Went deep into the park to see the northern lights without city light disruption. It was peaceful,…read morequiet, and a crystal clear night to see stars. We think we saw some Aurora colors. Not sure though. Still a beautiful experience!

What a beautiful camping spot close to Portland. We…read morereserved 2 spots for tent camping for 2 nights. The sites were clean and well maintained and parking was very close to our sites (28 & 29). The tent pads are gravel and there's a nice grassy area for hanging out in our freestanding hammock. There are miles of beautiful trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Stargazing was incredible and we wished we had brought a telescope. The tent area has 2 bathrooms with flush toilets which were mostly clean. They could use some spider web removal and a good floor scrub. One of the bathrooms was locked, maybe for maintenance, on the second day of our stay. We saw deer, a big variety of birds and a couple cute squirrels and chipmunks. A pond along one of the hiking trails hosted a large number of salamanders! We will go back and try a cabin site next.

Forest Grove, Oregon "A place where families and business…read morethrive" We took a drive out to Forest Grove on Superbowl Sunday, before the big game. The drive to Forest Grove felt long from Portland, but it was a nice drive. The reason was to visit Kama'aina Comfort foods, we got our take out from the food truck and had to find a place to enjoy our lunch. My daughter searched for a park on her phone and we happen to be nearby Joseph Gale Park. Who is Joseph Gale? He was an explorer, fur trapper and member of Oregon's Provisional Government Executive Committee (1843-44) He was Commander in Chief of the Oregon Territory Milita and also championed the rights of Native America. A small park in the Forest Grove Community, located right next to Joseph Gale Elementary school. We found street parking right in front of the park. Joseph Gale Park as I observed had a small playground with a few picnic benches. I noticed on this beautiful cool Sunday, 2 families utilizing the playground, a gentleman utilizing the picnic table reading a book, and my family enjoying our lunch on another picnic table. This park is small, very green and also clean. The Amenities at Joseph Gale Park includes: barbeques baseball fields, picnic tables playground equipment restrooms, softball fields Parks and Recreation Director: Tom Gamble Parks Supervisor: Matt Baum Phone: 503.992-3237 Overall, We enjoyed our afternoon visit here at Joseph Gale Park and can't wait to be back again at this park and neighborhood!!

We drove an hour to visit Hidden Creek West Park in Hillsboro, and it was absolutely worth the…read moretrip! This park is a total gem--thoughtfully designed, beautifully shaded, and perfect for families. There are plenty of swings and a great variety of play equipment to keep kids engaged for hours. One of the things I appreciated most was the visibility--there's seating thoughtfully placed all around the park, so no matter where your child is playing, you can easily keep an eye on them. There's even a grassy area under the trees where you can lay out a blanket and relax. Even on a hot day, the metal slides stayed cool thanks to the shade, which is a rare and welcome surprise! The kids there were all friendly, and the parents seemed attentive and involved, creating a really positive, safe vibe. My kids had a blast and would've stayed much longer if I hadn't forgotten snacks--lesson learned! We'll definitely be back, this time with a picnic and more time to explore.

First of all the park is huge and the activities available for the kids are wonderful. Multiple…read moreswings, rotating ball, and great big climbing structure with slides and rock climbing wall. There is a fountain for the summer time and outdoor picnicking and grilling. Nice little trail to walk around. Across the street is 3 futbol piches and more park. The community center features indoor courts for basketball, badminton, track, and a gym. Staff is sorry nice and welcoming and the place is clean and inviting.

Celebrating 12 years of f-cking, s-cking, and occasionally eating Turducken (very rarely)…read more My girlfriend looks thrilled about it eh? We went to the Meating Place Cafe to get some food (I recommend the Turkey Cranberry sandwich with Mama Lil's Peppers) and then headed to Henry Hagg Lake (I also recommend) to eat, hike, and swim.

It's a decent sized lake with great views. There's ample parking and easy access to view the lake…read more Saw a bunch of people boating and fishing in it. Really worth going on a clear day and spending time in the sun laying down in the green grass. There's also a restroom nearby so that's a plus.

