About SideTracked Caches
This cache belongs to the SideTracked series. It is not designed to take you to a magical place (although this station is IMHO) with a breathtaking view (okay this is a subway station). It's a distraction for the weary traveler, but anyone else can go and find it, too. More Information can be found on the SideTracked Website.
This cache also qualifies for the Disappearing RR Blues bonus cache. This series highlights the railways of NW Oregon.
CACHE Notes
This is a virtual cache with four required tasks to complete the find. Two of these tasks require entering the fare‑paid area of the Washington Park MAX Station.
As of this writing, the adult MAX fare is $2.80 for a 2.5‑hour ticket, or $5.60 for a day pass. Please check TriMet.org for the most current fare information.
A valid and active fare is required. You may use A HOP card, or A contactless credit/debit card or phone
🚨 Important: Be sure to tap in before entering the above‑ground elevators, as they lead directly into the fare‑paid area.
You may complete the tasks in any order, but note that Task 1 is located above ground and outside the fare‑paid area. All tasks are listed after the station history in this cache description.
Accessibility & Restrictions
- ✅ All tasks are wheelchair accessible, including riding MAX if you choose to do so.
- 🚫 Dogs are not allowed within the station, except for service animals.
About Washington Park MAX Station
Welcome to the Washington Park MAX Station, one of the most remarkable transit stations in North America, and the most unique on Portland’s 60‑mile MAX light rail system.
This is the only underground station on the MAX system and is served by both the Blue Line and Red Line. Even more impressively, it is the deepest transit station in North America, located approximately 260 feet below ground. For comparison, the next deepest stations are about 234 feet in Montreal and 196 feet in Washington, D.C.
The Robertson Tunnel
The Washington Park MAX Station is part of the 3‑mile Robertson Tunnel, which carries light rail beneath the Portland West Hills (Tualatin Mountains). The tunnel consists of twin bores, excavated primarily using tunnel‑boring machines, supplemented by conventional mining methods.
Plans for this tunnel date back to the early days of MAX. When the original east–west line opened in 1986 between Gresham and downtown Portland, extending service further west to Beaverton and Hillsboro was the natural next step. However, the rugged West Hills posed a significant challenge. After evaluating several alternatives, TriMet selected the tunnel option. Once that decision was made, the opportunity arose to include a deep underground station to serve Washington Park amenities, including the Oregon Zoo, World Forestry Center, and nearby attractions.
Due to the station’s depth, all public access is via high‑speed elevators, with emergency stairways provided for safety. The station, and the full westside MAX line from Goose Hollow to Hillsboro, officially opened on September 12, 1998.
Station Artwork and Geology
Along the station platform walls, you’ll find an impressive geological core sample, displayed from the surface all the way down to tunnel level. This exhibit tells the geological story of the Tualatin Mountains and serves as the basis for a nearby EarthCache.
When the station first opened, large letters on the trackside walls spelled out “The Robertson Tunnel.” During a later station refurbishment, these letters were removed and replaced with a mural featuring animals you might encounter at the Oregon Zoo.
Logging Tasks
Please send a GC Message with the answers to the questions below.
Question 1
At the posted coordinates (GZ), there is a sign for the Four T Trail. According to the sign, what is the maximum total duration required to complete three of the “T”s?
➡️ Add together the durations for the Train, Trolley, and Tram.
Fare‑Paid Area Tasks
The following tasks require entering the fare‑paid area of the station.
A) East Elevators
Enter the East Elevators near GZ and travel down to the platform level.
• Note which elevator you took (north or south). Elevator Travel Depth is shown on the sign above the control buttons.
• You’ll need this information later.
Question 2
After exiting the elevator, look on the wall just before the eastbound platform (toward City Center/Gresham). There is a plaque honoring the namesake of the Robertson Tunnel.
➡️ What is the third phrase from the top on the plaque?
B) East Elevators
Walk back to the East Elevators and return to the surface using a different shaft from the one you came down in.
• Again, note the Elevator Travel Depth shown above the control buttons.
• You should notice this distance is different from the east elevators.
NOTE: If there is a problem with the east elevators, you can do the same task from the west elevators; just be sure to ride both shafts to get the different #'s
Question 3
How much longer is the elevator travel depth of the West Elevators compared to the East Elevators?
Final Requirement
In your “Found It” log, please include a photo of you or a personal item somewhere along your journey through the Washington Park MAX Station.
📸 Please do not use flash on the station platforms.
Thank you for exploring one of the most fascinating—and deepest—transit stations in North America. Enjoy the journey beneath the West Hills!
Virtual Rewards 5.0 - 2026-2027
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between February 3, 2026 and February 3, 2027. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 5.0 on the Geocaching Blog.