Exploring the Pacific Greenway: from Portland to the Coast

Maps and short hikes descriptors from: Portland Forest Hikes - by James D. Thayer, published by the Timber Press May 2008
Tlingit-boy

This Directory includes very brief descriptions of the 20 trails described in Portland Forest Hikes, published by Timber Press, Portland in May 2008.

I have provided just a brief description of the trail and one of the original maps that I produced prior to the excellent cartography done by Eric Goetz for the book.

The intent of this section is to provide users the opportunity to download a map that thye can print and tuck into their pocket, though I must admit Eric’s maps are not only much better, but we spend much effort to mark them so that they could be used in conjunction with the trail descriptions - so if you want a more thorough map with all the trail info - use the book. And by the way, I did design it so that it does fit into your pocket.

 Introduction:

The idea for this book originated from the “Pacific Greenway” project that was initiated by Keith Hay in 1992. This bold initiative sought to establish three separate routes that would connect Forest Park with the Coast Range thus providing a recreational corridor through some of Oregon’s deepest forests in the state’s least documented Northwest corner.

Until 2006 the Pacific Greenway project and development of recreational development in Oregon’s Northwest “corner” languished for lack of resources and adherents. However, a growing population of Portland-based hikers, runners, bikers and equestrians are seeking new venues for their explorations and as a result the Northwest quadrant of Oregon has begun to attract serious attentionIn recent years the Vernonia-Banks linear trail has opened and introduced thousands of hikers and bikers to the beauties of Washington County’s more remote western reaches. Recently, Columbia County purchased the Crown Zellerback road that connects Scappoose to Vernonia and the county plans to open this trail to the public as another “linear park” extension to the Vernonia-Banks trail.

Forest Park, which forms the basis for half the trails in this volume, is yet another invaluable “wilderness” asset that adds immeasurably to Portland’s much vaunted “quality of life”. Most Forest Park guides concentrate on the more accessible and popular trails like the Wildwood Trail and Leif Erikson Drive. In keeping with the “wilderness” focus of this guide, the ten urban trails reviewed in this book have been chosen for their “off the beaten track” qualities, their quiet and undisturbed ambiance and for the rugged beauty of their natural settings.

The most significant contribution of this guide is not the lesser known trails inside Forest Park, but the survey and presentation of a whole new part of Oregon as prime hiking country. The northern portion of the Tualatin Hills has never been described in any recent guide to hiking in Oregon, and yet it is a treasure trove of close-in, accessible hikes of remarkable beauty, surprising remoteness and full of local cultural history.

The result of more than four years of intensive exploration, research, GPS mapping and interviews with local residents in the Northern Tualatin Hills, this guidebook adds a new chapter to Oregon’s recreational literature by opening a whole new region of NW Oregon for exploration – all within 30 minutes driving time from downtown Portland.

While all this may sound eminently rational and useful, I have to admit this guidebook is at least partially the result of my passion...for getting lost in the woods.

I know it’s loopy, it’s pointless and even my dog doubts my sanity at times, but I can’t stop mucking around in the woods. I usually arrive home many hours late, wet to the bone, with twigs sticking out of my hair, my hat transformed into a soil sample collector and bramble scratches over every exposed inch of my body. Yet, all week long I dream about wandering down long-abandoned logging roads. I recall the mists and fog sweeping up the valleys during my last visit and I can’t seem to stop wondering what was around that last bend in the road.

In keeping with my eclectic curiosity about this region, I’ve also attempted to introduce you to a sampling of the many local plants and animals. Where possible I’ve shared accounts of the local Indians, the early settlers and the rough hewn communities they built.

With this book I hope that I can bring you one step closer to sharing that thrill at spotting a coyote up ahead, or being awestruck by the grace of a solitary “baldie” sweeping overhead. And maybe someday we’ll meet somewhere deep in the woods.

 

Happy Trails!

 

Jim Thayer, October 2006