Difference between revisions of "Oak Island Loop Hike"
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
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[[Category:Northwest Oregon]] | [[Category:Northwest Oregon]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Portland Area]] | ||
[[Category:Sauvie Island]] | [[Category:Sauvie Island]] | ||
[[Category:Easy Hikes]] | [[Category:Easy Hikes]] | ||
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[[Image:OakIsland3.jpg|thumb|250px|Clustered wild rose ''(Rosa pisocarpa)'', Oak Island ''(bobcat)'']] | [[Image:OakIsland3.jpg|thumb|250px|Clustered wild rose ''(Rosa pisocarpa)'', Oak Island ''(bobcat)'']] | ||
[[Image:OakIsland4.jpg|thumb|250px|Glimpse of Sturgeon Lake, Oak Island ''(bobcat)'']] | [[Image:OakIsland4.jpg|thumb|250px|Glimpse of Sturgeon Lake, Oak Island ''(bobcat)'']] | ||
| + | [[Image:OakIslandMap.png|thumb|350px|Loop trail around Oak Island ''(bobcat)'']] | ||
{{Start point|Oak Island Trailhead}} | {{Start point|Oak Island Trailhead}} | ||
* End point: [[Sturgeon Lake Narrows]] | * End point: [[Sturgeon Lake Narrows]] | ||
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* Hike Type: Loop | * Hike Type: Loop | ||
{{Distance|2.8 miles}} | {{Distance|2.8 miles}} | ||
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=== Hike Description === | === Hike Description === | ||
| − | Surrounded by Sturgeon Lake on Sauvie Island, Oak Island is part of the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area and is open to hikers only seasonally, from mid-April to the end of September. The best times to visit are right after and just before the closure, when migrants such as sandhill cranes may still be present. Look for raptors in the grasslands and woodpeckers and passerines in the woodlands. Vegetation includes typical shoreline trees such as Oregon ash and willow but also extensive meadows and copses of Oregon white oak. | + | Surrounded by [[Sturgeon Lake]] on Sauvie Island, Oak Island is part of the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area and is open to hikers only seasonally, from mid-April to the end of September. The best times to visit are right after and just before the closure, when migrants such as sandhill cranes may still be present. Look for raptors in the grasslands and woodpeckers and passerines in the woodlands. Vegetation includes typical shoreline trees such as Oregon ash and willow but also extensive meadows and copses of Oregon white oak. |
| − | Pick up a nature trail brochure if there are some in the dispenser. From the trailhead, walk past the gate on a vehicle track. At a junction, go left through snowberry thickets under oak, willow and ash trees. At a junction with two trail signs, the beginning of the loop, keep left on the vehicle track. Cross an open field and get a view of West Sturgeon Lake to your left, with the Tualatin Hills behind. There are oak woods are to your right. The trail heads into an ash forest, passing a couple of gnarly old trees. Spurs left leads to the waters of Sturgeon Lake. Where the trail turns south, you can head left through the thick grass to the water's edge at The Narrows, a channel which connects Sturgeon Lake with its western arm. The trail turns south, with several spurs leading to the willow-lined shore of Sturgeon Lake (Since the island was extensively diked, there have been no more sturgeon in Sturgeon Lake | + | Pick up a nature trail brochure if there are some in the dispenser. From the trailhead, walk past the gate on a vehicle track. At a junction, go left through snowberry thickets under oak, willow and ash trees. At a junction with two trail signs, the beginning of the loop, keep left on the vehicle track. Cross an open field and get a view of the West Arm of [[Sturgeon Lake]] to your left, with the Tualatin Hills behind. There are oak woods are to your right. The trail heads into an ash forest, passing a couple of gnarly old trees. Spurs left leads to the waters of [[Sturgeon Lake]]. Where the trail turns south, you can head left through the thick grass to the water's edge at [[Sturgeon Lake Narrows|The Narrows]], a channel which connects Sturgeon Lake with its western arm. The trail turns south, with several spurs leading to the willow-lined shore of [[Sturgeon Lake]]. (Since the island was extensively diked, there have been no more sturgeon in [[Sturgeon Lake]].) From here, you can get good views of [[Mount Saint Helens]] looming rather large. The road bed is a carpet of white clover. Blackberries ripen in profusion here in late summer, so come prepared with containers! Pass through a grassy expanse sprinkled with young ash and cottonwood trees. The green oak forest is to the right. The trail turns right again (left is to a stony beach) and passes a bench and a memorial plaque to Keith Bolles Lobdell. Enter oak forest and reach the loop junction, where you turn left back to parking. |
From the port-a-potty at the parking area, a short trail leads to a little cove called Wagonwheel Hole on West Sturgeon Lake. | From the port-a-potty at the parking area, a short trail leads to a little cove called Wagonwheel Hole on West Sturgeon Lake. | ||
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=== Fees, Regulations, etc. === | === Fees, Regulations, etc. === | ||
