Rood Bridge Loop Hike

Overview

Rood Bridge Park, at the south end of Hillsboro, is the city's largest park at 60 acres. It is tucked in between Rock Creek and the Tualatin River at their confluence. Trails lead through more natural riparian forest along the Tualatin, whereas the north end of the park is more developed. There are plans to establish a trail connection between Rood Bridge and other trail corridors in the area. Descend the steps between the Annex and the River House and go right on a paved trail. The path enters an ash, bigleaf maple and hazel woodland. The Tualatin River flows to the right. Keep right at a junction and then take a spur going right over a bridge. Come to the Rock Creek Advanced Wastewater Facility. A trail goes left from here uphill along a low ridge in Douglas-fir and maple woods with grand fir and cedar. The route splits left and comes to a No Trespassing sign. Return to the bridge and then go back to the main trail, bearing right. Head back into ash woodland and come to a junction with a bench. Go left to a small lake covered with water lilies and head down to a paved circle. From here, walk up to the right on a wood chip trail next to a running creek and rejoin the paved trail in a grassy sward with stone arch footbridges. This trail leads back to the parking area. Further walking can be done in the more developed north end of the park, where there are two quarter-mile loops around Woodland Pond and the Lloyd Baron Rhododendron Garden. An optional extension loop of about half a mile runs up the west bank of Rock Creek in riparian forest and connects with River Road. The latter loop is often flooded during the wet season.

Trail Stats

Photos

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