 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|||||
 |
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
||||||
|
Willatalin Loop |
||||||
|
Distance: 6.1 miles round trip. Walk duration: 2 hour 30 minutes Travel time to trailhead: 17 minutes Driving directions to the trailhead: To access this hike drive north from downtown Portland on US 30, drive under the St. John’s Bridge and turn left at the light immediately beyond the bridge. This will put you on Bridge Avenue (the bridge access road). Take the first right which is Germantown road. Ascend Germantown road as it traverses the slope about 1/3 mile. At this point the road takes a sharper left turn followed by a right turn as it navigates in and out of a ravine. In the elbow of the turn you will see a small graveled area sufficient to hold 2-3 parked cars. Immediately beyond that graveled shoulder area you should note a steep graveled road leading upwards into the forest. Park your car here and proceed up the road. Note that further up Germantown road there are more such “elbows” with graveled roads penetrating the forest, but those access roads are clearly marked as private drives.
Bus Access: #17 (NW 21st Ave/St. Helens Rd), disembark at stop # 601 or 602 at the intersection of Bridge Avenue and Germantown rd. Walk up Germantown road . 3 miles to the entrance to the Waterline trail. Elevation change: from 267’ to 930’ elevation - and back down. Conditions: Great trail for walking in the dry months. Both the Waterline and Wildwood Trail can be muddy during the wet season. Both Springville road and Leif Erikson Drive are well graveled. The lower portion of the Waterline trail (below Leif Erikson Drive) has some unimproved steep portions that offer less than adequate footing in wet weather. With good boots it’s navigable, but slippery with shoes lacking adequate traction. Brief summary: Deep in the heart of the park. Features unusual access route into the park. Some traffic on Wildwood Trail and Leif Erikson. Stands of Hemlock and Cedar, with tall groves of Douglas fir in the deeper valleys and on Willatalin ridge. ___________________________________________ 1. This access route, referred to as the Waterline Trail, is little used and only partially improved. But in just 1.2 miles this trail penetrates the park and gets you up to Leif Erikson Drive without having to compete for parking or suffer through trailhead congestion at the Germantown access to the Wildwood Trail and Leif Erikson.
As you pass through the meadow be conscious that it is these kinds of open sun-drenched areas that are ideal growing conditions for Poison Oak (Rhus diversiloba). Although relatively rare in shady Forest Park, I herewith reference this dreaded plant before our explorations take us into the more open regions where Poison Oak is more likely to be lurking. Poison oak is a straggly shrub typically only 2’ to 3’ high with three lobed leaves resembling oak leaves. The new foliage is often reddish and glossy in spring, but turning crimson by mid-summer. The white berries, resembling the blisters they cause, emerge by late summer – though many plants fail to fruit at all. Poison Oak is not common in the Western valleys of Oregon, but does occur – so knowledge of the plant and caution are in order. Due to my habits of rummaging deeply in the forest and frequently petting my dog, I contract blisters from this nefarious plant nearly every year. Typically, I wash thoroughly and apply a desiccant like Calamine lotion or a new branded product: Tecnu – available in local pharmacies. The most important advice is to quarantine and wash your dog and clothes and above all learn not to scratch the infected area. If you don’t scratch the rash it will disappear over the next week, with the contagious and itchy period lasting only about 24-48 hours. 3. At the far end of the meadow the road ends and a path continues upwards along the spine of the ridge. This portion of the trail is unimproved so it can prove treacherous in wet weather. 4. Approaching Leif Erikson Drive, the trail levels out as you weave in and out of the cedars that help to keep this upper portion of the trail relatively dry. The trail emerges on to Leif Erikson Drive as one of those semi-concealed paths that one might easily overlook if you didn’t know it was there. Needless to say this lower portion of the Waterline Trail is not marked with signage to identify it, or indicate its presence. 5. At Leif Erikson, we now proceed southwards (turn left) and follow the roadway about 25 feet to where the upper portion of the Waterline Trail ascends. Here we turn right and climb this more clearly marked trail as it ascends up to the Wildwood trail and eventually to Skyline Boulevard. This portion of the trail climbs .3 mile from an elevation of 750 ft. (at Leif Erikson) to 860 ft. where it crosses the Wildwood trail. The initial portion of the ridge line ascent is steep, but the trek is broken by two relatively level plateaus as you ascend.
