Linnton Loop Hike

Overview

This hike takes you into Forest Park from the small trailhead area at a bus stop in Linnton. The loop described actually takes you through two parks, Linnton (1938) and Clark & Wilson (1927), established before Forest Park came together as a grander entity in 1948. Together with Macleay Park (1897) and Holman Park (1939), these were folded into Forest Park upon its creation. Linnton Park’s acreage was donated by Aaron Meier, from the family of Meier and Frank fame; the Clark & Wilson Timber Company, which operated in and employed much of Linnton at one time, donated its 17 acres to preserve some of the hillside timberland. From the bus shelter, head up the creek on its north bank under big-leaf maple, Douglas-fir, Pacific yew, and western hemlock. Here, there is a lush understory of sword fern, licorice fern, salmonberry, and red huckleberry. There’s a tiny waterfall on the creek near the trailhead. At a footbridge over the creek, a trail switchbacks up to the right to a triple-trunked Douglas-fir and then along the slope above the Linnton Schoolhouse to a neighborhood. The main trail crosses the footbridge under a few mossy yews and western red-cedars. You will make nine switchbacks up the slope from here. Note some larger Douglas-firs and groves of cedar. Traverse up below the ridge crest in an Oregon grape carpet, and then switchback up to the ridge crest and the junction with Firelane 10. Go straight (right) up Firelane 10 and pass the ¾ mile marker. After the ½ mile marker, an extension, the Keyser Trail, spins off the main track to the left. (The trail is named after one of the prime movers in the formation of Forest Park.) Follow this road bed down and then up again to rejoin Firelane 10 at the ¼ mile marker. Pass a salmonberry bog and reach the junction with the Wildwood Trail. Go left here in mostly deciduous forest and cross two creeks. Then you'll drop gently into a gully and pass the junction with Firelane 8. Firelane 10 rises and then descends into another gully before ascending to Germantown

Trail Stats

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