SE ~ Reed College: The Canyon

Date visited: January 12, 2009
Agency: Reed College
Path Surface: Dirt (muddy today), some wood chipped sections
Elevation gain/loss: 40 feet
Distance: 1.75 round trip as described
Ratings: Setting +++ Calorie-burning ++
Directions: Go north from Woodstock or south from Holgate on SE 28th Ave in southeast Portland. Parking at Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden or on campus off of SE 28th.

Combine this walk with Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden and you will be surprised what hidden treasures lie between city streets in these two areas.

From the Garden, cross SE 28th Ave, follow the sidewalk into the campus parking lots (or start from the parking lot), keeping the tennis courts on left. Walk toward the theater building and turn left on the sidewalk in front of the theater (on Botsford Drive). Walk down hill about 50 yards and look for steps down the bank to a trail. On the trail, head back toward the theater building on the boardwalk and continue under its edge, following Crystal Springs Creek. Continue on the trail past the waterfall which should be to your right. When you reach pavement, jog slightly right and continue on the dirt trail.

Soon you are in fine view of the lake, where winter waterfowl paddle and dive. Common snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) glows brightly white in contrast to the gray day. Continue eastward, ignoring all side trails. At the far end of the lake, bare branches fan out over the marsh, rife with perching birds. We saw three species of woodpeckers and many kinglets, both ruby-crowned and golden-crowned. Round the loop to head back westward, again staying with the main trail. At a maintenance parking area, turn right to walk across the dam and then left to retrace your steps on the dirt path along the creek.

We listed 24 species of birds on our walk today.

Aerial view.

NW ~ Rock Creek Trail

Date visited: January 6, 2009
Agency: City of Hillsboro, Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation
Path Surface: Paved, boardwalk, one short dirt trail detour
Elevation gain/loss: Rolling hills about 20 feet elevation differential
Distance: 3.7 miles
Ratings: Setting +++ Calorie-burning +++
Directions: Parking lot at Orchard Park, 20900 NW Amberwood Dr. in Hillsboro. From the Sunset Highway (US Hwy 26), exit at 185th southbound. Turn right on Cornell Rd, left on 206th and right on Amberwood. Look for the sign for the park.

Notes: Street crossings can be dangerous. If you are with slow walkers, consider using crosswalks at nearby intersections. It was apparent that some of the path had been flooded with our recent precipitation, so be alert for trail closures in heavy rain. I did some looking around for information about the people whose grave markers are in the park, including a visit to the Washington County Historical Society. If anyone has information about these folks (or why they are buried there), please leave a comment!

This loop through the park and path along Rock Creek is one of the designated “regional trails,” that will eventually connect the Beaverton Powerline Trail and Rood Bridge Park. The bonus here is the chance to get a look at several common westside Oregon birds, who hang around because of the water and wetlands of the creek.

From the parking lot in Orchard Park, walk south along the wide paved path also suitable for biking. Take the first left downhill to the bridge over Rock Creek. At the next intersection, keep left. This short detour turned up lots of kinglets, chickadees and a pretty Townsend's warbler. When you reach the rock circle, take a left on the dirt trail. After traveling .1 mile, keep watch to the right for the grave marker for Brian and Irene Burt.

Return to the main path, turn left on the boardwalk, recross the creek and continue around the loop back toward the parking lot. Follow the sidewalk in front of the restroom to Amberwood Dr, turn right, cross the bridge over the creek and look for the paved path on the other side of Amberwood.

At the end of this short segment (which was today full of robins), turn left on Cornell Rd. to find the continuation of the path. Continue to follow the main path on a boardwalk over a grassy marsh. Birds hang out in the trees all along this section, and if you are lucky, you might spot a kingfisher darting along the creek, as we did today. Be especially vigilant at some feeders to the right behind an apartment building, where we saw a whole crew of pine siskins enjoying the nyjer thistle.

One more street crossing at Evergreen Parkway, then under the freeway and you reach the current end of the path after traveling about 1.3 miles from Orchard Park.

Bird species count for today's trip: 21