Burnside Skatepark

Burnside was a huge one for me. I grew up in skateparks, and now I’m raising my 5-year-old daughter on a board, so stopping here felt like coming full circle. You see it in videos and old skate mags, and then you walk underneath that bridge and it hits you. This place is part of skate history. It’s gritty, it’s raw, it’s covered in layers of paint and stories, and it’s exactly what it should be. No polish, no pretending- its just a true DIY spot built by the community long before skateboarding was “acceptable” or mainstream. Standing there, looking at the bowls and the graffiti, I got a little nostalgic esp after Tony Hawk recently just came to our local park back home. It’s wild how it all connects... the places you grew up around, the people your kids will look up to, and these legendary spots you finally get to see in person. If you love skate culture, grew up with a board, or just appreciate the real thing. Burnside is a must-experience stop. Glad I got to see it with my own eyes.

My son has taking a liking to skateboarding during this past summer. I’ve always heard the Burnside Skate Park was where the elite skaters are. Took him down there a couple of times to watch the O.G.’s do their thing. Their community has been nothing but welcoming to us, and so far it’s been kid-friendly. A few skilled skaters also took the time to show my son things to practice. We will continue to visit and we look forward to their Halloween party, which is also their anniversary.

This place is tricky. You can show up and if it's empty bmx is a go. If you go while there is a skate jam going on... your likely to find a fight really quick. Middle of the night is probably the best time to go if your rolling on a 20

I was going to take my grandsons to the Burnside skatepark to ride but after seeing people partying and there was a guy jumping in to the dumpster throwing things out and making a big mess we left. Pictures and reviews made it look nice. The reviews don't show the real life. Looked a little shady. Not a family skatepark. Won't go back again.

I love the tight knit community and the energy there! The skate park itself is definitely not for beginners but there is an area to the side of the park that is perfect for those that are still learning.

Classic place! Happy 31st! Great vert park! Happy carving! Brink back more lip tricks too! I Remember this place mostly from tony hawks pro skater 1+3. This place is not only an East Portland landmark but a global skate destination. It’s a must in town Have some stones get out there’s!

I’ve been wanting to visit Burnside ever since it began appearing in skateboarding magazines years back. The privilege was all mine recently as I was in Portland visiting and of course it was top of list. Parking was difficult the first day, but actually easier on the weekend. Locals were friendly but it is a grimier spot, lot of herb smoking and drinking going on so if you have kids with you keep it in mind. Portland is such a great city and this DYI sk8park is a perfect embodiment of the crafty and resourceful ethic of the local peeps. Super fast transitions so be ready to skate fast!

Had to stop and check out the skate park on our way by. Still bitchin, more built up than a few years ago. Not too crowded on a pre-holiday. Great spot for people-watching.

Burnside Skatepark Solid, Clean, Still Iconic Man, Burnside is looking sharp these days. They really cleaned it up, and it shows. The lights hanging overhead give the whole place this steady glow, like the park finally stepped up without losing any of its grit. You roll in and think, "Alright bro... this is still the real deal." Out on the concrete, everything rides smooth. I tried to surf a line across the bowl thought I was looking slick but the park reminded me real quick who's boss. Still, that's Burnside. It keeps you honest, man. You push, you carve, you fall, you laugh, and you get right back into it. This spot remains an iconic staple for a reason. It's cleaner, safer, and easier to skate at night, but the soul hasn't changed. If you're a skater in Portland, you already know. If you're not, bro, you're missing out. Five stars, easy.

dude burnside is fr one of the best parks ever. i'm a local of williamson skatepark in texas but the locals are pretty dope here. but you better be prepared to throw down bc they don't play with beginners around here. also please stop bringing little kids here, no one likes an unaware little brat with a bike helmet snaking around on a scooter.

Legendary skatepark I grew up playing on in the video games. Finished shopping at Pioneer palace and figured I would get to see a bucket list location nearby. Not being a native to Portland I didn't know late in the day is not the best time to visit this site. Will get some creepy vibes by some of the transients at the wrong times. Other than that, amazing skatepark just pick the right times to go! (Preferably morning or mid-day).

