Tualatin Hills Nature Park Loop Hike

Overview

This forested parcel of land west of Beaverton's town center has excellent access via public transit and is open all year. An interpretive center has exhibits on the natural history of the area. There are numerous trails and therefore many possibilities for an outing. The Oak and Vine Maple Trails are universal access trails. The description below takes you counterclockwise around the park and picks on its main features (See the link under the "Maps" subheading below for a map of the park.). From the parking area, head up past the Interpretive Center onto a paved trail into an oak and ash woodland. At the first junction, bear right on the Oak Trail. Sword fern and salal dominate under white oak, Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, and grand fir. There are many interpretive signs along the way. Rough-skinned newts run rampant across these trails in the spring. Soon, make a right for a little loop to Tadpole Ponds quietly nestled under powerlines. Pass the junction with the Beaverton Powerline Trail (Westside Trail - See the Willow Creek-Waterhouse Trail Hike), which leads out to the Merlo Road MAX Station, and rejoin the Oak Trail. Switchback down to a boardwalk that zigzags across a sedge and skunk-cabbage swamp. Then, head up under alders, cedar, and Douglas-fir to an elevated boardwalk in an ash, willow, and red osier dogwood swamp. After the boardwalk, go left on the Old Wagon Trail, a mere footpath along Cedar Mill Creek (straight would take you up to the Merlo Road MAX Station). There are some rather surprising old yews here in this bottomland as well as alders, cedars, and cottonwoods. At a junction, keep right to stay on the Old Wagon Trail, and at another junction keep right to enter the North Woods. The trees are ash, oak and Douglas-fir with some ponderosa pines. The trail runs along the boundary of the park below The Tri-Met Merlo Operations Base. Walk along a narrow boardwalk under cottonwoods and go left at a junction, and then left again at the next junction onto the Vine Maple Trail. Reach a paved trai

Trail Stats

Photos

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