* Open April 16th - September 30th | * Open April 16th - September 30th | ||
| − | * $ | + | * $10 day-use fee |
* Dogs on leash | * Dogs on leash | ||
* Open dawn to dusk | * Open dawn to dusk | ||
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=== Maps === | === Maps === | ||
| + | {{Hikemaps|latitude=45.71399|longitude=-122.82080}} | ||
* [http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/visitors/sauvie_island/ODFWOakTrailMap.pdf ODFW Oak Island Nature Trail (Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife)] | * [http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/visitors/sauvie_island/ODFWOakTrailMap.pdf ODFW Oak Island Nature Trail (Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife)] | ||
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=== Guidebooks that cover this hike === | === Guidebooks that cover this hike === | ||
| − | * ''Best Hikes With Kids: Oregon'' by Bonnie Henderson | + | * ''Urban Trails: Portland'' by Eli Boschetto |
| + | * ''Best Hikes With Kids: Oregon'' by Bonnie Henderson & Zach Urness | ||
| + | * ''Best Hikes with Children: Western & Central Oregon'' by Bonnie Henderson | ||
* ''100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon & Southwest Washington'' by William L. Sullivan | * ''100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon & Southwest Washington'' by William L. Sullivan | ||
* ''Day Hiking: Columbia River Gorge'' by Craig Romano | * ''Day Hiking: Columbia River Gorge'' by Craig Romano | ||
* ''Afoot & Afield: Portland/Vancouver'' by Douglas Lorain | * ''Afoot & Afield: Portland/Vancouver'' by Douglas Lorain | ||
* ''60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Portland'' by Paul Gerald | * ''60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Portland'' by Paul Gerald | ||
| + | * ''Take a Walk: Portland'' by Brian Barker | ||
* ''Best Short Hikes in Northwest Oregon'' by Rhonda & George Ostertag | * ''Best Short Hikes in Northwest Oregon'' by Rhonda & George Ostertag | ||
* ''Nature Walks In and Around Portland'' by Karen & Terry Whitehill | * ''Nature Walks In and Around Portland'' by Karen & Terry Whitehill | ||
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=== More Links === | === More Links === | ||
| + | * [https://wildcolumbia.org/hiking-camping-wildlife-columbia-county-oregon/oak-island-nature-trail-overview/ Oak Island Nature Trail Overview (Wild Columbia County)] | ||
* [http://www.pdxfamilyadventures.com/2008/08/13/oak-island-nature-trail Oak Island Nature Trail (Portland Family Adventures)] | * [http://www.pdxfamilyadventures.com/2008/08/13/oak-island-nature-trail Oak Island Nature Trail (Portland Family Adventures)] | ||
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* [http://www.everytrail.com/guide/oak-island-birding-and-blackberry-loop-trail-sauvie-island Oak Island Birding and Blackberry Loop Trail - Sauvie Island (Every Trail)] | * [http://www.everytrail.com/guide/oak-island-birding-and-blackberry-loop-trail-sauvie-island Oak Island Birding and Blackberry Loop Trail - Sauvie Island (Every Trail)] | ||
| − | |||
* [http://www.hikingupward.com/OSP/Sauvie/ Sauvie Island - Portland, OR (Hiking Upward)] | * [http://www.hikingupward.com/OSP/Sauvie/ Sauvie Island - Portland, OR (Hiking Upward)] | ||
| − | |||
* [http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/visitors/sauvie_island/index.asp Sauvie Island Wildlife Area (Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife)] | * [http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/visitors/sauvie_island/index.asp Sauvie Island Wildlife Area (Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife)] | ||
| − | |||
* [http://audubonportland.org/local-birding/iba/iba-map/sauvie Sauvie Island Wildlife Area (Audubon Society of Portland)] | * [http://audubonportland.org/local-birding/iba/iba-map/sauvie Sauvie Island Wildlife Area (Audubon Society of Portland)] | ||
| − | |||
* [http://sauvieisland.org/visitor-information/park-permits/ Parking Permits/Food (Sauvie Island Community Association)] | * [http://sauvieisland.org/visitor-information/park-permits/ Parking Permits/Food (Sauvie Island Community Association)] | ||
| + | * [http://sauvieisland.org/ Sauvie Island (Sauvie Island Community Association)] | ||
| − | |||
=== Contributors === | === Contributors === | ||
* [[User:bobcat|bobcat]] (creator) | * [[User:bobcat|bobcat]] (creator) | ||
Latest revision as of 18:00, 31 October 2022
- Start point: Oak Island Trailhead
- End point: Sturgeon Lake Narrows
- Hike Type: Loop
- Distance: 2.8 miles
- Elevation gain: 10 feet
- High Point: 25 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Seasons: April 16th - September 30th
- Family Friendly: Yes
- Backpackable: No
- Crowded: No
Contents |
Hike Description
Surrounded by Sturgeon Lake on Sauvie Island, Oak Island is part of the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area and is open to hikers only seasonally, from mid-April to the end of September. The best times to visit are right after and just before the closure, when migrants such as sandhill cranes may still be present. Look for raptors in the grasslands and woodpeckers and passerines in the woodlands. Vegetation includes typical shoreline trees such as Oregon ash and willow but also extensive meadows and copses of Oregon white oak.
