Johnson Creek Hike

Overview

In 1990, the City of Portland acquired much of the right of way for the route of the Portland Railway Light and Power Company’s Springwater Division Line. The old rail route has been developed into a wide paved corridor that leads from the east bank of the Willamette River to Boring. Much of the route follows Johnson Creek. The walk described here begins at little Johnson Creek Park and heads east through industrial and residential areas, passing pockets of green space along the creek. The destination is the recovering wetland in Errol Heights Park where you have a chance of spotting beaver and various species of waterfowl. Walk back towards the corner of 23rd and Sherrett, and take the pea gravel trail into Johnson Creek Park. To your right is Crystal Springs Creek, and to your left runs alder-shaded Johnson Creek, which begins on a high bluff above the Sandy River south of Oxbow Regional Park. You’ll pass some picnic tables and then cross an arched footbridge over Crystal Springs Creek under drooping weeping willows. From the footbridge, you can look downstream to the confluence of the two creeks. On your right, there’s a seasonal restroom and a play area. Follow the paved path up to the left past a lone sequoia, and come to the corner of 21st Avenue and Marion Street. Keep to the sidewalk on Marion for two blocks, and then turn left on 19th Avenue. After one block, 19th becomes a paved walking/biking path that connects with the Springwater Corridor. Make a left on the Springwater, and follow this 10-foot wide paved trail as it passes high above Johnson Creek. Industrial sprawl dominates the landscape here. Soon you’ll pass over the McLoughlin Boulevard Pedestrian Bridge, a steel through arch bridge, completed in 2006, which spans not only McLoughlin Boulevard but the Union Pacific Railroad tracks and the MAX Orange Line to Milwaukie. From the bridge, you can get views to the southern slopes of Council Crest, dominated by the Stonehenge Tower, Portland’s tallest structure. There’s the Roswell Pond Open Spa

Trail Stats

Photos

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