A Triple-Trail Day near the Tualatin River

Oregon

March 2019

Three Different Hikes in Southwest Portland

After hiking yesterday afternoon, we wanted to make the most of another crisp, sunny spring day. We got an early start because we planned to hike at three spots in the Southwest Portland area.

A Crisp Start at Brown’s Ferry Park

We began with a peaceful hike along the Tualatin River at Brown’s Ferry Park. Today, it’s a quiet, reflective spot, but back in the 1850s, it was a busy crossing for settlers and traders. Since the 1990s, the park has protected the river’s riparian habitat, guaranteeing that local wildlife and ancient Oregon White Oaks continue to thrive

Graham Oaks, A Saved Sanctuary

Our next stop was Graham Oaks Nature Park near Wilsonville. Here, we combined several trails through the restored Oak Savanna, one of the rarest ecosystems in the world. The park opened in 2010, and since then, over 150,000 native Oregon White Oaks and native grasses have been planted to restore this landscape. Because it takes an Oregon Oak 100 years to mature, only the grandchildren of the grandchildren will see the full effects of this restoration.

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While we walked through the open grasslands, we were treated to a clear, snow-capped view of Mt. Hood on the horizon. The park is an oasis for wildlife, and we indeed spotted a small group of deer quietly grazing near the border of the woods. It’s incredible to think that this unique land was destined to become a massive landfill in the 1980s. However, a local community effort convinced the regional government, Metro, to preserve the area instead. And instead of filling the area with waste, they chose the restore and preserve it.

Jackson Bottom Wetlands, From Sewer to Sanctuary

We saved the last and longest hike for last at Jackson Bottom Wetlands, a 725-acre preserve in Hillsboro. These wetlands act as a vital urban lung, naturally filtering the Tualatin River Basin with help from the nearby water treatment plant.

In the mid-1900s, this land was actually used as a “sewer farm” to dispose of cannery waste and construction debris. While we could smell the modern treatment plant nearby, we could only imagine how intense it must have been decades ago, before the restoration began. Starting in the 1980s, these lands were transformed into a protected sanctuary, serving as a critical stopover for over 150 migratory bird species each year.

The Resilience of the Tualatin Valley

I find it amazing to see nature’s power to heal and restore itself, even after decades of human impact. It’s hard to believe this land was ever damaged, but these three parks prove that no landscape is truly lost. Today, they thrive as healthy sanctuaries, leaving a hopeful reminder that, with a little help, nature always finds its way back.