Stunning series of well-maintained trails with clear signage to help one navigate the network of…read moretrails. The trails stay in good shape even in the winter. There are muddy spots here and there but nothing that you can't side step. The trees are also identified with signs so you can learn and expand your tree vocabulary and appreciation for the forest. It's my favorite place to hike.

On our way back home from McMinnville, we went through Beaverton to check out Bald Peak State…read moreScenic Viewpoint, which was a nice stop while in the area. I recommend checking out if you're around, with a viewpoint that looks out to Willamette Valley. On a Monday in the early afternoon, we stopped by Bald Peak State Scenic Viewpoint which has a lower parking lot area and on the upper area is where cars can park along the side for a quick stop. From the lower parking lot is a short walk to the upper area, where most people stop by to see the views of Oregon's wine country. There were a few picnic tables and some people had brought out their camping chairs and staked a spot to chill. It's a quiet, serene area that's high up to see the area. But if you're looking for a hiking trail, there isn't much of that here. It truly is just a viewpoint where you can stop and check out.

Beautiful view from this small park on top of this mountain. Restrooms with 2 pit toilets are in…read moreone of the lots. Took a nice picture from one of the picnic tables, but I immediately had my feet surrounded by yellow jackets! I scooted out of there, and back to the car to wait for my daughter, who took the dog down the short trail. It was a far drive (nice drive) for not much and a bee attack! Boo!

Tip: to get to the playground area, park in the parking lot closest to SW 107th street (NOT the…read moreparking lot down the street that has a building next to it). Very cute somewhat hidden park that requires a short walk to get to. Nice playground for little ones. Huge grassy area for activities. Nice bathrooms and a big covered area with picnic tables. Seems to be a ton of trails as well. Also a couple soccer goals and a baseball diamond.

This park is definitely one of Portland's "hidden gems". Easy to access from several locations, it…read morehas a multitude of wide open trails which intersect at various points and are excellent for walking/running either with a buddy (the human or canine kind) or alone if looking for some peace and solitude. This park can confidently be used year-round as the trees provide ample shade from the heat of the sun's rays in the summer, and the type of ground cover present on the trails helps to prevent them from becoming overly muddy throughout the rainy winters. On a side note, make sure to be heads up if using the cross walk on the trail that crosses Tigard Street as the surrounding trees can sometimes make it difficult for oncoming traffic to clearly see pedestrians, so they may fail to slow down. Always better to be safe than sorry... But overall, A++ for this little piece of backyard paradise.

Love that this little slice of greenery got its own designation. I got to sample a nice (but fairly…read moresmall) network of intertwined trails in this fairly small park (or, ah, natural area), none of them flat, which I totally appreciated for their winding character and shifting terrain. Most are moderate to easy single tracks through wooded areas, but there are some tricky spots, which can get sloppy after rains, but kudos to the volunteers who hacked these paths through a narrow and sometimes steep canyon. You'll get little sun, and lotsa shade, (and sorta sketchy parking), but the trails are decently maintained. Just be aware - they're not flat or paved.

This park is integrated right into the neighborhood. There is no parking lot, but rather a couple…read moreof dead-end streets that turn into trails. The trails weave their way through the park, down to the creek, and back up to another entry dead end street. It's fairly charming with lots of native plants, wood bridges, and staircases. Looks like someone regularly makes flower art on a particular storm drain - cute. Signposts at trail intersections provide info, but there's no trail map which would be useful. Probably about 2 miles of trails total, some are steep uphill but otherwise it's fairly easy. Dogs allowed on leash. (I saw a number of owners who were not following this rule but didn't have any issues.)

Recently did this 40-mile bike ride and it was a spectacular ride! A friend and I decided to ride…read moreon a gloomy + rainy day which ended up being worth it! It wasn't crowded at all and the views were still great. It was a full day, as we arrived around 10:30 am and were back in the car around 5:30 pm, so expect to take the whole day to enjoy this ride and to stop at the town of Vernonia. I love how this trail had multiple bike hubs and came in handy to put some air in my tires about 15 miles in. It was generally all family-friendly riding, with only a couple of hills where we did walk our bikes, but you can ride uphill if you are looking for an uphill challenge. But do note, that there were considerable amount of uneven spots/small potholes on the trail which my friend didn't remember on her last ride here so just be prepared for that. Luckily, most of them are marked! I will also agree with other reviews - about first 10 miles from Banks was a noticeable workout. We decided to grab some burgers in Vernonia and stretch our legs - which I totally suggest to do. We did see that a neighbor on our way to Vernonia had some free grapes and apples for us, which was such a sweet treat and extra fuel. I will suggest this to all my newbie and more advanced biker friends looking for a workout with a view!

This is a fine trail, but the reviews that mention great views must have never been anywhere with…read moretrees and forests. There are no overlooks or valley views, just forests and a few grass fields. We just completed another section on our e-bikes. We will end up making three visits to complete the trail. Parking at Banks is very limited. Parking in Vernonia is unlimited. Someone has been marking roots and bumps with paint and it was greatly appreciated on our bikes. Our first visit was on a hot sunny day and was not near as enjoyable as yesterday in a cool drizzle. Not real rain, just threats of it.

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.

I really love places which are educational and fun. We wanted to visit the forest for some fall…read morecolors and the overall drive to this place is magical. They have a cute stationary inside the center with a lot of local, handmade, and cute stuff. We bought some maps. From the time you enter inside the place to the time exists, you ll learn a lot of things about nature. They maintained it really well and once you walk out from the other end, you ll see a very pretty bridge with water flowing. And there are couple of small trails outside of the forest center. There's a light house just right outside to experience the beautiful place from top. Overall, we really enjoyed visiting this place. Definitely a must visit if you are around.

Reopened...FINALLY!!…read more The center hasn't been open since we moved to Oregon. We've driven by so many times wondering what was behind the gate...will we ever know? But HOORAY, last weekend the gates opened and we got to check it out. We actually heard an announcement as we were heading towards the building from the parking lot and decided to join a Tillamook Forest tree information walk first thing. A very pleasant employee, Abby, gave us a brief intro into the surrounding trees, their history and importance within the park. After the tour we wandered over the Wilson River bridge and back into the center to meander through the exhibits a bit. There are so many interesting educational items to read and look through inside, as well as a theater and gift shop...and a few trails to take around the vicinity as well. Our first visit was pretty brief, but we were happy to leave so much to explore during future visits. Fabulous and fun spot to learn about the beautiful Tillamook Forest!

The campground was full for the memorial day weekend.Close to the River and only 35 minutes from…read moreTillamook. There was only 1 camp host, but he took care of business . Clean camping area and the Bathroom was clean and supplied with plenty toilet paper .. We will return ..

My new favorite place..... we made reservations about two months in advance, for August. It wasn't…read moreperfect, as we got rained out one day early. But, we sure had a blast the time we were able to spend there. I love how you can look at every campsite online first. There are water spickets and bathrooms very well placed, there was more than one close to our spot. We got one of the bigger tent spots, I think it was c20, and it felt very private. The park hosts are amazingly attentive but not, "up in your business " if ya know what I mean. Just the perfect amount of awesome. We will most definitely be coming back again. It's easier to find that I thought it would be. It's literally 9 miles down track river road and you run right into it, on both sides of the road. I'll try to add pictures from my phone to my review.