This review is day use only, and trail hiking…read more This is an excellent spot to jump on several trails that circle the area. Today I did an 8 mile loop that took me south for a bit then back around. My goal was to stay on the Storey Burn Loop Trail, and I mostly did. It turned into Gale Creek Trail and there were many places where I could have diverted. Watch your map or it will have you darting across highway 6 - don't do it! Although, University Falls is over there and its gorgeous. On the east side there are lots of dirt bikes and hand cannons. The west side is blissfully free of that noise. Now you know. It was super muddy today, suck you out of your boots muddy. The water is flowing with all the rain we've had, and the rain forest is lush with growth. Enjoy!

I haven't stayed here as a camper, but I've come often for the Day Use Area and to go hiking on the…read morenearby trails around the campground. The facilities are great. Clean, well-kept, and clearly marked. The campsites aren't right on top of each other which is nice! Definitely room to spread out and have a little privacy. The river runs through and it is beautiful! It's a fantastic place to just hang out. Bring the dog and a beer and you're golden! There are a few moderate to difficult hikes that run from the trailhead at the entrance of the campground, so there's always something to do and see! There are multiple points where you can access the river, so you don't have a bottleneck on one trail. You also won't have an issue of people trying to walk through your campsite for river access. Hoping to actually camp here soon, and I'll update my review. But at least for day use I can say it's fab!

Amazing views! The drive into Ecola was just beautiful, dense forest all around. Currently love in…read morethe desert, so all the green was a treat. We only did the Ecola Point viewpoint which has some short trails from the parking lot. You can see the lighthouse a little bit from some of the views, but probably not as well as grub the lighthouse view trail. Still amazing views tho down into Cannon Beach, haystack rock, etc. If you're going to visit a lot of state parks, I recommend getting the state park pass. Worth the price!

Home is where the heart is. This area was my stomping…read more grounds for many moons! I use to go to Ecola state park, regularly growing up. Go on hikes,look for rocks shells,surf, get lost in nature, just sit in the grass and watch the ocean. Here is what you can do at Ecola State Park: Hiking & Walking: Explore trails ranging from easy strolls to challenging hikes through Sitka spruce forests. The Clatsop Loop Trail follows the path of1806 explorers, while the Oregon Coast Trail offers longer, scenic treks. Indian Beach: A popular, secluded cove for surfing, sunbathing, and tide-pooling to see sea stars and anemones. Viewpoints: Take in spectacular vistas from Ecola Point, including views of the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse ("Terrible Tilly") and distant Haystack Rock. Wildlife Viewing: The park is known for herds of elk grazing in the meadows, as well as sightings of bald eagles and migrating gray whales. Picnicking: Enjoy lunch at the picnic areas located on the grassy bluffs with ocean views. Photography: The dramatic, moody coastline provides excellent opportunities for photography. Oregon State

One of our family favorites. We like all the options for camping. It's clean. Kid friendly and the…read moreocean is close enough that even the little ones can make the journey. I found it gets the zoomies out of them and that makes for a quiet night, most times. Sometimes you have a small group of littles and they somehow are fueled by the laughter of other kids and seem to possess unlimited energy. We camp closest to the beach. There is no shade there. We bring our own but at night, the stars are like street lights. It's beautiful. The moon at times feels like you could grab it. The ocean will put you to sleep like a Dr.s prescription. It's amazing. All the bathrooms get used a lot because of the amount of people who stay here but they are constantly being cleaned. The showers are a little strange to me but good. Don't try to park an extra vehicle on your spot even if only unloading. The parking is terrible BUT way down the road, on the "Day Use Area" is plenty of parking. Ya, we all hate parking in the D.U.A. They hold cultural events in the D.U.A. We've seen some awesome Native American dancers. They looked super cool. The beach access is at either end of the dune. The beach is clean and the waves aren't that vicious. The shore is nice and shallow. Low tide brings a whole different look to the area with smooth rock surfaces and cobblestones. Of course the ocean is always awesome.

Truly a treasure, whether you are visiting for the day or to camp. Plenty of paid parking upon…read morearrival. There were park workers cleaning up the landscaping while we were there, as well as some volunteers. Almost completely direct access from the parking lot to the beach. There are many access points, restrooms onsite, and trails to walk. The beach itself is pretty spacious and so while there may be a lot of people, they aren't too close together. Many folks were using the bbq's to grill with charcoal and so it smelled additionally fantastic.