NE ~ Gibbons Creek Wildlife Trail

Date visited: July 28, 2009
Agency: US Fish & Wildlife
Path Surface: Gravel
Elevation gain/loss: Minimal
Distance: 2.25 miles
Ratings: Setting +++ Calorie-burning ++ to ++++
Directions: Entrance is east of Washougal on Highway 14. Look for the signs.

On a very hot day, we explored this new trail through Steigerwald Lake NWR. The path begins through open fields, crosses a tree-lined bridge, then parallels a dike on the right. On a clear day, Crown Point is visible across the Columbia River.

One lonely killdeer patrolled what little moisture remained in a small pond near the parking area. Common yellowthroats and savannah sparrows hid in the grassy fields.

Closer to the river, strips of cottonwood trees begin and bird life picks up. We saw dozens of goldfinches along with a respectable number of other species, including, to my surprise, a white breasted nuthatch without an oak in sight.

At an intersection, a sturdy bridge crosses Gibbons Creek and the path passes Redtail Lake, where even in the heat of this day, we could see a tundra swan and several mallards enjoying the water. We followed the path to its connection to the Washougal Dike Trail, where you can add several more miles to your walk.

We did not try the seasonal trail along Gibbons Creek--it was just too hot! It looks like a nice loop could be made by following the seasonal trail to the Columbia River Overlook, then turning west on the Washougal Dike Trail to rejoin the Gibbons Creek Trail at the Redtail Lake Overlook.

SW ~ West Side Regional Trail-THNP to Davis

Date visited: July 28, 2009
Agency: Tualatin Hills Parks & Rec
Path Surface: Asphalt
Elevation gain/loss: 100 feet
Distance: Six miles (out and back)
Ratings: Setting +++ Calorie-burning ++++
Directions: From Hwy 26, take the Murray Blvd exit, south on Murray 1.3 miles, west on Millikan Blvd .5 mile, parking lot on right as Millikan curves to the south. Address: 15655 SW Millikan Blvd. Information: (503) 629-6350.

Begin from the Tualatin Hills Nature Park. From the parking lot, enter the park passing the interpretive center on the paved path and veer right onto the Oak Trail. While on this forested path, listen for the happy song of the winter wren, while towhees, song sparrows and purple finches join in.

Go .4 mile to the gravel Tadpole Pond Trail. (If you are riding a bike, walk it on this short section.) As you pass the pond, turn right onto a paved bike path. After almost .9 mile, cross Millikan Blvd and continue on the path, scanning for red tailed hawks perched on the powerline towers. The path curves back to Millikan, where you must turn left onto the sidewalk to rejoin the path after crossing over the bottomlands of Beaverton Creek. Notice the nest boxes here. Tree swallows were swarming this area today.

Continue .2 miles farther on the path to the corner of TV Highway and Millikan Blvd. After crossing TV Highway, Millikan becomes 160th . Follow 160th just over a tenth of a mile to Blanton and turn left. Another tenth of a mile connects you back to the path on your right. The .4 mile stretch to Farmington Rd. is shrubby and nearly level, and on this morning, filled with blackberry pickers.

Cross Farmington to reconnect with the path, which is nearly level until you reach Division. From here, the path switchbacks up into Schuepbach Park, drops down, then zigzags up to Davis Rd., the current end of the path.

For a shorter route, bypass the section through the Nature Park. Walk from the parking lot back to Millikan, turn left to find the path. Map.

SW ~ Cooper Mountain Nature Park

Date visited: July 2, 2009
Agency: Metro/ THPRD
Path Surface: Mostly gravel, some dirt
Elevation gain/loss: 330 feet
Distance: 2.9 miles as described, 3.5 miles of trails
Ratings: Setting ++++ Calorie-burning ++++
Directions: From Highway 217, take the Scholls Ferry Road exit and go west on Scholls Ferry. At Southwest 175th Avenue, turn right and go north, uphill, about 1.8 miles. Curve left on Kemmer Road. The park entrance is on the south side of Kemmer Road near its intersection with 190th. Or, from Southwest Farmington Road (Highway 10), turn south on 185th Avenue, which will become Gassner Road, turn left on 190th Avenue and left on Kemmer Road. NO PETS ARE ALLOWED.

If for no other reason, go for the view. But while you're there, may as well get some exercise.


Beginning atop Cooper Mountain at 760 feet elevation, we followed the west edge of the Little Prairie, then Cooper Mountain loops, which first traverse through a planting of young evergreens. Savannah sparrows and western bluebirds seemed to really like it here. The trail then dives down through an oak woodland (great white breasted nuthatch territory) bottoming out at around 430 feet elevation, and starts up again. The gravel trails are wide, which is good because there is POISON OAK EVERYWHERE. We startled a deer at an old (and tiny) quarry, which is being rehabilitated to provide amphibian habitat. Today, the black quarry rocks contrasted nicely with the American goldfinches dipping their beaks into the murky pond water.

We took the Larkspur Loop extension for added mileage, then climbed Blacktail Way to finish on the Little Praire Loop. Signposts guided us at each intersection.

It's possible to take some shorter loops with less elevation change, but our route gives a nice overview of all the habitats and good birding spots.
Map.
Didn't get enough of Oregon white oak? Try Baskett Slough NWR.