Pick up a nature trail brochure if there are some in the dispenser. From the trailhead, walk past the gate on a vehicle track. At a junction, go left through snowberry thickets under oak, willow and ash trees. At a junction with two trail signs, the beginning of the loop, keep left on the vehicle track. Cross an open field and get a view of the West Arm of Sturgeon Lake to your left, with the Tualatin Hills behind. There are oak woods are to your right. The trail heads into an ash forest, passing a couple of gnarly old trees. Spurs left leads to the waters of Sturgeon Lake. Where the trail turns south, you can head left through the thick grass to the water's edge at The Narrows, a channel which connects Sturgeon Lake with its western arm. The trail turns south, with several spurs leading to the willow-lined shore of Sturgeon Lake. (Since the island was extensively diked, there have been no more sturgeon in Sturgeon Lake.) From here, you can get good views of Mount Saint Helens looming rather large. The road bed is a carpet of white clover. Blackberries ripen in profusion here in late summer, so come prepared with containers! Pass through a grassy expanse sprinkled with young ash and cottonwood trees. The green oak forest is to the right. The trail turns right again (left is to a stony beach) and passes a bench and a memorial plaque to Keith Bolles Lobdell. Enter oak forest and reach the loop junction, where you turn left back to parking.
From the port-a-potty at the parking area, a short trail leads to a little cove called Wagonwheel Hole on West Sturgeon Lake.
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- Open April 16th - September 30th
- $10 day-use fee
- Dogs on leash
- Open dawn to dusk
- Nature trail (brochures might be available)
- Port-a-potty at trailhead
Maps
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Oak Island Loop Hike
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Oak Island Loop Hike
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- Urban Trails: Portland by Eli Boschetto
- Best Hikes With Kids: Oregon by Bonnie Henderson & Zach Urness
- Best Hikes with Children: Western & Central Oregon by Bonnie Henderson
- 100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon & Southwest Washington by William L. Sullivan
- Day Hiking: Columbia River Gorge by Craig Romano
- Afoot & Afield: Portland/Vancouver by Douglas Lorain
- 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Portland by Paul Gerald
- Take a Walk: Portland by Brian Barker
- Best Short Hikes in Northwest Oregon by Rhonda & George Ostertag
- Nature Walks In and Around Portland by Karen & Terry Whitehill
- Wild in the City: Exploring the Intertwine by Michael C. Houck and M.J. Cody (editors)
- Best Easy Day Hikes: Portland, Oregon by Lizann Dunegan
- Canine Oregon by Lizann Dunegan
- Peaceful Places: Portland by Paul Gerald
- Oregon Hiking by Sean Patrick Hill
More Links
- Oak Island Nature Trail Overview (Wild Columbia County)
- Oak Island Nature Trail (Portland Family Adventures)
- Oak Island Birding and Blackberry Loop Trail - Sauvie Island (Every Trail)
- Sauvie Island - Portland, OR (Hiking Upward)
- Sauvie Island Wildlife Area (Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife)
- Sauvie Island Wildlife Area (Audubon Society of Portland)
- Parking Permits/Food (Sauvie Island Community Association)
- Sauvie Island (Sauvie Island Community Association)
Contributors
- bobcat (creator)