacon Rock is a recreational site that gives a steep hike and beautiful views of the Columbia Gorge.
Mt. Tabor is another example of one of these dormant cinder cones that sit extinct in the city limits. Mt. Tabor is not the only extinct cinder cone in the Portland area. Three other cinder cones can be found in Portland: Rocky Butte, Powell Butte and Kelly Butte. Each of these cinder cones hosts Portland neighborhoods and poses as areas of parks and recreation.
Thousands of years after the Boring Volcanic Field went extinct, Mt. Tabor would see its first pieces of construction. Two open-mouthed reservoirs were built by the city of Portland on Mt. Tabor in 1894 — construction crews had no idea that they were building on an extinct volcano. It wasn’t until 1912, when the space underwent renovations to be converted into a park, that construction employees discovered evidence of volcanic cinders.
Now, Mt. Tabor is another one of the city’s major neighborhoods that sits on the extinct volcano and is home to 10,000 Portlanders. The park itself is perfect for a stroll, pick-up basketball game, or just to admire the views of lush forest and city views. Mt. Tabor has really come a long way since its ancient and explosive beginnings, but it is now a place for Portlanders alike to enjoy the outdoors and indulge in recreation.
