Miller Woods (McMinnville) 1/21/10

kelkev · Post by **kelkev** » January 21st, 2010, 5:37 pm

Sunshine, 55 degrees, and a new 4-day work week (bad economy....) sent me to Miller Woods, a fairly new nature preserve and outdoor learning center located about 5 miles west of McMinnville (and 5 miles west of my house!) It is a 130 acre tract of land deeded to the Yamhill Soil and Water Conservation District, and volunteers have been busy building trails (about 6 miles of them), removing non-native vegetation, planting native vegetation, restoring riparian areas, and managing some second-growth timber. A mix of woods, fir forest, creek basin, wetlands, and open fields. A tad muddy this time of year in spots, but not too bad. Trails are still a little sketchy in spots, but they are marked well - color coded arrows point the way. $3.00 day-use fee at the self-service kiosk, and $35.00 for annual membership. Large parking area, and an on-site caretaker. Didn't see a soul, except for one deer and one Kestrel. A good day to get outside and smell some fir trees and enjoy the long-lost sunshine! Good website with maps, directions, and lots of information.

http://www.millerwoods.org

Kevin[*]