Sick spot must see in Portland and the folks there are cool a fuck ! Make sure you bring a blunt

Beat DIY park in the world but you must be able to sk8! Not for beginners novelist or jokes. If you want to check it out fo the first time, try the mornings. Open to all b4 noon. After noon recommend and offering to the locals. Booz,good etc.

My husband and I got the chance to visit Burnside before catching our flight home. We definitely don't have the skills to skate, but we both grew up on THPS and were somewhat familiar with the park beforehand. We really just went to be tourists on a Saturday afternoon. There were a few locals there that definitely were judging our Texan-ness, but they were still pretty helpful and cool when my husband busted his butt trying to take a picture next to one of the bowls. Quick Thoughts - Cool to visit whether you've got skills or just want to take a gander at this iconic skate park. - It is a little bit smaller than I imagined, but then again, it really doesn't matter because you will never find me skating anyway ;) - Coming from a "rougher" part of Dallas anyway, I wasn't too terribly intimidated by the neighborhood. But Portland seems like a much cleaner and safer place anyway so it may not be the most glamorous place to bring your kids. Totally your choice, though. - The locals seemed a little bit reserved at first and didn't know what to think of us, but they were open to talking and taking pictures of us once we showed them respect and that we'd be out of their hair quickly. - We walked from a few blocks away since we obviously had no idea what we were doing, but I'm sure you can park a little closer to. We'll probably come back next time we visit PDX. :)

One of the most iconic skateparks on planet earth. I haven't skated for decades, but I still love the sport and I still respect the peeps. I loved how the first thing we saw, crossing the bridge, was the cluster of shoes hanging from the light pole, and we knew we were there. A handful of dudes were skating around the whole time we were there, and we got to see some pretty smooth moves and a couple pretty decent bails. One dude bailed off his board, and it shot right past me and I caught it and he gave me the big thumbs up n thanks when I gave it back, Yeah yeah! I was smiling for days after going, and wish we could've stayed all afternoon. This was truly one of those lifelong dreams, to see it, and it totally lived up to expectations. Awesome!

Burnside is epic old school. It's nt for the faint of heart. If you're a die-hard skater you knw wht to expect, nvr turn your bk and nvr ever snake a fellow skater. They will shred your board, shred your sh*t, pk you up in the backpack you cm w and snd your happy *55 to la la land. Respect is an absolute must. Respect the locals first, thn the park. And don't be an idiot-do NOT tk your kids to Burnside-wht are you f*cken stupid?! It's Burnside! You tk pepper spray, a taser and hv 9-1-1 on speed dial-you do NOT tk your kids moron! The tragedy here is corporate America. Burnside is abt half of wht it once ws. In the beginning it ws skater created skater owned and recognized. It was not however city ordained. It's unique in its organic make-up. The only other skate park similar to it on the West Coast is in Eugene, OR. Skaters all ovr know of Burnside. It's infamy will live on in ths beautiful tragedy of American youth

Epic old school skatepark. If you're not from the area, go early in the morning to avoid the local crowd and vibe if you're and old washed up skater like me.

Like everyone else who grew up in the nineties, I know this skate park from the second competition in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. I remember racking up my highest score in that game on this map, grinding on the girders under the bridge and on top of the ramps. Some of my favorite childhood memories were lived through a digital version of this place. What is it like in real life? Not a whole lot different, though it seems a lot smaller in person. I am not a skater whatsoever, so I didn't attempt to skate here or even interact with anybody who was there. It was definitely a nostalgia trip for me, and it was fun watching people skate that are really good at it. I'd definitely love to come back when someone famous skates here, and it's still my dream to meet Tony Hawk at some point in my life.

Awesome. There is nothing not awesome about this, reliving the days of Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4 on Xbox and when I had better health insurance to actually do it myself instead of on vidja games.

