Avery Park Loop Hike

Overview

Avery Park, located in a bend of the Marys River, is a leafy haven with many of the usual park amenities although the petting zoo, which included a non-petting bear pit, was closed many years ago. In addition, however, there's a formal rose garden and a trail that leads through native woods above the river: in the spring, forest wildflowers, including poison larkspur, cow parsnip, fringe-cup, sweet cicely, wild rose and woods violet, bloom here in profusion. This park has everything for a family with young children, but others should consider stopping by for a picnic and a slow amble. The area was first the property of J.C. Avery, the founding father of Corvallis, and later the woods here became the venue for outdoor forestry classes before the area was converted to a city park. Cross the street from the parking lot and walk through the Corvallis Rose Garden toward an avenue of sequoias. Pass millstones brought in from Kings Valley and walk out to the road bridge for a view of the Marys River. Thick vegetation, primarily big-leaf maple, Oregon ash, willow, and red osier dogwood, cloaks the river banks. Take a muddy trail just before the bridge to walk anti-clockwise around the park. This is the beginning of the Wildflower Trail. The trail heads parallel to the river banks on a wide meander of the Marys River. It is densely shaded by maples, ash, and Douglas-firs. Pass the parking area for the Maple Grove Picnic Area. In spring, the cow parsnip is blooming and so are fringe-cup and tall poison larkspur. Cedars, oaks, and grand firs complete the canopy. At a T-junction, a spur leads right down to the river and a stone platform that used to be the site of a canoe rental operation. These days, it’s a summer sunning spot and swimming hole. Continue around to reach the maintenance yard at the end of the Wildflower Trail. Walk past the district parks offices, open weekdays, and up a road. To the left are a playground, restrooms and a soggy, grassy expanse with a line of oaks. Pass a house on the right and pick up

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