TUALATIN VALLEY NATURE WALKS

Hiker with binoculars and a group hike at Cooper Mountain Nature Park in Beaverton.
Cooper Mountain Nature Park (Beaverton)

Nature Walks in Oregon’s Tualatin Valley

When it comes to “soft adventure,” Oregon’s Tualatin Valley is king. Miles and miles of pathways—accessible to all—help to connect visitors to protected nature. These nature walks showcase the valley in all its beauty, and are all part of Tualatin Valley’s vast array of open spaces, wildlife corridors and lowlands that showcase the region’s diverse ecosystem.

Tualatin Valley’s newest nature park, Chehalem Ridge Nature Park opened to the public in early 2022. Adventurers can walk, ride their horse or off-road bicycle on nearly ten miles of trails. This nature park encompasses 1,250 acres and a variety of habitats, including upland forests, oak woodlands and wetlands. From the park, visitors will see panoramic views of the surrounding Tualatin Valley and the Coast Range.

Another new addition to Tualatin Valley is the Wapato Lake National Wildlife Refuge (opening to the public in mid-2022). This new national refuge, located near the city of Gaston, protects and restores the habitat of this region, which was once and important area for the Kalapuya tribe, who harvested wapato (also called “Indian potato”) from the shallow lake and used it as trade with other tribes. The refuge has several miles of trails and is home to myriad species of mammals, reptiles, fish and birds.

Killin Wetlands, offers 370 acres of lush habitat for flora and fauna and is a vibrant location for bird watching, as well as for spotting beaver, river otters and elk. Walk the trails and take in views of the rolling hills and wetlands. Located outside of the small city of Banks, Killin Wetlands also boasts a quilt block, “Doves in the Window,” as part of the Quilt Barn Trail of Tualatin Valley.

Cooper Mountain Nature Park features 3.5 miles of nature trails that wind through several distinct native habitats, from conifer forest to prairie to oak woodlands. With spectacular views of the Chehalem Mountains and the Tualatin Valley, the park features a demonstration garden showcasing native and drought-tolerant plants. The park also is a popular spot for wildlife viewing and nature walks.

Located near Gales Creek, just outside of Forest Grove, the 600-acre Fernhill Wetlands boasts a variety of open water sources providing safe haven to eagles, hawks, herons and migrating waterfowl, as well as beavers, minks, otters and many other species. Approximately 1.25 miles of trails, raised dikes and two viewing shelters provide unobstructed views of the wetlands. The crowning jewel of Fernhill Wetlands is the ADA-accessible Water Garden featuring graceful wooden bridges and a great view.

Tucked inside Beaverton is the Tualatin Hills Nature Park, a 222-acre wildlife preserve featuring evergreen and deciduous forests, creeks, wetlands and ponds. The park features 1.5 miles of paved trails and 3.5 miles of soft-surface trails and is home to a variety of birds, mammals, reptiles and insects. Red-tailed hawks, blue heron, deer, squirrels, rabbits and reptiles are commonly sighted in the park.

Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve is a 635-acre wildlife preserve with 4.5 miles of trails and picture-perfect views. Open year-round (although some trails may close), the preserve is a complex of wetlands and uplands within the Tualatin River floodplain. Jackson Bottom also is home to indigenous and migratory birds, such as bald eagles, egrets, red-tailed hawks and a host of mammals.

Located in Sherwood, the 7,370-acre Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge is a sanctuary for indigenous and migrating birds, waterfowl and mammals. Operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the refuge is one of a handful of urban national refuges and includes various restored habitats that best represent examples of depleted habitats in the Willamette Valley. Walking trails in the refuge include a one-mile trail open year-round and a three-mile service road open from May-September.

NOTE: Admission to the trails is free. Trails are open from dawn to dusk. To protect the wildlife and natural vegetation, bicycles and pets are prohibited on most nature trails listed above.