Easy Hikes Paved Trails Near Beaverton Oregon

Jenkins Estate in Beaverton

Hiking in the Cascades, in the Columbia River Gorge, or on the Oregon coast is epic, merely it can take a while to get there and back. If you lot're looking for a quick outdoor escape, Portland's fringes have plenty to offer. Betwixt scenic mountain buttes, leisurely nature trails, and historic landmarks, the good one-time burbs are sure to surprise. Then grab your walking shoes and get fix to hit the trails, and even so be domicile before rush hour.

Jenkins Estate

Beaverton

Distance: 1.7 miles
Height proceeds: 350 feet
Difficulty: Easy
One time the grounds of a fancy summertime domicile, Jenkins Estate takes you back to the early 1900s with its historic structures and English language-style gardens. Located on the northwest slope of Beaverton'south Cooper Mount, it was purchased past Ralph and Belle Jenkins in 1912. In the 1970s, Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District purchased the 68-acre park with the intention to restore the grounds, gardens, and 20th-century house and stable. Jenkins Manor is as well listed on the Register of Celebrated Places.

The well-maintained belongings has about 2 miles of trails, and is peculiarly magical in bound, when gardens flower with daffodils, trilliums, and daylilies. From the parking lot, take the wooded trail through a awning of Douglas fir, alder, and hemlock, and you'll eventually reach a slope that takes you up toward the grounds, where you'll see the stately Primary House perched high upwardly on the hill. The unabridged property, according to the Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation Commune, has been preserved to emulate "the early 20th century genteel lifestyle," with both a rhododendron and perennial garden, as well as an herb garden filled with everything from lavender, scented geraniums, and thyme—perfect for a leisurely stroll. But the highlight is the lotus swimming surrounded by Japanese maples, next to the teahouse. A miniature waterfall flowing into the pond lends a tranquil soundtrack as you take in the scenery. All in all, the entire hike just feels like one big retreat, and between the peaceful gardens and birds chirping you'll never want to leave. It's no wonder the Jenkins chose this place every bit their summer escape. — Michelle Harris

Hogan Butte Nature Park

Gresham

Distance: 0.5 mile
Elevation gain: 121 feet
Difficulty: Piece of cake
From the meridian spotter of this Gresham park, visitors thrill to bluebird views of Cascadia's geologic greatest hits. Jefferson and Hood tower to your right. Burly heartthrob Adams claims the east. And and then, to your left, Rainier and St. Helens dominate the gaps betwixt stands of mossy red alders.

But consider, too, the butte what brought ya. The entirety of Hogan Butte Nature Park—46 acres of picnic spots, interpretive placards, and a half-mile ADA-attainable path—is itself an extinct volcano, one that predates some of those studly stratovolcanoes on the horizon by more than ii meg years. Function of the Boring Volcanic Field, Hogan Butte was ane of fourscore or and then amassed steam vents that helped shape the Gorge from modern-twenty-four hours Beaverton due east to Damascus.

It'south been a while since Hogan Butte blew its tiptop. Now, this tranquil, 930-pes rise is ringed with native cedars and maples; each bound, it blooms with Oregon grape and red flowering currant. The groves beyond the meadow are home to black-tailed deer, red foxes, downy woodpeckers, and northern flickers. And, since September 2017, the park has also welcomed homo visitors: to stroll its walkways, snap shots of broad Columbia Gorge vistas, and gawk, dorsum at the parking lot, at the handsome yellow Brite House, once known as the "Crest of Heaven Club": a dairy-turned-Prohibition speakeasy (and "house of ill repute") known for its rooftop blue neon star, lit during open hours. — Ramona DeNies

Scouters Mountain Nature Park

Happy Valley

Distance: i.5 miles
Elevation gain: 210 feet
Difficulty: Easy
In one case the site of a Boy Scouts camp, Scouters Mountain near Happy Valley seems destined to go on nurturing dearest for the outdoors. At more than than 900 anxiety tall, the extinct lava dome is a natural site for exploration, with panoramic Cascade Range views and stands of centuries-old Douglas firs. After several years of restoration work, Metro opened the 100-acre site in 2014, and in that location are now well-nigh 1.5 miles of trails. Articulate days mean unrivaled views of Mountain Hood and glimpses over the Columbia River. After circling the summit, trace the Boomer Trail down into a deep forest clinging to the mountainside. (The trail is named for an unusual species of mountain beaver that lives hither.) As the trail continues through the mountain's lush eastern flanks, browse the forest floor for mushrooms and herds of black-tailed deer silently loping amid the trees. — Brian Barker

