Hike 33: Tilikum Bridge (Portland, OR)

Written By Naomi LaViolette

While the existence of dirt path is my general rule for something to count as a '‘hike’, I made an exception for this one because it’s in my Oregon hikes book!

"Tilikum" is a word from the Chinook Wawa (or Chinook Jargon) language, a trade language that developed in the Pacific Northwest and was used by Indigenous peoples, European settlers, and traders.

The word has several related meanings, depending on context:

  • People

  • Tribe

  • Family

  • Friend

  • Relative or fellow human being

In general, tilikum conveys a sense of kinship, community, and connection. It can be used to refer to friends or allies, or more broadly, to people as a group.

So fun to climb this beautiful bridge with my mom, enjoy the river view and pick up a berry scone at Elephant’s Deli on the way back. Being that the elephant is my spirit animal, that scone was a must-do. There’s also a cute little beaver statue along this trail that is always decorated by some mystery person. Gotta love Portland!

Naomi LaViolette
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Hike 32: Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge (Sherwood, OR)