Favorite Places to Explore Nature in Portland

Today’s guest post is part of the “Favorite Places to Explore Nature” series and comes from one of my favorite outdoor dads, Michael of Exploring Portland’s Natural Areas. I love all of the amazing photographs he takes on his adventures with his explorer. If you like what you see here, check out more of his photostream on Flickr.

In May of 2010, I moved with my wife and 4-year-old son to Portland, Ore. I had just graduated from Montana State University in Bozeman. After a little more than six years in Montana (where I headed to school from southern California), we were ready to explore a new place (was it the snow?).

We decided on Portland for several reasons including its proximity to the coast, its recycling programs, the public transportation and more. And with a young son with a curious mind, Portland had a lot to offer with natural areas to explore and get outside (not that Montana didn't).

So, here I will share some of the places my son and I have visited since arriving in Portland that will surely become some of our "Favorite Places to Explore Nature."

Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge
When we took a trip in March to check Portland out, we visited Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge, a 140-acre floodplain wetland along the east bank of the Willamette River, which cuts through Portland from the south to the north on its way to merge with the Columbia River as it heads to the Pacific Ocean.

The refuge has plenty of trails and is a prime location for bird watching. Although we did not see any great blue herons, the official bird of the City of Portland, there were sparrows and waterfowl to be had.

Fortunately, in the late 1960s, this marshland was saved from industrial development. Overlooking the wetland is a giant mausoleum, which has recently been painted as a giant mural of birds.

 

Cannon Beach

The first place we explored as residents of Portland was, well, not exactly in Portland. Little more than an hour drive west of the city is the Oregon Coast, beautiful in its unique ways.

Cannon Beach is famous for the gigantic Haystack Rock, a basaltic monolith once connected to the mainland but since separated through erosion, that takes command of one's view of the area.

With plenty of sand to rub your toes through and tide pools to explore,

as well as puffins and brown pelicans to watch, Cannon Beach is a popular destination, and very busy when we went as it was the Fourth of July weekend.

I'll mention, too, that Ecola State Park is just on the north side of the beach, although we did not go there – we will!

Oregon Zoo

Portland has a wonderful zoo that my wife and son visited in July.

Although not exactly out in nature, zoos offer an amazing opportunity for kids to explore the animal kingdom. Most people will not get the chance to visit Africa or Borneo to see lions or orangutans, so I value zoos.  

The Oregon Zoo is nestled in Washington Park in the hills just minutes west from downtown.

You can also view photos from a trip to the Oregon Zoo we made in 2009 here. A new enclosure for the orangutans just recently opened, so I am looking forward to visiting the zoo soon (we really need a membership!)

Tualatin Hills Nature Park

Located in the city of Beaverton just west of Portland is Tualatin Hills Nature Park and Interpretive Center. We've been there twice, once to check out the trails and the other for the annual Bug Fest.

The park itself is a 222-acre wildlife preserve consisting of evergreen and deciduous forests,

creeks, wetlands, ponds, and meadows,

with kid-friendly paved and unpaved trails throughout. We've heard lots of birds, seen a few dragonflies and spied a frog.

The interpretive center has a full schedule of educational programs through THPRD.

Tryon Creek State Park

Tryon Creek State Park has got Tualatin Hills Nature Park beat. We've been to Tryon Creek three times so far, and I think it is my favorite place to explore nature in Portland.

Just minutes south of downtown in southwest Portland, Tryon Creek is a once-logged forest that has naturally regrown into a lush stand of red alder, Douglas fir, big leaf maple, and western red cedar, with more than 50 species of birds and many small mammals residing in the Park. Trout, too, reside in the creek.

There is a nature center as well, with lots of educational programming. Some of the trails are more difficult than at Tualatin Hills Nature Park, but they are well worth it.

And if there is one thing to be said of Tryon Creek, it's "Watch out, don't step on the banana slug!"

Berry Botanical Garden
In September we visited the Berry Botanical Garden, only to find out that due to lack of funds, it is closing.

There are lots of gardens in Portland, but I think this one was less well known.

The Garden's mission is to "continue the legacy of Rae Selling Berry, [by] promoting Northwest native plants, maintaining special plant collections, conserving native endangered plants, and offering related educational opportunities."

Graham Oaks Nature Park

South of Portland in the city of Wilsonville is the new Graham Oaks Nature Park, a 250-acre restored woodland that provides habitat for many species of plants and animals.

Patrick and I headed there in the rain for the grand opening, which meant there were tents of stuff to see and people to talk to.

Interestingly, the park will also serve as an outdoor classroom for the public schools right next door, for students to "study the rich wildlife, habitat and cultural history of Graham Oaks." 

Audubon Society of Portland

Situated on a hillside in Forest Park – which I've been told is the largest natural area/park within a city in the United States - just to the west of downtown is the center for the Audubon Society of Portland,

a nature store,

a bird sanctuary and a wildlife care center.

Like many of the parks around Portland, they offer educational programming within the center and other locations.

Patrick and I walked along some of the trails and explored within the center and saw some Audubon employees at work helping animals in need.

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

Although it's indoors and has lots of exhibits about physics, chemistry and technology, OMSI has a Life Sciences and an Earth Sciences Hall, as well as natural history interactives in the Science Playground.

Other places we have visited that are great for exploring nature are:

• Maricara Natural Area (photos)
• Willamette Park (photos)
• Gabriel Park (photos)

Since we are still newish residents of Portland, there are many places we have yet to explore. Here are some suggestions:

• Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge 
• The World Forestry Center and Hoyt Arboretum in Washington Park
• Leach Botanical Gardens, Mt. Tabor Park, Cooper Mountain Nature Park, the rest of Forest Park (where the Audubon Society is located) & the Chinese Gardens & Japanese Gardens 
• Mt. Hood (which dominates the view east of Portland on a clear day)
• Columbia River Gorge (there's a Discovery Center, too)
• Sauvie Island Farms and Kruger's Farm
• Powell Butte Nature Park, Marquam Nature Park, Whitaker Ponds Nature Park and the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden

These sites offer more information about parks and natural areas:

• Oregon State Parks of Portland 
• Portland Area Wildlife Refuges
• Natural Areas of Portland Parks & Recreation
• Trails of Tualatin Hills Parks & Recreation District
• Places and Activities through Metro

I'll also point you to the website Portland Family Adventures, which has a section on Outdoor Destinations. Also, although I have yet to buy it, I'll recommend the book Wild in the City: A Guide to Portland's Natural Areas, edited by Michael C. Houck and M.J. Cody.

Natural areas abound in Portland itself and nearby, and you are sure to find spiders, ferns, slugs and fungi in your excursions. So far, we've been lucky to avoid rain on most of our outings. When in some of these areas, it is easy to forget that you are in a big city. It's been wonderful to have these spaces to visit with my son.

I am proud to live in a region that takes pride in its natural areas, not only for their beauty and recreational importance, but for their value in ecological matters. If and when you visit Portland, I hope you check out some of our "Favorite Places to Explore Nature."

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