Trillium Creek from the Hidden Springs Trail (bobcat)

Trilliums, Palomino Loop (bobcat)

Hollow cedar, Hidden Springs Trail (bobcat)

Large Douglas-fir, Palomino Loop (bobcat)

The Palomino Loop with Hidden Springs extension (bobcat)

• Start point: Edgewater Court Trailhead
• End Point: Three Mountains Viewpoint
• Trail Log:
• Hike Type: In and out
• Distance: 1.1 miles
• Elevation gain: 115 feet
• High Point: 90 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Seasons: All year
• Family Friendly: Yes
• Backpackable: No
• Crowded: No

Description

These two parks, part of the non-contiguous Willamette River Greenway, offer quiet respite from the busy streets above. You are always within sight of the river as you walk through lush mixed forest; Goat Island stands offshore and there is access to a sandy beach.

The trail heads down along a fence shielding large houses and comes to a fork. Go left down to a cottonwood-shaded field and then a beach on the Willamette. Goat Island is across the water. There’s a boat launch on the opposite bank of the Willamette. Walk along the beach (Look for raccoon and deer tracks), and cross Bolton Creek, which spills into the river at a jumble of large rocks. Very steep use trails lead up into the woods from here, past a fire circle, to connect with the Willamette Greenway, but it's more environmentally sensitive and less destructive to return and pick up the main Burnside Park Trail at the fork.

The wide, graveled trail heads southeast under a high canopy in dense woods of Douglas-fir, big-leaf maple and grand fir. Reach a junction with the steep, ivy-choked trail up to Buck Street (It's 0.2 miles round-trip and 100 feet elevation gain to Buck Street), and then cross Bolton Creek on a high wide bridge over its gully. You are now entering Maddax Woods. Goat Island can be seen through the trees on the left. The trail rises and then drops to a gravel road. The former Maddax residence is to the left. There’s a port-a-potty here and information brochures about the Maddax donation to West Linn's excellent parks system. Dorothy’s Garden is also signed for visitors. The gravel road leads to River Road and into suburbia.

Return to Edgewater Court the way you came.

Note that from mid-November to New Year's Day, some of the trail system here is brightly and festively lighted for after dark strolls.

Fees, Regulations, etc.

• Dogs on leash

Maps

• West Linn Walking Paths and Trails Map 2 (West Linn Parks & Recreation)
• West Linn Walking Paths and Trails Map 3 (West Linn Parks & Recreation)

Trip Reports

• Search Trip Reports for West Linn Willamette Greenway Hike

Related Discussions / Q&A

• Search Trail Q&A for West Linn Willamette Greenway Hike

Guidebooks that cover this hike

• none

More Links

• Burnside Park (West Linn Parks & Recreation)
• Maddax Woods (West Linn Parks & Recreation)
• Burnside Park & Maddax Woods (West Linn Parks & Recreation)
• Lighting of Maddax Woods (West Linn Parks & Recreation)
• "Maddax Woods lights, labyrinth of lights fest, ying yang class: West Linn events" (Oregon Live)
• lights in maddax woods (red tricycle)

Page Contributors

• bobcat (creator)