2 min
Overview
Saum Creek is a tributary of the Tualatin River, and a short greenway trail takes you along a forest corridor above the creek but, unfortunately, not far away from the continuous din of traffic on I-205. The creek is named after George Carl Ludwig Saum, a German immigrant who settled here in 1879 and established a sawmill. You’ll begin the hike at Tualatin’s Atfalati Park, named after a band of the Kalapuya Indians, a group of communities whose traditional lands included most of the Willamette and Tualatin valleys. From the parking area, take the wide paved path, and keep right to pass basketball hoops and the park restrooms. Past the play area, go left down the slope. The trail turns east above Saum Creek, and interpretive signs explain the natural history of the wetlands here. Busy I-205 is only about 400 feet away. Keep right near a copse of large Douglas-firs, and walk out close to 65th Avenue. The paved path turns uphill, but you need to cross 65th (with care: there’s a blind rise to your left) to reach the sidewalk on the other side. At the bottom of the hill, you’ll see a post for the Saum Creek Greenway. This pea gravel trail parallels Saum Creek on its north side. While there is still a lot of invasive blackberry here, native vegetation is being restored with plantings of red flowering currant, willow, red-cedar, and ponderosa pine. To your left are yard fences of homes in the Sagert Farm development. The path enters a grove of Douglas-firs where ivy has been pulled and native plants such as Oregon grape have been reintroduced. Tie trails lead to neighborhood streets. The creek meanders below, shaded by alders and maples. The gravel tread ends, but the trail continues to its end where it leads up steps to Lee Street. Looking down to the creek here, you’ll see the remains of George Saum’s dam, which he used to power his sawmill. The mill provided lumber for many of the early homes in the area. Return along the Saum Creek Greenway, and cross 65th Avenue again. For about 100 yards, keep to the same t
Trail Stats
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12 m
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Photos
600px-SaumCreekMap
600px-SaumCreekMap
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250px-Shining_Oregon_grape%2C_Saum_Creek_Greenway%2C_Tualatin
250px-Cherry_trees%2C_Atfalati_Park%2C_Tualatin
250px-Cherry_trees%2C_Atfalati_Park%2C_Tualatin
400px-Fence_above_the_creek%2C_Saum_Creek_Greenway%2C_Tualatin
400px-Fence_above_the_creek%2C_Saum_Creek_Greenway%2C_Tualatin