What is it?
Tryon Creek State Park is one of the more well known outdoor spots in Portland. The 670 acre natural area is Oregon’s only state park within a major metropolitan area. Thanks in large part to Friends of Tryon Creek (FOTC), there are a number of attractions and activities that make a trip well worth while.
Why Visit?
Tryon Creek has a staffed Nature Center that houses a classroom, reference library, and a gift store. The park offers more year round programs, classes, camps, and guided nature hikes than you can shake a stick at. As an added bonus, the “Family Games and Activities” page of the FOTC website has a number of printable documents that are blast for the kids. Games like tree matching, animal tracker and plant detective are just a few of the activities available.
In terms of trails, the justifiably popular park provides specific paths for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. There are endless loop options for hikers here. Though the Ruth Pennington Trillium Trail is the only official barrier-free path, most will find the trails in the vicinity of the Nature Center negotiable. Stop in at the Nature Center for a map.
While many consider winter to be a time when vegetation dies or enters a state of torpidity, it is actually prime season for one of Portland’s most intense color displays. Mosses, lichens, and ferns come alive and adorn the forests of the Pacific Northwest in an array of greens in winter. Tryon Creek is a particularly good place to observe the fluorescent coloration that is a hallmark of local woods this time of year. A number of trees are decked out in one way or another, but it is the bigleaf maple that sports the thickest coat of cold-weather growth.
As a matter of fact, the park has year round free guided nature walks that vary by season. Through February the walks are designed to help visitors identify mosses and lichens, as well as the trees in winter. Check their online calendar for dates and times.
Get There:
From downtown, take I-5 south to exit 297. Head south on Terwilliger Blvd, following signs for "Tryon Creek State Park". After just over 2 miles, turn right onto the entrance road and follow it to the parking area. Maps of the Park's trails are provided inside the Nature Center.
For more of Adam's writing, reviews, and photography, visit AdamSawyer.com
Comments
I could use a good hike right now
the nature center and library sound really nice.
Oh this sounds like another great hike among all your other great ones ;)
Looks very interesting.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!