Jackson School Woods Loop Hike

Overview

On the north side of Hillsboro, trails lead into a riparian corridor along a tributary of Sundown Creek and then connect with a series of paved trails in the Jackson School neighborhood. Part natural, part backyard corridor, this loop is quiet and flat. Be prepared for some muddy stretches in the wet season. From the parking area, a trail splits, so go left and cross a creek on a footbridge. Then go left to pass a picnic table, and keep straight to enter riparian woods of Oregon ash, alder, big-leaf maple, and cedar on a dirt path. Invasive Armenian blackberry tends to dominate the understory. At a junction, keep left on a narrow trail along the creek, which may be muddy and have pools of standing water. This trail soon rises to a grove of cedars, where you’ll stay left above the creek with backyard fences to the right. At a four-way junction, continue straight ahead through a glade of Douglas-fir and cedar where a side trail leads down to the creek. Next, a side loop leads left past a big Douglas-fir above a marshy wetland. Continue on the main trail to a junction within sight of Harewood Street. Here, bear right past red-sprayed trees, dip into a depression, and then clamber steeply up to a raised road track with a sign for the Jackson School Woods Nature Preserve. Cross Harewood Street, and take the trail just to the left of Autumn Rose Way. After passing through through a small grove of Douglas-firs, you'll reach a paved trail behind a fenced apartment complex. This trail makes a 90-degree turn right to proceed under oaks and Scotch pines to reach Estate Drive. (You can turn back here if you don’t fancy walking through neighborhoods.) Cross the street and bear left to walk up to Tina Court. Turn right here to reach a cul-de-sac, where you’ll find a paved trail leading left to one of the two swimming pools in the Jackson School Woods HOA. Walk out to Lindsey Drive, and bear right to reach Estate Drive again. Then turn right (east), and pass Jamie Drive on the right and Lorie Drive on the left. At a mark

Trail Stats

Photos

400px-JacksonSchoolWoodsMap

400px-JacksonSchoolWoodsMap

250px-Scotch_pines_at_Estate_Drive%2C_Jackson_School_HOA%2C_Hillsboro

250px-Scotch_pines_at_Estate_Drive%2C_Jackson_School_HOA%2C_Hillsboro

250px-Nature_reserve_sign%2C_Jackson_School_Woods%2C_Hillsboro

250px-Nature_reserve_sign%2C_Jackson_School_Woods%2C_Hillsboro

400px-Cherry_and_Douglas-fir%2C_Jackson_School_Woods%2C_Hillsboro

400px-Cherry_and_Douglas-fir%2C_Jackson_School_Woods%2C_Hillsboro

Tags