2.6 hr
Overview
The far north of Portland's Forest Park is also the least visited section. Here, Portland's elk herd wanders the forest openings and wooded wildlife corridors connect the Tualatin Hills with the Coast Range. When making loops in Forest Park, hikers need to use a variety of tracks, including maintenance roads, abandoned logging tracks, fire lanes, and foot trails. The loop described uses all of these and also takes some interesting detours, one to the area where Portland's elk herd often hangs out, another down Firelane 13 to a viewpoint, and a third diversion takes you to Kielhorn Meadow. Hike up the steep BPA (Bonneville Power Administration) Road past a gate. At the junction with Newton Road, go right up the BPA Road. The grassy gravel track, which is used by power line company vehicles only, winds steeply up under powerlines. A grove of Oregon white oak lives here, with an understory of poison oak. Soon, however, Douglas-fir, western red-cedar, big-leaf maple, and sword fern seem to dominate. There are views back of Port of Portland terminals as one gets higher. The southern end of Sauvie Island appears as well as the confluence of the Willamette with the Columbia. Continuing steeply up, you'll get more views of Sauvie Island and Mount Saint Helens, with Douglas-fir woods to the left and a steep, brushy ravine to the right. Reach the junction with Firelane 13 and go right up to a crest with two picnic tables under pylons. There are more views from here. The track then drops into Douglas-fir, cedar, maple and grand fir woods. At the junction with Firelane 13A, keep left. The track descends to a pylon in a blackberry-choked corridor. There’s a view from here of the Multnomah Channel, Newberry Road, and the Sauvie Island Bridge. Return uphill to the BPA Road and go right. The track undulates under powerlines and reaches the junction with Firelane 12 at Hole in the Park. Be here in the evening or early morning and you may catch a glimpse of some of Portland's wildest critters, including bear, coyote, bobcat,
Trail Stats
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792 m
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Photos
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