Alder Ridge Loop Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Homan Road Trailhead
- End point: Alder Ridge Elk Meadow
- Trail Log:
- Hike Type: Lollipop loop
- Distance: 2.6 miles
- Elevation gain: 380 feet
- High Point: 705 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Seasons: All
- Family Friendly: Yes
- Backpackable: No
- Crowded: No
Contents |
Hike Description
The Homan Road Trailhead is the back door to Oxbow Regional Park's network of trails and is the official equestrian trailhead; there are no fee stations here although all park rules, such as a ban on pets, still apply. From here, you can hike down a series of switchbacks in lush coniferous forest to a large ridge top meadow where grazing deer can often be spotted. From Marker H, on the northwest side of the meadow, a maintenance road leads down to connect with Oxbow's trails along the Sandy River.
Hike on a level trail past the Oxbow Regional Park sign on the left side of the dead end – to the right is a private driveway. These are lovely, lush woods of Douglas-fir, western red-cedar, big-leaf maple, and sword fern. Note that many of the cedars have had strips of bark peeled off of them; it is unknown why this was done or if this was an act of vandalism. Such stripping of cedars, which usually doesn’t kill the tree, was done by Pacific Northwest Natives: the inner bark of the cedar was processed into clothing. There’s a viewpoint to the right where you can look across the Sandy River Gorge although the river itself is not in view. The trail drops down the ridge crest, making fourteen switchbacks (the upper ones have railings) to the edge of a small forested plateau. Reach a three-way junction at Marker I. An Area Closed sign blocks a steep trail, now much obscured by blowdown and slides, that originally led from here down to the Ancient Forest.
Keep left at this junction and hike to a maintenance road and Marker H. From here, you can hike down the road to connect with the network of trails described in the Oxbow Loop Hike. Go right on the road to get a view of the meadow and see if any deer are out grazing. Elk from the Sandy River Gorge herd also visit the meadow, but are usually seen around sunrise and sunset. Back at Marker H, continue clockwise around the meadow. Walk in lush woods of cedar, Douglas-fir, big-leaf maple, and hemlock. There’s a viewpoint through trees down to the river. The trail continues through cedar groves and passes the south side of the meadow heading through more deciduous woods of alder and maple. Notice a few big Douglas-firs here. Reach Marker I at the three-way junction, and go left to hike the 14 switchbacks back up to the trailhead.
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- No fees at Homan Road Trailhead
- No pets
- Open 6:30 a.m. to sunset
- Campground, picnic areas, restrooms in lower area of the park
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
- Oxbow Regional Park (Metro)
- Green Trails Maps: Columbia River Gorge - West #428S
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Alder Ridge Loop Hike
- An Oxbow Park Recliner Hike through the back door 06/23/13
- Oxbow Park (through the back door) 01/29/2012
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Alder Ridge Loop Hike
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- Afoot & Afield: Portland/Vancouver by Douglas Lorain
- 100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon & Southwest Washington by William L. Sullivan
More Links
- Oxbow Regional Park (Metro)
- Oxbow Regional Park (Portland Monthly)
- Oxbow Regional Park (Portland Family Adventures)
- Oxbow Regional Park (Things to do in Portland with children)
- "Oxbow Park takes a bow after 50 years" (OregonLive)
- Grant's Getaways - Oxbow Park on the Sandy River (Grant's Getaways)
Contributors
- bobcat (creator)