7 min
Overview
William Stafford (1914-1993), widely considered to be Oregon’s most celebrated poet, was a longtime resident of Lake Oswego, and a pathway along the Willamette River honors him by name. You can walk here from Lake Oswego’s “new” downtown core at Millennium Plaza via a short rails to trails project known as the Kincaid Curlicue. Along the way, you’ll learn something of the area's industrial history, in particular Oswego’s second iron furnace, built in 1888 by the Oregon Iron and Steel Company (Take the George Rogers Park Hike to see the rebuilt furnace of 1866): The route of this hike is part of the Oswego Iron Heritage Trail. The riverside trail takes you north almost as far as the mouth of Tryon Creek and south to a spot across from Oswego Rock. Walk out to the turnaround on First Street and enter Millennium Plaza City Park. Get a view of Oswego Lake’s Lakewood Bay and then head west across the plaza (This is where Lake Oswego’s Farmer’s Market is set up on Saturdays from mid-May to October). At the west end of the plaza are a large covered pergola, fireplace, and public restrooms. To the right of the restrooms, steps lead down to Evergreen Road. Go left on Evergreen, and then make a left on Third Street. Walk down third past the Oswego Sailing Club, and cross the Portland & Western Railroad tracks. A No Trespassing sign warns you about heading farther west along the tracks, but you can take the gravel Headlee Walkway that allows for a picturesque stroll between the railroad and Lakewood Bay. You’ll reach the award-winning Sprout sculpture by Mike Suri and then the lower plaza with more modern sculptures and some steps leading down to the lake, here studded with artificial cattails. Don’t even touch the lake water – the entire body of water is owned by the private, nonprofit Lake Oswego Corporation! Go right on State Street (Highway 43), and cross it at the traffic light and junction with Foothills Road. Head down Foothills Drive to the left, passing the decorative brick entrance to the Waterfront Apartme
Trail Stats
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36 m
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Photos
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