Trails

Both our Year-Round River Trail and Seasonal Wetland Trail offer visitors opportunities to get up close in nature and experience a variety of habitats. Please note that our Seasonal Wetland Trail, open May 1 through September 30, is closed the rest of the year in order to protect important migratory waterfowl habitat. Please view our trail map for trail and facility locations.

A packed gravel trail goes along a pond and through trees.
Image Details

The River Trail takes visitors through a diversity of habitats, where they can see a variety of plant species and catch a glimpse of wildlife. Stop along the trail to see the Tualatin River at the River Overlook, and walk through a riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.

Learn more about riparian forest.

The main access to this trail is from the parking lot, and ends at the Wetland Overlook.

Trail name: River Trail (Year-Round)

  • Open season: Open year-round
  • Access: From the parking lot
  • Uses: Pedestrian only. No biking, jogging, or dogs allowed. Great for wildlife observation and photography
  • Length: 1 mile each way
  • Difficulty: This trail is generally flat, except for descending short switchbacks at beginning of trail, near parking lot. Past the observation deck, please note that the optional side trail to the Ridgetop Overlook has steeper grade (20-25%)
  • Route type: Point to point (out and back). When Wetland Seasonal trail is open (see below), connects to larger trail network
  • Surface: Compact gravel with some sections of natural material. Please note that during the rainy season, trail may be muddy, and in some cases may flood.
  • Average width: 6.5 feet
  • Max slope: 5% - optional side trail (Ridgetop Overlook) is 25%
  • Bench locations: 1 bench at first switchback, multiple benches at study sites and wetland overlook

Things to consider:

  • Please call our administrative office at 503-625-5944 with any general or accessibility questions
  • During the summer, conditions can be very hot, but there are a few shaded spots on the trail, or rest at any of the multiple benches
  • In the winter and spring, with increased rain, portions of the trail may become flooded - any alerts on trail closures will be posted to this site
  • Visitors can also take advantage of a photography blind (open by reservation only). Please see the photography activity page for further information
Trail is a gravel service road with short green vegetation on either side. A wetland spans the left of the trail, with some woody debris. Tall coniferous trees in distance. Sky above is cloudy.
Image Details

The Wetland Trail is open seasonally in order to protect wintering habitat for waterfowl. The seasonal trail takes visitors closer to the wetlands, and offers close-up views of wetland habitat and wildlife, including marsh birds, turtles, and a variety of mammals and other birds. This trail is a service road, and connect with the River Trail (open year-round), or as a separate trail (portion of trail loosely parallels the year-round trail). Visitors can choose to talk the full trail to complete the loop.

The main access points to this trail are next to the parking lot (on one side of the parking lot, visitors can access the trail going north, and on the other side, they can access the trail going south).

Trail name: Wetland Trail (Seasonal)

  • Open season: May 1 - September 30 only
  • Access: from the parking lot
  • Uses: Pedestrian only. No biking, jogging, or dogs allowed. Great for wildlife observation and photography
  • Length: 3 miles
  • Difficulty: This trail is generally flat, except for one descending long switchback on the south side of the parking lot.
  • Route type: Point to point, as part of a larger network of trails; option to complete a loop
  • Surface: Most of the trail is a service road that is a combination of loose gravel and natural material
  • Average width: 10 feet
  • Max slope: 5%
  • Bench locations: 1 bench located at the switchbacks

Things to consider:

  • Please call our administrative office at 503-625-5944 with any general or accessibility questions
  • Visitors will see a descending short staircase near the trailhead to access the seasonal trail; in order to access this trail by wheelchair via the trailhead, visitors will need to utilize a short connector trail from the year-round trail (from trailhead, continue on year-round trail, descend the short switchbacks, and the connector trail is just after the two ponds)
  • During the summer, conditions can be very hot, with limited shade opportunities
  • There may be some spots of uneven or loose gravel

Wetland Trail (Seasonal)

Trail Length (mi)
3.66
View Trail