Not sure what direction you're coming from, or exactly what your purpose is, but if you want to get from Marine Drive to the Springwater, going through Troutdale and Gresham, this is what I would do:
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=589573
There's a bit of a climb up 257th, but you're going to have to climb up from the river in any event. All of the roads are either side streets or equipped with bike lanes.