Oregon is such a beautiful state. Newell Creek Canyon Nature Park is a lovely park in Oregon City…read more On a recent holiday weekend, the parking spaces were somewhat occupied but with plenty of spaces available. There is a map and public restrooms in front of the park. There was also a map at the point where certain trails split off. The hubby and I did not get too far along the trail we were walking along because I was actually was not wearing proper shoes. Other walkers/hikers ahead of us were either families or couples. I did not see any homeless folks as another review had mentioned. But, again we did not venture too far. Although it was a warm summer day, the tall beautiful trees provided plenty of shade. Flowers along the paths were lovely as well. If I visit Oregon City again, I would likely be back to hike far enough to see the waterfall. 4 stars.

I'm gonna start with the bad cause I like to get that out of the way, there is on-site parking and…read morerestrooms and accessible picnic area and benches upon arrival, but unfortunately those spaces were occupied by people who were living in the park, sleeping on the benches, using the bathroom on the ground, and these are spaces where smaller children obviously would be spending their time. It was not a clean or safe area that I would recommend for anybody who is not here to actually hike a trail.......now that that's out-of-the-way let's talk about the trails! The trails are in good condition, the trees are beautiful of course, and all the lush greenery is so gorgeous, we saw some snakes, bunnies, so many different types of birds and fungi, there are very sturdy benches throughout and some parts of the trails can get pretty narrow. There is no actual view of the canyon It's just all gorgeous greenery which for me it's not disappointing in anyway, but if you are expecting a view, there is not one. Be mindful that if you are hiking down, you have to hike up on your way out I would definitely come back here again, but this is not a place I would suggest for a solo hike or with anyone who needs any type of attention or assistance. Bring a friend and remember there are no pets allowed at all.

Beautiful | family-friendly…read more We're pretty lucky to have places like this in Wilsonville. I'm so thankful for it. It's dog friendly (some trails) and must be kept on leash. The main trail, before breaking off into other small ones, is paved. We parked in the residential area to begin the walk. We then broke off to go into the woods. It was a very short loop, but it was SO beautiful, especially during the fall season. It's a popular spot to exercise and take your kids to.

This park is adjacent to the community we live in (Villebois) and we have taken many walks through…read morehere. There is a paved path that runs through it between Villebois and Wilsonville road. The is also a path of crushed granite that winds through a short forest area that is nice. My wife doesn't like the sound of the crunching rocks on the path. They are fine with me. We have seen some great wildflowers and many deer that hang out here. It's not that large of a park, but a nice walk. If it is really hot out, the paved path has no shade so don't do it mid day if you don't like the heat.

First time trying this place out for my first hike. Definitely a good starter hike if you want to…read moredo a hike. It's not that big. Easy to get too. I really enjoyed it and have already been back .

They get a bonus star for the spectacular view of Mount Hood there is at the top at the picnic…read moreshelter. It's more of a butte in height, rather than a mountain, so don't let the name discourage or mislead you. They have a parking lot at the top and a loop trail with inclines you can explore in under an hour. There's also a large covered picnic shelter at the top with attached restroom facilities. They have a couple of open, grassy areas if you want to play frisbee or bring some other yard games. At the moment (October 2023), the only downside was there is a new residential subdivision being built next to it, so there was a lot of construction noise on that side of the trail.

Burnside Park is a nature park set aside for hiking, river access, and wildlife viewing in West…read moreLinn. It is located along the Willamette River. You can walk along the main Willamette Greenway Trail, cross a bridge over Bolton creek and eventually enter into the adjacent Maddax Woods Park. There are also views of Goat Island in the Willamette where an important Great Blue Heron nesting area is located. There are actually several entrances to the park. The easiest access is at the Edgewater Court Trailhead. The next easiest trailhead would be at the end of Holmes Street. This trail has nice views, and some fairly steep steps that lead down to the Greenway Trail. Many Trillium flowers can be seen along here in March and early April. A third trailhead leads down from the end of Buck Street. The Buck Street trail is a dirt trail that is steep in parts. I have seen Bald Eagles, Red Tailed Hawks, and Hummingbird nests along this trail. The trail is scenic but it can be slippery when wet. Traction shoes and/or hiking poles would be good to have here. Basic park rules are: 1) Dogs are allowed, but must be on a leash at all times. (Leash law strictly enforced) . There is a dog park at nearby Mary S Young Park. 2) No fires allowed anywhere in Park. 3) Park closes at dusk 4) No littering 5) No removal of native plants and trees. The trees have all been rescued from invasive English Ivy at least once by wonderful volunteers. If you wish to join a Burnside Park volunteer group you can sign up at solveoregon.org . This nature park was set aside many years ago by Mrs. Caufield to preserve and protect it in a city park. It is a natural little paradise which has been preserved for future generations.

Burnside Park is connected to Maddox Woods Park along the Willamette River on the Willamette River…read moreGreenway Trail. It is common for hikers to start their trip in one park and then walk through the other over the connecting bridge. I should note that this park has two entrances in the local neighborhood. If you enter the park on Buck Street, your hike will start with quite a steep downhill path, so it definitely is not the place to start for those with mobility issues or any concerns about rolling ankles. Or if you have a dog that tends to pull you down trails. The entrance off of Edgewater Court would be a better bet. This is a 10-acre nature park ideal for wildlife viewing and hiking along the lovely Willamette River under a nice canopy of trees. No play structures or amenities.