Along the way you may (if you know what to look for) spot some Wild Ginger (Asarum Caudatum) growing along the trail. This evergreen perennial sports 2 dusky green heart shaped leaves 2-5” on a long stalk. Typically found in moist shaded forests often in large ground covering mats. Boring plant, eh? Well, this is a humble plant with lots of history. Although technically unrelated to the ginger plant, this ground hugging plant was used by the trappers and pioneers to season their food with its distinctive ginger flavor. The plant is known to have antibiotic properties and the Pacific Northwest Indians used the roots in a tea to settle stomach pains. They used its leaves as part of a preparation to combat tuberculosis and some tribes even wore it as a good luck charm. 7. At the intersection with Springville Road (990 ft elev.) proceed down Springville road. This road winds fairly steeply down the ridge with wonderful views down into the stately stands of Douglas fir trees off to the left. Especially in deep winter it’s a treat to watch the mist and clouds swirl up through the giant tree trunks. Another .4 miles and you’ve reached the intersection with the Leif Erikson at the 700 ft. elevation. Here you may run into some more pedestrian traffic coming from the Germantown road access to Leif Erikson Drive. If you chose the alternate access route, this intersection marks the juncture of this trail with your access on NW Springville road.
On your way along Leif Erikson Drive, keep an eye open for a tree with lots of woodpecker holes in it. Note how the holes are elongated vertically. This is the sign of a Pileated Woodpecker at work. This Crow-sized bird with a flame-red crest prefers mature conifer forest with large dead trees or snags. It’s not very common so you’ll be lucky to see one at work. The most common of our woodpeckers is Northern Flicker. It doesn’t resemble other woodpeckers with its brown spotted wings, black speckled breast and black bib. The males have a distinctive red “mustache” and both genders exhibit that tell-tale dipping motion in flight. Flickers are extremely adaptable and have increasingly become part of our urban fauna. Listen for their distinctive “kwik-wikwikwik” cry. Remember the downhill portion of the Waterline trail is hidden about 25 feet beyond where its upper portion intersects with Leif Erikson Drive – right in the bend of the road. The final descent to your car is only 1.2 miles. Be careful descending this trail in wet weather.
An alternate (and parallel) route into the park can also be accessed by proceeding past Germantown road on Bridge Avenue until you reach Springville Road (500 yards beyond Germantown road). Turn right and ascend Springville road (stay right) until it turns into a gravel road. Passing through the small community of Springville it ascends behind the small homes passing through an open gate into a steep stretch that takes you directly into the park – all the way to the second and final gate. The second gate is located opposite the entrance of a private dwelling. By proceeding up Springville road beyond the barrier (650 ft. elev.) for about .1 mile you’ll find yourself at the intersection with Leif Erikson Drive. From there you can use this trail description, beginning at waypoint # 8 in the circuit and proceeding north to the Willatalin Ridge. From there you ascend to the Wildwood trail and turning south complete the hike via Springville Road. Using this approach you will miss the lower portion of the Waterline Trail. |
||||||
6. Upon reaching the Wildwood trail follow it southwards (1.54 miles) until you reach the Springville Road. On your way you’ll penetrate deep into two draws as you wend your way to the next big ridge along which the Springville road descends. As you get deeper into these draws you’ll find big stands of old Douglas fir. You’ll also find much hemlock and cedar along the way. The trail unfortunately, can be pretty treacherous along this portion, so mud resistant shoes/boots are in order.
8. At the intersection of Springville Road and Leif Erikson Drive turn left and follow the road for .8 miles back to the intersection with the Waterline trail - a mostly flat walk. 