4 min
Overview
Really the jewel in Springfield’s park system, Dorris Ranch combines easy, flat walking with outdoor history displays, the original Oregon filbert orchards, a spring wildflower show, and shoreline access to the Middle Fork Willamette River near its confluence with the Coast Fork. Once the domain of the Kalapuya, the area was settled in 1851 by the Masterson family, who arrived via covered wagon from Missouri. George Dorris acquired the property in 1892 and planted Oregon’s first commercial filbert orchard in 1905, the seed stock for at least half of Oregon’s filbert (hazelnut) trees in the ensuing decades. The Willamalane Park & Recreation District purchased the 258-acre ranch in 1972 and continues to oversee filbert production, some 50 tons a year! In recent years, the old trees have been severely affected by eastern filbert blight, and a project has been underway to replace them with disease resistant varieties. Take the paved path to the right of the restrooms. This is the Middle Fork Willamette River Path, which runs for four miles to Clearwater Park, often along the shore of the river. At a trail junction, you can see the Tomseth House down to your right (the house was moved here from the Willamette Heights neighborhood above 2nd Street; it can be rented as an event venue). Take the path to the left, which leads you on a short loop around a “living history village” displaying replicas of structures from pioneer and Native history, including a facsimile of the original Masterson cabin. Back on the Middle Fork Path, keep straight to cross a road track as you hike above oak woods where camas, buttercup, baby blue eyes, Oregon grape, and trillium bloom in the spring. To get off the paved trail, go right down a dirt footpath, and keep left to cross a new footbridge. The trail reaches another junction, where you should keep left. Across the field below you, you can see to the 1899 George Dorris house. The trail switchbacks down above a camas/cow parsnip bottom to reach a field of newly planted blight-free fil
Trail Stats
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Photos
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