There are over 150 labyrinths in Oregon. I have selected 8 of the best that are accessible to the public from around the state, focusing on large population areas. If you want a full list of labyrinths in the state check out the Worldwide Labyrinth Finder. And I have added in a very special bonus location that has temporary labyrinth building if you are lucky !
Before we get to my recommendations for Oregon I want to tell you about some statistics about labyrinths in the USA from some research I did. If you are interested in knowing things like what the largest labyrinth is in the US, where the Northernmost, Southernmost labyrinths are in the US, and similar questions, it is worth a read: Questions about US Labyrinths Answered. All of these Oregon answers and statistics were part of that research. We start with a chart summarizing the data from Oregon:
Here is how Oregon compares to the USA. Oregon has the 10th most labyrinths in the USA but still ranks 5th per capita. It also ranks 9th for percent of indoor labyrinths.
Oregon Labyrinth Questions Answered:
What is the largest labyrinth in Oregon ? The largest labyrinth in Oregon is the Waters Edge Church Community Labyrinth in Ashland, which is a 7 circuit labyrinth with a diameter of 140 feet.
What city has the most labyrinths in Oregon ? The city with the most labyrinths in Oregon is Portland with 25. Eugene is next with 17 labyrinths, followed by Bend with 11. So over a third of all labyrinths in the state are in these 3 cities. For cities in the US with 100K+ population both Bend and Eugene rank highly in terms of labyrinths per capita:
Why visit a Labyrinth ?
Labyrinths are ancient and mysterious symbols that have been used for centuries for meditation, contemplation, and spiritual renewal. They are also a lot of fun to explore! If you're looking for a unique and challenging experience, walk a labyrinth with intention - it often leads to self-discovery. Personally, I like to walk labyrinths between dawn and sunrise or at sunset until dusk, but any time of day works. You may not realize it, but there is probably a labyrinth near where you live. Today we explore…
8 Labyrinths to Visit in oregon
1. Mt. Tabor Presbyterian Church - TaborSpace Labyrinth
This beautiful 7 circuit classical labyrinth is located in the backyard of the property, made from cement pavers with grass pathways. Easily reached from the walkway on 54th Avenue near Belmont. I am a big fan of this street level photo.
Location: Portland, Oregon
Address:
5441 SE Belmont St.
Portland, Oregon 97215
2. St. Francis Park Labyrinth
An 11 circuit labyrinth made from bricks/pavers is located in the center of the park. Easy to find on Google Maps with a great photo of the labyrinth (also see the satellite view shown above). The park appears to be a “cut thru” park with SE Oak Street deade ending on each side of the park.
Location: Portland, Oregon
Address:
SE Oak St. between SE 11th and SE 12th
Portland, Oregon 97214
3. Wesley United Methodist Church - Poppen Community Garden Labyrinth
All photos courtesy of Wesley United Methodist Church
A medieval 7 circuit labyrinth is made from bricks/pavers with a gravel pathway. It is located behind the church and in the NE corner of the community garden.
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Address:
1385 Oakway Road
Eugene, Oregon 97401
4. Lane Community College Labyrinth
A small Chartres type labyrinth that is located in the West Entrance Garden to the east of Parking Lot B.
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Address:
4000 E 30th Ave.
Eugene, Oregon 97405
5. St. Luke the Physician Episcopal Church Labyrinth
This Chartres replica labyrinth is located in the wonderful garden area on the SE portion of the property. Learn more about the labyrinth on the church website. They have a labyrinth guild that sounds excellent. Who wouldn’t want to be a member of that guild !
Location: Gresham, Oregon
Address:
120 SW Towle Ave.
Gresham, Oregon 97030
6. First Presbyterian Church Labyrinth
A 7 circuit classical labyrinth made from pavers and gravel is located east of the church, near NE 10 St. The labyrinth is easily to locate because it has an entry on Google Maps. Learn about the labyrinth on the church website.
Location: Bend, Oregon
Address:
230 NE Ninth Street
Bend, Oregon 97701
7. Spirit of Grace Labyrinth
Photos are courtesy of the church.
An 11 circuit Chartres style labyrinth made from bricks/pavers that is open from dawn to dusk. The labyrinth was designed by Dave Bernklau-Halvor and is next to the church. See a photo of the labyrinth and learn a bit about it on the church website.
Location: Beaverton, Oregon
Address:
7400 SW Scholls Ferry Road
Beaverton, Oregon 97008
8. The Episcopal Church of The Transfiguration Labyrinth
A 6 circuit medieval labyrinth made of bricks/pavers that features a bench in the center. The labyrinth is located south of the church on the McKenzie Highway side. It can be seen above, just south of the pin !
Location: Sisters, Oregon
Address:
68825 Brooks Camp Rd.
Sisters, Oregon 97759
BONUS: Circles in the Sand on the beaches of Bandon, Oregon. You can find a large number of videos and stories about these temporary sand labyrinths from Denny Dyke (and his helpers). If you are lucky you will visit the beach and be able to walk one before the tide washed it away.
5 TIPS FOR VISITING A LABYRINTH
Set an intention for your walk so you can walk with purpose. It could be prayer, reflection, meditation, contemplation, or openness.
Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, as you will be doing a lot of walking.
Bring water with you, especially if you are visiting on a hot day.
Take your time and enjoy the experience. There is no need to rush through a labyrinth.
Be respectful of other visitors. This includes not making noise and being respectful if walking with other people.
5 BOOKS TO READ ABOUT LABYRINTH WALKING
I wrote a blog post reviewing the following 5 books, each that deals with walking labyrinths. You can check them out yourself at the Amazon links below or read this blog post: 5 Books about the Spiritual Aspect of Labyrinths to learn a little about what each book teaches.
Walking a Sacred Path: Rediscovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Tool by Dr. Lauren Artress 201 pages. AMZN
Labyrinth : Your Path to Self-Discovery by Tony Christie 312 pages. AMZN
Exploring the Labyrinth: A Guide For Healing and Spiritual Growth by Melissa Gayle West 209 pages AMZN
Walking the Labyrinth: A Place to Pray and Seek God by Travis Scholl 240 pages AMZN
Labyrinths from the Outside In: Walking to Spiritual Insight by Rev Dr Donna Schaper and Rev Dr Carole Ann Camp 187 pages AMZN
If you are interested in more spiritual labyrinth aspects I suggest the following websites:
Lauren Artress website - For coaching, workshops and classes.
Veriditas - The nonprofit labyrinth group founded by Lauren Artress
Worldwide Labyrinth Finder - Find a labyrinth to walk near you, or while on vacation
I am a maze artist but I have never made any mazes from Oregon. If you have suggestions - drop me a note. Otherwise here are some mazes of famous buildings:
