Oregon Hikers

It was a busy weekend with work-related obligations, but I managed to get out for a few hours on Sunday. I walked around my favorite loop (8 ½ miles) in Forest Park beginning at the Lower Saltzman Road Trailhead off of Highway 30. Even though the ground was frozen, the trails were busy and I had to park my car about 100 yards back from the gate. The only big view of the day was across the Willamette railroad bridge to St. Helens, Rainier, and Adams.
I hiked up Salzman Road and then split off on the lower section of the Maple Trail. I followed the trail to where it joined Leif Erikson Drive, took a left and then joined Salzman Road again to reach the Wildwood Trail heading south. The Wildwood undulates along here, the highlight being in the two south forks of Salzman Creek, where you’ll see the biggest trees in the park, a handful of six-foot wide Douglas-firs near the trail (They’re not the tallest trees in Portland: that honor belongs to a Douglas-fir below the Stone House on Balch Creek).
You need to ignore a short tie trail to the Maple Trail to see these, and I continued on to the Maple Trail itself to take it back as it wound below the Wildwood. The trail is officially closed between the Koenig Trail and Firelane 4 junctions because a bridge is out over a gully. The closure has been in effect for a couple of years now, but is generally ignored and a little detour in and out of the gully has been carved by legions of bipeds and quadrupeds.
There were lots of joggers and bikers and hikers and canines out. It’s an often uttered cliché, but it’s a true treasure to have such a quick escape near the heart of the city.

Great! I was up on the Wildwood Sunday too, although I was further south. I really like that alder picture.
Woodswalker

This is a standby route for me in FP, thanks to Sullivan's 100 Hikes book. I enjoy it in the winter after work, with a headlamp. I did it during a cold snap last year, I remember it being 10 degrees! I was the only car at the gate! Go figure!

Nice photos! I was on the Leif Erickson Sunday. My 1st time to FP. I'll have to hike your route next. A different assortment of people. Quite different than the Gorge or Mt. Hood. When I said hi or hello, only about 1/4 of people replied back. Everyone else just ignores others like they're ghosts.

Hi, I notice the lack of greetings as well. Seems like it gets better the further you are from a trailhead. I've also noticed it late afternoon in the gorge close to the really popular trailheads.
Woodswalker

Actually, I was surprised at how many friendly greetings I got on Sunday, it being Forest Park in the big city and all. Probably over half the people I saw on trail made eye contact (which I always try to do) and said hello.

bobcat wrote:Actually, I was surprised at how many friendly greetings I got on Sunday, it being Forest Park in the big city and all. Probably over half the people I saw on trail made eye contact (which I always try to do) and said hello.

That's great!
Woodswalker

Nice opening photo, BC! And thanks for the heads up on the big trees.


I find most of the folks in the park to be pretty friendly too but there are the occasional party poopers

Nice report, and thanks for the reminder on Forest Park! I did the All Trails Challenge a few years back and remembered really loving a few stretches of the Wildwood, but because I did so much of the park in a short time period I wound up forgetting which parts I wanted to revisit. I think the stretch of the Wildwood you've described here is one of those places. I also love the section just to the west of the Newton Road trailhead. (That's one that I remember, anyway!)

Speaking of maples - another favorite corner that I DO remember is the Ridge Trail about 2/3 of the way up to Leif Erikson. The ginormous vine maple there is stunning.