13 min
Overview
A cluster of Boring volcanoes defines the terrain in northwestern Clackamas County. Scouters Mountain in Happy Valley is one of them and is aptly named: the Boy Scouts owned much of the crest of the mountain and had a lodge here, but eventually found maintenance costs burdensome. In 2011, a public consortium of Metro, the City of Happy Valley, and the North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District purchased the property. The Scouters Mountain Nature Park was officially opened to visitors in August, 2014. As in all Metro parks, pets are not permitted. Walk to the kiosk at the parking area and read a description of this recently developed Metro property. There is also a trail map here. Cross back over the entrance road and take the Boomer Trail (Boomer is vernacular for the mountain beaver or aplodontia). Switchback and then traverse under alders and maples before entering Douglas-fir forest. Mouse netting protects recent plantings. Candy flower, trailing blackberry, and fringe-cup bloom here in the spring. Notice that the trail benches in the park, salvaged from old growth Douglas-fir beams from the Boy Scout Lodge, each display a small work of nature art by sculptor John Christensen. Keep your eyes open for the friendly local deer family. Rise past a nice-sized rooty hemlock, and then gradually descend in a sword fern understory. Cross the park entrance road just above the entrance gate and stop at another kiosk which describes the elusive boomer. Continue on the Boomer Trail as it makes a gentle ascent on an old road bed in coniferous woodland. You'll see some larger Douglas-firs here. The Boomer Trail then switchbacks off the road bed at some stone steps (Going straight takes you to the gated restoration area of the park). Switchback again and reach the junction with the Lava Dome Trail, a short path that circles the summit of this Boring volcano. Go left, and then turn off the trail to walk through the large covered picnic shelter at the summit of Scouters Mountain, which was built using some materials fro
Trail Stats
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64 m
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Photos
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400px-ScoutersMountainMap
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400px-Mt
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TKO put tools to trail here.png