Participating in Portland’s vigorous exercise culture can get you hot and sweaty, so cool off after a long bike ride, run or walk with a stroll through the jets of the Salmon Street Springs. Located on the waterfront just steps from the river, its proximity to downtown Portland’s museums and attractions, as well as its bike paths, make it a popular stopping-off point. Get wet or admire the show from afar as 185 jets, programmed by an underground computer, trace a series of patterns and arcs across the sky.
On a hot summer day, listen to the sound of children’s laughter before the fountain actually comes into view. Kids run in and out of the spray, aiming for or avoiding the water. Take the best pictures from a distance, when the fountain is in the foreground against the waters and trees of the Willamette or the buildings of Portland’s downtown.
Approach the water carefully. Large blocks that seem well away from the fountain itself may burst into life during some of the choreographies and will cool down sitters whether they like it or not.
Run quickly through the jets, which are sourced largely from recycled water at a rate of thousands of gallons a day. To stay dry, sit on the shady benches underneath the nearby trees and watch kids take full advantage, emerging dripping a few minutes later into the arms of their parents.
Salmon Street Springs is located in downtown Portland’s Tom McCall Waterfront Park along the Willamette River, not far from some of the city’s biggest attractions. Walk from the Portland Art Museum or the campus of Portland State University within 10 minutes. A bike path, the Waterfront Park Trail, runs past the fountain, making a stop here convenient for bikers. Union Station is a 10-minute bike or drive away. Drive from Portland Airport in 25 minutes or take a train in 50 minutes. Parking is available on the street and in metered garages near the fountain. Visit in spring, summer or fall when the fountain operates from early morning to late at night.
