18 min
Overview
The loop described takes you around the periphery of the 133-acre Mary S. Young Park, with a spur to Cedar Island Nature Park, reached by a floating pedestrian bridge from spring into fall. Mary S. Young is a former state park that is now administered by the City of West Linn. The mixed forest around the park periphery and on the river bench supports a vibrant bird life as well as many native wildflowers. The hike also offers a stroll along a Willamette River shoreline of volcanic rock as well as both cobbled and sandy beaches. Loop route (see map link below): Turkey Creek Trail - Riverside Loop (anticlockwise) - Cedar Island - return to parking via Riverside Trail - Heron Creek Loop At the parking area, study the map. From here, head into woods of Douglas-fir, big-leaf maple and western hemlock. Cross the Trillium Trail, and go right on the Turkey Creek Trail at a yellow fire hydrant, entering a grand fir, big-leaf maple, sword fern and vine maple forest. At a junction, keep left under cedar trees. Ivy is everywhere. The trail descends to Turkey Creek down wooden steps and then a boardwalk. Blackberries, horsetails and skunk-cabbage grow in the gully. A rare urban population of mountain beaver lives on these slopes: keep your eyes sharp. Join the paved Riverside Loop and go left, then right around a bend and recross Turkey Creek. The trail heads below a bench in woods that have been cleared of ivy. After crossing Mary S. Young Creek in a blackberry thicket, you should leave the paved trail as it curves back. Go down to the Willamette River under willows, red osier dogwood, and cottonwoods. The trail reaches a beach and backwater where the creek empties into the river. Shore flowers bloom here from summer into fall. Keeping along the shore, you'll pass over a rocky promontory and pick up a footpath which parallels the Riverside Loop. After the third small beach, a floating footbridge leads to Cedar Island. Cross the bridge and walk along the cobbled shore of the island. Young cottonwoods form the principal
Trail Stats
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91 m
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Photos
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