Mount Talbert Summit Loop Hike

Overview

Mount Talbert is a forested Boring volcano, and the largest such feature in the Portland area that is almost entirely wooded. In this particular segment of the Boring Lava Field, eruptive activity began about 1.6 million years ago and continued until about 60,000 years ago. Nearby prominences such as Mount Scott, Scouters Mountain, Powell Butte, Mount Tabor, and Rocky Butte are also Boring volcanoes. The local Kalapuyans regularly burned the oak grasslands here, but Douglas-firs began to take over in the 20th century and efforts are being made to restore the oak canopy. The public land here was purchased via a Metro Open Spaces Bond Measure, and the park was officially opened in 2007. Additional land on the north side of the butte was added in 2010. Trails are well-marked, but since it’s a Metro park, dogs are not permitted. Mount Talbert is probably named after Francis Talbert, who in 1852 established a Donation Land Claim of 300 acres on the north side of the butte. Other members of the Talbert family settled nearby. First take a brief jaunt around the universal access Prairie Loop to the right of the covered picnic area past the squirrel statue. An interpretive sign explains the ecology of the Willamette Valley oak savannas. In spring, you can look for blooming checkermallow, buttercup, and iris in this small grassland. Then find the Mather Road Trail leading up into the forest to the left of the restrooms. Switchback up twice into woods of Douglas-fir, big-leaf maple, and sword fern. This is a rocky tread like most other trails on Mount Talbert. Come to the Park Loop-Mather Road Trail Junction, and make a left. Descend slightly to the Park Loop-West Ridge Trail South Junction, and keep left here as well. (You’ll be returning to this junction to complete the loop.) Wind down, and switchback three times. Woodpeckers swoop through the canopy, and Douglas squirrels dart in the underbrush. You’ll notice that extensive thinning of young Douglas-firs has provided more light for the oak trees. Keep right at

Trail Stats

Photos

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