Exploring the Pacific Greenway: from Portland to the Coast

Ennis Creek Trek

“Portland Wilderness Walks” by Jim Thayer and published by Timber press will be released in the Spring of 2008. It will describe this trail in detail including professional maps, photos, comprehensive coverage of the fauna, flora and history of the area.

I have retained a brief summary of the walks on this site along with the my original maps, but would urge the interested hiker to purchase the book as it contains a much more in-depth coverage of directions and the context of each of the walks. Moreover there is much more in the book that will give more meaning to these walks than could possibly be conveyed by these funky GPS generated maps. The experience of finding, recording and understanding the significance of these walks brought me a whole new understanding of how important the wild outskirts of Portland are to our culture and to our heritage. And my hope is to acquaint you not only with some exquisite wilderness hikes, but perhaps also a new way to consider the importance of what lies on the outskirts of our fair city.

Us this site for easily downloadable rudimentary maps, but do consider investing in the book (it’s designed to fit in your pocket) for a more thorough and meaningful look at these forests. - Jim Thayer

Brief summary: This is a delightful hillside ramble winding along a wide trimmed track through a very young conifer forest. Most of the trails that crisscross these densely overgrown slopes around the Ennis creek watershed lead nowhere in particular, but the lovely vistas and pastoral lanes that get you there are well worth exploring. And somewhere at the end of this trail is the lost Phillips cemetery.

This map extends past the description in the book which ends at point 7. I do not recommend walking further as the ownership of the land pas that point is not clearly public and accessible. I have also left another map that shows an alternative route that allows for a looped walk via US 30 to the intersection with Newberry Road and back to the gate.