28 min
Overview
There is continuing residential expansion on Bull Mountain with local and regional agencies scrambling to reserve parks and green spaces among the new developments. The Ascension Trail ascends a deep and ferny canyon for 0.6 miles. From its high end, you can make your way to Sunrise Park, a former pasture acquired in 2013 that offers views to the Tualatin Hills. There are a couple of extra excursions described below which can add to your day: (1) a descent into the wooded wonderland of the former Cach property, now known as the Cach Natural Area; (2) a walk on suburban streets to the reservoirs at the summit of 715-foot Bull Mountain. Walk up past the chain gate, and find yourself on the edge of a small reservoir that is rapidly silting up. Alders shade this boggy area, and Ascension Creek runs to the right. You’ll find yourself in deep ravine forested by Douglas-firs and maples with a sword fern/Oregon grape/salal understory. Soon, you’ll pass a signed junction, from which a trail switchbacks up to Lauren Lane. Hike over a small footbridge and drop to the creek, which you’ll cross on another footbridge. The trail traverses up the north slope of the ravine. Through the trees, you can see the three-story homes on either side. Private connector trails lead to some of these properties. The upper part of the valley is wooded mostly with deciduous alders and maples. Reach an artificial sink and lawn area on Ascension Street, and go left to Mistletoe Drive. Turn right on Mistletoe, and descend to a powerline corridor. On the far side of the corridor, past a line of bollards, pick up the paved Sunrise Trail leading off to the left into a stand of Douglas-firs. The trail makes a 90-degree turn and arrives at Sunrise Lane where it meets blocked-off 147th Terrace. Turn right on this narrow street, and keep walking along a fence until you find the entrance to Sunrise Park. From the high vantage point of this former pasture, you can see north to Sexton Mountain, the Tualatin Hills, and Forest Park as well as west to
Trail Stats
0.0 km
140 m
0 m
0 m
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Photos
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