My friend and I hiked a 6-mile loop at the start of November (one of SW Trails self-led routes) and…read moreour final section led us up from Macadam up to the trailhead in the Collins View neighborhood. (Trail 7) It rained the day of our walk but there was enough tree coverage that we didn't get wet during. The trail was muddy from prior precipitation, though, so watch your step after wet weather. It was about a mile uphill from one side to the next. Really quiet; only came across one couple at the start and another group at the end. Clear signage marking all the trails as they crisscross. We did see dogs even with the No Dogs rule. Give a hoot and wipe your boots to prevent spread of invasive plants.

River View Natural Area is a wooded 146 acre piece of land near the west end of the Sellwood…read moreBridge. It was privately owned prior to 2011, and had been logged in the 1800s and in the 1950s. It is now run by the Portland Parks Bureau. But don't think of it as a park - there are no parking lots, restrooms, picnic tables, or benches. What it does have is a beautifully marked network of trails for walking. The property is located south of River View Cemetery, north of Lewis & Clark college, west of Rt 43, and east of Palatine Hill Rd. There are two trailheads - one on Palatine Hill Rd, and the other on Rt 43. Parking is not permitted on Palatine Hill Rd, but there are nearby side streets that allow parking. On Rt 43, there is a gravel pull-off with room for maybe 2 vehicles. The land slopes generally downward from west to east, with the steepest parts near the Rt 43 trailhead. The trails are hard packed dirt, with lots of exposed tree roots for potential ankle twisting. We visited during the summer, and footing was excellent. But, I'd imagine that the dirt trails on sloping ground could get really slippery during rainy months. The most direct route between trailheads seems to be about .8 miles long, with a difference in elevation of perhaps 300 vertical feet. There are at least 8 numbered trails on the property, with clearly labeled signs and maps at both trailheads, and at every trail intersection. I have never been to a place with such thorough signage. The trails are laid out so that you can take side trips and/or loops of many different lengths. One thing that I found curious is the name of the property - though it is near the Willamette River, there are only a couple of spots near the eastern trailhead where you can glimpse even the tiniest bit of water. All in all, this is a delightful place for a short hike. Trails are quite narrow, so you will want to have a mask for Covid-era encounters with other hikers. That said, during the couple of hours that we spent here, we only encountered 4 other people, and 2 of them were walking together.

This is a great hike! There are some steep areas but if you're in the right shoes it's o problem.read more

I've driven past this park a thousand times to and from Lake Oswego along the Stafford corridor. My…read morefocus has usually been on the large homes dotting the hillside and didn't realize there were two nature preserves on the hill. Cooks Butte Nature Park is primarily accessed by local residents at four trailheads so parking is minimal at the entrances. The lower entrance also grants you access to Stevens Meadows which is 20 acres of green space, largely undeveloped, and no dogs are permitted. However Cooks Butte has a well maintained trail system full of dense trees, Oregon grape, and trillium and four legged friends are welcome on leash. Be prepared for a climb. Cooks Butte reminds me of a smaller version of the mighty Tryon Park on the other side of Lake Oswego. However, Tryon with its variety of wide trails and (mainly) flat trails is definitely more family friendly. Cooks Butte is more nature preserve, in this case an attempt to reestablish a forest after clear cutting, and doesn't offer many recreational activities or scenic views other than an enjoyable hike. And did I mention the hills? Up, up, up along a switchback trail, or down, down, down along a fire trail. Along the way you'll see a few water towers (tagged with origami flowers, 'cuz even the graffiti is high end in LO) and enjoy a natural landscape. Nice to see a different part of the city, but not one of Lake Oswego's best destinations. Note: The map marker was incorrect, so I've submitted an update.

This park was s very well used when it's nice out, with 2 different play structures, fenced in…read moretennis courts and a large grassy area for fun times. The inner trail is roughly 0.25 of a mile, so keeping track of walking or running distance is easy. There are portable potties available spring-fall, so hopefully you don't have to go potty in the winter.

This park is small but very well thought-out and clean!! Risley Park is part of the www.ncprd.com…read moreorganization (North Clackamas Parks and Recreation) and as such receives attention as to adequate number of dog poop bags and garbage cans, picnic tables in various locations, playground equipment for the toddlers and young children divided by age group and activity, basketball court and a tennis court. What more do you expect to find at a park? I like that there is also a huge grass field on the side we usually enter, because that allows Re (my grandson and the reason for going) to run with Gnof (my Irish terrier dog). If he falls then, the number of tears will at least be limited. Around that grass field there is a trail for running or active walking--nice!

What a neat park, tucked away in a little neighborhood in the Cedar Mill area. It was named after a…read morenature and garden lover (wife of the person who donated the land originally). This park was renovated too in 2010 and it still looks brand new! The playground equipment felt fun and unique and everything was very clean. There is a large lawn for lawn games and also nice dog park area for the doggies. This park is also connected to the Jordan Woods natural area, with a paved trail and a nice little lookout. We drive here from Hillsboro and our dog loves it. We've also met other dog owners here and they are all so nice!