A Short Saturday Escape to Cooper Mountain
March 2019
A Chilly but Sunny Hike
On a chilly but sunny spring day, we started our hike around lunchtime at Cooper Mountain Nature Park. The park was a short drive from home, on the edge of Beaverton, our neighboring town. According to our guidebook, the mountain would offer a rugged terrain with volcanic soil and white oaks, plus a 3.5-mile trail system through a carefully managed and restored habitat.
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We took a mix of the Lark Loop and the Little Prairie Loop, hiking up and down the mountain. Along the way, we enjoyed wide, open views of the Tualatin Valley and stunning sights of the Chehalem Mountains far off. The landscape opened up in spots, with prairies and scattered white oaks. Many of the oaks were covered in lichen and still sheltered rare species that have been around for centuries.
At times, the trail took us through a dense forest, which was a nice change from the open hillsides. One unique stop was the sculptural acoustic “ear,” a listening installation that made the sounds of the wind and nearby wildlife louder. Standing quietly for a moment, we could really listen to the park. We finished the loop in under two hours. Just like the guidebook said, it was the perfect short Saturday escape into nature close to home.