Hoyt Arboretum Loop Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Wildwood Trailhead
- End point: Hoyt Arboretum Trailhead
- Trail Log:
- Hike Type: Loop
- Distance: 4.7 miles
- Elevation gain: 425 feet
- High Point: 850 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Seasons: All
- Family Friendly: Yes
- Backpackable: No
- Crowded: Yes
Contents |
Hike Description
The Hoyt Arboretum, site of an old golf course, displays a variety of coniferous and deciduous trees, including most native varieties from the Pacific Northwest as well as other North American species and a variety of exotics. A web-like arrangement of trails takes you to all corners of the park, including some stands of native forest, and your options are many here. The two principal places to park are at the Wildwood Trailhead just north of the Oregon Zoo and at the Hoyt Arboretum Visitor Center. This loop, taking in all the main sights of the park, is described as from the former, but there are numerous options, including via connector trails: the Marquam from the south and the Wildwood from the north.
From the Wildwood Trailhead, cross the road near the parking lot entrance and pick up the Wildwood Trail as it heads uphill. Keep right at the first trail junction, but then go left at the next junction. Hiking under Douglas-firs, keep right at another junction, keep left where a connector trail joins the Wildwood and then come to a T-junction. Go right here, still on the Wildwood Trail, under hazels, Douglas-firs and big-leaf maples. At the junction with the Hemlock Trail, go left up to S.W. Fairview Boulevard and cross it. The trail switchbacks down through a grove of hemlocks on a gravel tread. Reach an open area and go left and then left again back into the woods. Cross a footbridge and go right on the Creek Trail for a few yards and then make a left on the White Pine Trail, passing thimbleberries, sword fern, hazel, vine maple, maidenhair fern, and Armenian blackberry. At a junction, switchback up to the left. The trail heads along a boundary fence and passes above an open slope with maple, cedar, hemlock, Douglas-fir and grand fir. Pass through a stand of red pines and at the next two junctions, keep left on the White Pine Trail, heading back into native woods and descending a ridge crest. The trail switchbacks at the nose of the ridge and meets the Himalayan Pine Trail.
Go right on the latter, up under Scots pines. At the next junction, go left, passing Rhaetic pines from Switzerland peppered with drill holes by a sapsucker. Then there are Himalayan pines and a large grand fir here, too. The trail crosses Fischer Lane, passing a stand of Alaska yellow-cedar and arrives at the Creek Trail. Go right on the Creek Trail past a planting of bamboo and then make a left to cross a footbridge up to the Redwood Trail. Go left on the Redwood, passing incense cedars and then through a grove of sequoias and redwoods to rejoin the Wildwood Trail. Go right here. Switchback up the Wildwood, passing a junction with the Spruce Trail, and enter native woods. Switchback under ponderosa pines to S.W. Fairview Boulevard. Go right for 20 yards on Fairview and then head up the Fir Trail. Pass under maritime pines and different species of Asian firs. Drop down at a grove of Norway spruce and keep left on the Fir Trail to cross Fischer Lane. Reach a shelter and go left up a staircase to Fairview Boulevard. Cross the road to the Arboretum Visitor Center, which dispenses handy maps and is well worth a stop.
Head left in front of the Visitor Center, keeping straight at a paved trail, and then go right downhill on the Oak Trail. Switchback to the left at a junction on the Oak Trail under a shingle oak and then descend, passing a grove of black oaks on the left. Pass swamp white and basket oaks and reach the Wildwood Trail again. Go right here and switchback down to the right. Cross Upper Cascade Drive and Cascade Drive and go right on the Magnolia Trail into the Winter Garden, with its heathers and daphnes. Pass a planting of white-barked Himalayan birch and cross Cascade Drive again. Come to the junction with the Beech Trail, but keep left on the Magnolia Trail. Switchback up and keep right at a spur going up steps onto private property. At another junction, keep left and head up to pass plantings of different magnolia species and an information sign. Keep left at the next junction and make three switchbacks up the slope, passing some sassafras and sweetgums. Cross Upper Cascade Drive and pass around a green gate, walking towards a water tank.
Come to a junction with the Wildwood Trail and go left under honey locusts. Go left at the next junction and switchback down at a splendid birchbark cherry. Pass under turning cherries of various species and then switchback in native Douglas-fir, cedar, and maple woods. Note some crabapples and then come to a junction with the Cherry Trail. Keep left and descend into native woods. At the next junction, go right on the Walnut Trail. Cross a grassy area, then a tongue of forest. At the junction with the Maple Trail, go left and begin making a traverse across the slope. Hornbeam, Douglas-fir, buckthorn and raisin trees have been planted here. Get into the maples close to the junction with the Hawthorn Trail. Keep left here. The sugar maples below display bright orange finery in the fall. Pass by a stand of birch and green ash. At the junction with the Overlook Trail, go left and down. Look up to the right at a beautiful flowering ash, another dazzler in the fall. Cross S.W. Kingston to the parking area.
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- Dogs on leash
- Open dawn to dusk
Maps
- Green Trails Maps: Forest Park, Hoyt Arboretum, Washington Park #426S
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Hoyt Arboretum Loop Hike
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Hoyt Arboretum Loop Hike
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- Afoot & Afield: Portland/Vancouver by Douglas Lorain
- Wild in the City: Exploring the Intertwine by Michael C. Houck and M.J. Cody (editors)
- Peaceful Places: Portland by Paul Gerald
- Oregon State Parks: A Complete Recreation Guide by Jan Bannan (for Willamette Stone)
More Links
Contributors
- bobcat (creator)