Revision as of 23:12, 27 March 2015

Typical trail through the woods, Wilderness Park (bobcat)

Old trail sign, Wilderness Park (bobcat)

Steep steps, Wilderness Park (bobcat)

The outer loop around Wilderness Park (bobcat)

• Start point: Clark Street Trailhead
• End Point: High point near Prospect Street
• Trail Log:
• Hike Type: Loop
• Distance: 0.8 miles
• Elevation gain: 205 feet
• High Point: 595 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Seasons: All year
• Family Friendly: Yes
• Backpackable: No
• Crowded: No

Description

Some surprisingly large Douglas-firs tower above the trails of this 51-acre remnant of native forest on the upland slopes of West Linn. In the spring, typical forest floor flowers bloom, and there is a way to connect from here to the "back door" of the Nature Conservancy's Camassia property, covered in the Camassia Natural Area Loop Hike (see the link under "Maps" below for the route). The description involves a loop over the more extensive trail system above Clark Street, but there are also trails on the slope below the street.

A trail heads up from the west end of the parking area through a carpet of ivy. Salal, sword fern, and holly flourish under the Douglas-firs, grand firs, and maples. At a junction, keep left, passing a small spring, The trail heads gently down and, to do a peripheral loop, keep left at trail junctions. Reach a gated paved parking area that is no longer used. At the far end is a little painted board showing the trails and distances. Head up a trail from here and keep left at trail junctions. There are some bigger Douglas-firs here. The trail continues straight down and up out of a gulley to intersect with Clark Street, but after an English laurel/holly copse, go right to make a loop. Rise again now, keeping straight at junctions. The trail traverses and drops to a junction, where you go right. Drop down a steep set of steps and swing to the right past a chain barrier to the parking lot.

Fees, Regulations, etc.

• Dogs on leash
• There is a port-a-potty at the parking area.

Maps

• Maps: Hike Finder
• West Linn Walking Paths and Trails (West Linn Parks and Recreation)

Trip Reports

• Search Trip Reports for Wilderness Park Loop Hike

Related Discussions / Q&A

• Search Trail Q&A for Wilderness Park Loop Hike

Guidebooks that cover this hike

none

More Links

• Wilderness Park (West Linn Parks and Recreation)

• Hiking Wilderness Park, West Linn (YouTube)

Page Contributors

• bobcat (creator)