Orenco Woods Nature Park

Hillsboro

Distance: 1.6 miles
Meridian gain: 85 feet
Difficulty: Easy

Orenco Wood Nature Park

This 44-acre park, a short walk from the Orenco Station MAX stop, officially opened in Feb 2017. One time domicile to the Oregon Plant nursery Company (famous in the early on 1900s for its sweetness Orenco apple), its remnant wetlands, oak savannas, and streamside forest now bulwark residential developments, providing refuge for beavers, black-tailed deer, red-tailed hawks, and songbirds. Tour rolling topography along the 0.9-mile Habitat Trail over pocket-size prairie and down to gurgling Rock Creek, a Tualatin River tributary holding cutthroat trout and lamprey. So ascension to meet the paved Rock Creek Trail (which links to nearby Orchard Park), where an arched bridge soars in a higher place creeks and wetland ponds. — Brian Barker

Tualatin River Greenway Trail

Tualatin

Distance: 4.6 miles
Tiptop proceeds: 55 anxiety
Difficulty: Easy

Tualatin River

Meandering along the Tualatin River, this breezy trail was made for those suburban power walks (or wheel rides). The good news is, you can choose your own take chances here since the trail—which crosses through Tualatin, Durham, and Tigard—has various admission points. Of course, you can as well tackle the entire matter, merely go along in mind that yous'll so demand to trek all the fashion back for this in-and-out hike.

Showtime in Tualatin, the Tualatin River Greenway Trail technically commences well-nigh the intersection of SW Natchez Court and SW 46th Artery, but it might be easier to begin at Brownish'due south Ferry Park. Articulate signage will go along y'all on track every bit you pass through urban center streets, forests, and wetlands. Function of the trail crosses the Tualatin Fine art Walk, where you'll walk forth a concrete path lined with everything from crushed blueish drinking glass and to-scale mastodon footprints, all made to represent Oregon'south geologic history starting from the Ice Age through when pioneers began settling in the Willamette Valley—a most excellent run a risk indeed. You can also view a full-size mastodon skeleton, excavated in the early 1960s in the area where Tualatin's Fred Meyer at present stands, on display at the Tualatin Public Library—which happens to be right along the trail.

Gawk at herons and egrets while passing the wetlands, and you'll soon cantankerous the Tualatin River over the breathtaking Ki-a-Kuts Cycle and Pedestrian Bridge, where you'll continue towards Durham City Park (which, by the fashion has a dog park) and and so weave through a quiet forest of Douglas fir, big-leaf maple, and Oregon ash. Finish at Jurgens Park, a 12.15-acre park named after William and Rosa Jurgens, who operated a potato farm nearby in the 1800s. — Michelle Harris

Nansen Summit Trail

Lake Oswego

Distance: iv.6 miles
Acme gain: 775 feet
Difficulty: Moderate

A drainage tunnel in Mountain Park

In terms of nature and the outdoors, the suburban landscape of Lake Oswego is probably not the first thing to cantankerous your heed—unless you're Carl Halvorson, the landscape designer who in the 1970s was responsible for integrating nature trails and green spaces into a planned community chosen Mount Park. What we accept now is an intricate trail organisation that weaves through quiet, foliage-dappled parks, watersheds, and playground areas. Even better, it'southward all congenital on an extinct volcano—a.yard.a. Mount Sylvania, which is office of the Boring Volcanic Field.

Depending on how long you desire to make the hike, there are a number of places to start from, such as McNary Park, located virtually Nansen Summit Park (where you'll likely conclude your trip). For the ultimate suburban trek, begin at Westlake Park, where yous'll accept access to a large parking area and rest rooms. From there you can turn correct onto Melrose Street and and then loop onto Botticelli to connect with the trail network. One word of advice: bring along a printout of the Mountain Park Trail Map or at to the lowest degree accept information technology handy on your phone. Along the style you'll come across faded green trail signs that are simply marked "PATH" to help guide you. An unexpected trail characteristic that makes this hike unique? A series of drainage tunnels incorporated into the trail system to help keep pedestrians safe from traffic crossings.

The hike gets more intense as you inch closer to McNary Park, where you lot'll then continue walking through a community of houses that more than or less harken to the 80s McMansion era. A short stairway leads upward to Nansen Meridian Park, soaring one,000 feet above footing with sweeping views of the Tualatin Valley, the West Hills, and Mount Hood. The park also has a grassy spot and some benches for a much-deserved rest before heading dorsum downward. — Michelle Harris

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Source: https://www.pdxmonthly.com/travel-and-outdoors/trails-hikes-close-to-portland

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