11 min
Overview
There are various trails to explore in this southern part of Tigard along the Tualatin River. Cook Park itself is a full-amenity park with trails past wetlands and through the forested riparian corridor; Tigard's Clean Water Services offers paths across the meadows and wetlands of its Thomas Dairy property; the Tigard Greenway runs west from Cook Park along the Tualatin; and Durham City Park has short loops near Fanno Creek's confluence with the river. You can also connect to Tualatin Community Park across a large footbridge. At high water times, some of the trails might be soggy or underwater. Ponds, river and wetlands support a large number of waterfowl in the winter and, early in the morning, it is not unusual to come across coyotes patrolling the trails. Cook Park itself is host to many events, including the Festival of Balloons in June, so time your visit to either avoid or coincide with these. Head past the restrooms, which display a colorful map on one wall, and then the Nicolai Playing Fields. Go left near the play structures to hike along a paved trail on the edge odf a restored prairie that was once part of the Thomas Dairy. Look for herons and other wetland birds in this area. The trail heads uphill past a large and beautiful oak to a parking circle at the Thomas Dairy Trailhead, a quieter and alternative entry point to the trails of the area. Return to the play area and go left to pick up a gravel trail through a short stretch of oak, ponderosa pine and big-leaf maple woods. Reach a covered picnic shelter with a view of a pond floating with ducks and go right past the Butterfly Garden. Keeping to the paved trail, bend left along the Tualatin River, passing Douglas-fir, cedar and oak plantings on the right and a large prairie area being restored by Clean Water Services on the left. There are more ponderosa plantings on the right. Reach a railroad trestle and go left. There’s another pond to the left and then the path passes under the trestle and gets to a junction. Durham City Park is left and Tua
Trail Stats
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54 m
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Photos
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