NW ~ Rock Creek Nature Preserve

Date visited: June 8, 2009
Agency: PCC Rock Creek
Path Surface: Dirt
Elevation gain/loss: 40 feet
Distance: If you try hard you might be able to get 2 1/2 miles
Ratings: Setting +++ Calorie-burning ++
Directions: From Hwy 26, take exit 64, go north on 185th and turn right on Springhill Rd, follow signs to Rock Creek PCC campus. To generate the most mileage. park in lot B.

I wish there were more trail and I wish what trail there is was better maintained, because this really is a pretty place in spring and summer. Consider visiting on the weekend when the $3 parking fee does not apply.

To maximize mileage, park in lot B and cross campus to the northwest corner, near Building 3. We walked the north edge, where we saw several barn swallows and a few nests clinging to the buildings. A gate near the northwest corner of Building 3 is the beginning of the dirt trail that leads downhill through mixed woods and wildflowers. At another gate, cross an old farm road and go through yet another gate. Continue downhill through the woods to a fork in the trail. The left fork quickly ends at a meadow. The right fork continues to a boardwalk which also leads out into the meadow, about .3 mile from the first gate.

Entering this new habitat, look and listen for white breasted nuthatches, which are nearly as apt as acorns to be on the big oak trees. Swallows cruise and dart over the grassy meadow. Common yellowthroat "witchety-witchety" nearby, but mostly out of sight. We are too late for the camas display, but I can imagine it was fantastic.

The boardwalk ends abruptly at a locked gate, only a tenth of a mile after you enter the meadow. On our return, we walked the farm road past the gates and trail and were rewarded with great views of a lazuli bunting. We then backtracked to the gates, took the right hand one following the trail back uphill, to and across the developed campus to lot B. Our bird species count for the day was 31.

There is allegedly a 1/2 mile paved trail near parking lot B, but today at least, the entrance was chained shut. An aerial photo of the site is located here.

NW ~ Salmon Creek Greenway

Date visited: March 27, 2009
Agency: Clark County, City of Vancouver
Path Surface: Paved
Elevation gain/loss: a few rises of about 10 feet
Distance: Six miles total-out and back
Ratings: Setting +++ Calorie-burning ++++
Directions: From I-5 take exit 5 in Vancouver, go east on 99th St, then turn north .9 mile on Hwy 99. Finally, go west .3 mile on 117th to the trailhead within Salmon Creek Park (on the right).

This nicely paved path makes for an enjoyable spring walk or bike ride. If you decide to do it on a hot day, take some water—there's almost no shade.

At the beginning, the path clings to Salmon Creek's south bank. After passing the noise and commotion of the ball fields, the path curls around to a more natural path-side setting on both sides, but eventually moves away from the creek. Although there's little shade on the path itself, there's plenty of brush and woods for wildlife. On our walk today, we spotted 21 species of birds, including one merrily singing ruby crowned kinglet, and one rabbit. Wildflowers were just beginning to bloom in the woods past the T-intersection.

Mileage is marked in the asphalt. Near the last half mile of trail, the path widens, overlooking seasonal ponds, where winter and early spring waterfowl paddle about. As the weather warms, both the water and the waterfowl will disappear, to return with the fall rains.


Click here for a map.

SE ~ Mount Tabor Update

The green trail is up! See previous post here. On our previous visit, the green trail was under construction. The trail marker posts are up now, for this round the butte route. We discovered the new markers too late to measure the distance of the new trail, but we will update this post with that information at a later date.

SE ~ Mount Tabor

Date visited: March 24, 2009, bird species count-- 20
Agency: Portland Parks and Recreation
Path Surface: Gravel, dirt and pavement
Elevation gain/loss: 200 feet
Distance: Three miles as described
Ratings: Setting +++ Calorie-burning ++++
Directions: From SE 60th Ave. in southeast Portland, turn east off SE Salmon St. Turn left at Mt. Tabor Park Road to the first parking lot, across from picnic area A. On Wednesdays when the park is closed to vehicles, follow Belmont to turn south on SE 69th for parking near the entrance.

One of the eastside buttes, Tabor is a multi-use and lovely city park. Expect many people (and dogs) on most every day.

Trails crisscross through the park, but the Friends of Mt Tabor Park have marked some routes for nice overviews of all the park has to offer. This trail guide was available (today) at the kiosk at the edge of the parking lot. We took the “Blue Trail,” which involves some climbing, stairs and, right now, circling around construction.

Start out down the road to the right from the kiosk 50 yards until you see a blue topped post. Turn downhill onto the footpath here. Turns and intersections are marked with these posts, and some blue arrows stuck in various places here and there. Although the trail is marked, the trail guide is helpful for detours, like the current construction area near Reservoir 5. You'll see woodsy and open areas, reservior views and wonderful Portland skyline shots. A few wildflowers are blooming even now; undoubtedly more to come.

The park is closed to all public vehicle traffic on Wednesdays, but it's only a hop, skip and jump to the entrance from your car on 69th St. The absence of most vehicles (maintenance trucks rumble through) makes the park all the better. Morning bird song walks take place here on Wednesday during the spring as well.

Trail map without the Friends' route highlighting.