Burnside Skatepark is my ultimate tourist destination to visit to PDX. Ever since I've played the 1st Tony Hawk Pro Skater, I dreamed of skating Burnside. 13 years later (March 2012), I finally went on a road trip to PDX with my homies. It's was my first time visiting Portland and Oregon too. My friends and I done some acid, and it's was a blast. The acid got both my mind and body high. The bowl on the SW end was very steep than I thought it was. My adrenaline kept on pumping as I skated. It felt weird skating on acid, but I managed to focus. That song ,"Jerry Was A Race Car Driver" by Primus, kept on looping in my head as a skated. If you ever played Tony Hawk Pro Skater, then you'll understand why haha. We skated there for only 1/2 hour but it was thrill ass session. One of my friend had a bad acid trip after the skate session. He just vomited in the parking lot as we getting inside the van. The atmosphere at the skatepark was dope, lay-back, chill, and sucka free. We first thought that the local skaters were territorial, but they're friendly. The steep bowls and transition were a bit difficult for my skate level. Maybe I need to change my wheels from 52mm to 58mm. Burnside is OG legend, and it needs to be designate as National Historic Landmark (I don't consider that as "selling out" in my opinion). I didn't skate Burnside on my 2nd visit to Portland, but there's always next time.

Radical spot underneath the Burnside Bridge. Best way to access: If you're coming from Ash and going toward Burnside on Grand, make a left on Davis and a left on SE 3rd. Park anywhere and walk around the block and you'll see the majesticness of the Burnside Skate Park. Built by skaters for skaters. They have some sketch bowls to ride. I was too scared and embarrassed to attempt anything, so you will have to tell me how it is. But, if you're a skater and visiting Portland, you HAVE TO HAVE TO HAVE TO visit this iconic spot. One flat rail on the left side of the park. The parking lot right next to it has really rough ground, but the park itself is smooth.

I barely know anything about skateboarding, but it's impossible to live in Portland and avoid knowing that Burnside is the most well-known skate park in the country. Created when some skaters covertly poured cement into the derelict space under the Burnside Bridge, it serves as a beacon, encouraging skaters to move to Portland. Watch out novices--people are scarily competitive here!

Bad bad vibe here, I took my six-year-old to skate, and one of the older grown-ups probably in his 30s basically told me that he would run over my six-year-old if we skated there..... when we go there at night, the kids are friendly but during the day the older ones are very far from anything that I would call friendly... If you value your kids don't bring them here.

Burnside Skate Park is public and free and there are no pad requirements. The really great thing about this park is the story of its creation. You can read about it here - http://burnsideproject.blogspot.com/ The park is subject to periodic review by the city, so do everyone a favor and leave the booze at home.

it just makes the video game seem all the more real and if i gave this less than 5 stars my boyfriend would break up with me besides, i loved hanging out there...and i found free beer..what more could i ask for? if you have a bike, don't even bother

It is for transition skaters and truly experienced skaters. If you're a beginner you can't have too much fun because the park has very steep and high drops and quarter pipes. If you are reading this then you probably are on the wrong place. YouTube Thrasher burnside and see for yourself. The park is ever-changing art gallery as well.

I'd give this place "No Stars" but that's not a Yelp option. Came here because my husband, who skateboards himself, really wanted to visit this place. The skateboarders hanging around are complete assholes. If you don't want to be in someone's pictures then maybe you shouldn't skate at a public fucking skatepark. I've been to skateparks before and I've never come across douchebags like this. They're haggard old dudes that obviously have no job if they're skateboarding on a Tuesday afternoon. Waste of time place.

Well, since I don't skate, I don't think it's fair to give this place any stars, but since I have to I'll give it 5. I'm sure it's great. I had to stop by and see the legend myself. It was smaller than I expected. And since I first learned about Burnside before I could even vote, and now it was obvious I was old enough to be some of those kids mom, it was a bit of a reality check of how time flies (and made me a little sad - sigh) Looks like a great place to come together, hang out, and get a good session in; so good-on Portland for letting this happen and thrive!

much like the Statue of Liberty Burnside Skatepark is much smaller than you would imagine it to be but size aside this park has everything and the locals that i met while i was their were not intimidating or threatening in anyway asides from how well they dominated every single square inch if that park.