Hoyt Arboretum Loop Hike

Overview

The Hoyt Arboretum, former site of a "poor farm" (the predecessor to Edgefield), displays a variety of coniferous and deciduous trees, including most native varieties from the Pacific Northwest as well as other North American species and a selection of exotics. Since the Arboretum has been going since 1928, many of the trees are mature specimens and represent over 1,000 species. As evidenced by the trail names, the area of the arboretum west of Fairview Boulevard is devoted to conifers, while the slopes to the east support an array of deciduous trees; this part of the park puts on a colorful display in the fall. A web-like arrangement of trails, at least 12 miles' worth on 187 acres, takes you to all corners of the park, including some stands of native forest, and your options are many. The two principal places to park are at the Wildwood Trailhead just north of the Oregon Zoo and at the Hoyt Arboretum Visitor Center. This loop, taking in all the main sights of the park, is described as from the former, but there are numerous other points to begin, including via a couple of major connector trails: the Marquam from the south and the Wildwood from the north. From the Wildwood Trailhead, cross the road near the parking lot entrance and pick up the Wildwood Trail as it heads uphill. Keep right at the first trail junction, but then go left at the next junction. Hiking under Douglas-firs, keep right at another junction, stay left where a connector trail joins the Wildwood, and then come to a T-junction. Go right here, still on the Wildwood Trail, under hazels, Douglas-firs and big-leaf maples. At the junction with the Hemlock Trail, make a left up to S.W. Fairview Boulevard, and cross it. The trail switchbacks down through a grove of hemlocks on a gravel tread. Reach an open area: Go left and then left again back into the woods. Cross a footbridge, and turn right on the Creek Trail for a few yards before making a left on the White Pine Trail, passing thimbleberries, sword fern, hazel, vine maple, maidenhair fern, an

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