Hiking & Biking

Cedar Butte Trail

Wed, 01 May 2013 08:00:00 -0700

Why it’s great: Cedar Butte feels like a private reserve for panorama hunters. Rising above Tillamook State Forest 50 miles west of Portland, this former lookout site commands the deep green contours of Kings Mountain, Little South Fork Kilchis River canyon, and Sawtooth Ridge, among numerous other ripples of remote topography. On clear days, sightlines even extend to the Pacific. Don’t let this hike’s short distance fool you. After a gentle ascent through a drab clear-cut, the path enters replanted forest and becomes near vertical in sections, ascending some 700 feet in less than a mile. Wildflowers—Scouler’s harebell, wood sorrel, bear grass, and penstemon—line the trail in spring. A pair of weathered wooden benches at the summit reward spent legs.

Don’t forget: Trailhead access comes via a still-active logging road that’s not for the faint of heart. Take a high-clearance vehicle and a driver who’s not averse to narrow passages and steep drop-offs.

Post-hike watering hole:
Apolloni Vineyards Stop at this kid-friendly, barrel-lined tasting room outside of Forest Grove for $5 tasting flights and nibbles of rosemary-flecked cheeses. If you’re lucky, the sample selection will include the “Super” Tuscan-style Soleggio, a peppery red blend of sangiovese, cabernet sauvignon, and merlot. 14135 NW Timmerman Rd, Forest Grove (Highway 6 at milepost 44); 503-359-3606

Trailhead directions: From Portland, follow US 26 west and take Highway 6 toward Tillamook. Between milepost 18 and 17, turn right onto Cedar Butte Road and cross a small bridge. Follow the Cedar Butte Trail signs 5.6 miles to the parking area, and look for the trailhead to the left. No fees or permits required

School Canyon Trail & Ball Point

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 08:00:00 -0700

Why it’s great: Even in April, the School Canyon Trail promises a Gore-Tex-free exploration of Mount Hood’s seldom-visited eastern flanks. The trail basks in the Cascades’ “rain shadow,” revealing a world of crisp golden hills, ancient white oaks, and spring wildflower bloom. Starting up a faded jeep track, the trail climbs open terrain to the base of Ball Point, a 4,100-foot rise topped with a gray crown of pines scarred from a massive 2007 wildfire. To the south, take in farmland views and the silhouettes of Mount Jefferson and the Three Sisters. Continue on through more singed pines and dark basalt outcrops before ending at a quiet meadow, where a side trail leads to series of spindle rock pinnacles.

Don’t forget: Hardy hikers can continue about 4 more miles to Flag Point Fire Lookout, which accepts reservations for overnight stays through May. recreation.gov

Post-hike watering hole: Baldwin Saloon Dating back to 1876, this handsome redbrick space in The Dalles has served as everything from a saddle shop to a coffin storage site over the years. The Baldwin now features a shiny mahogany bar, massive oil paintings, plentiful local taps, house-ground burgers, and bacon-wrapped dates. Closed Sunday. 205 Court St, The Dalles; 541-296-5666.

Trailhead directions: From Portland, follow I-84 east to The Dalles. Take Exit 87 and turn right (south) onto US 197 toward Tygh Valley. Near milepost 33 turn right onto Shadybrook Road, go approximately 1 mile, and turn left onto Fairgrounds Road. Continue .7 miles and turn right onto Badger Creek Road. Drive 6.6 miles and turn right onto Forest Service Road 27. Drive 2 mile; trailhead on the left. No fees or permits required.

Alameda Ridge Trail

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 18:54:00 -0800

Image: Michael Novak

Why it’s great: This walking tour of Northeast Portland’s vertiginous Alameda neighborhood makes the most of short winter sunbursts—and shrinking daylight hours. The scenery-packed, calf-blasting route explores an intriguing network of public staircases tucked among bungalows, cottages, and stately manors. The climbs and urban vistas come courtesy of Alameda Ridge, a four-mile-long Missoula Flood–born outcrop that rises 250 feet to survey the West Hills and downtown Portland. Eleven staircases—ranging from 30 to 127 steps—connect the residential terrain, adding intermittent cardio boosts and a sense of mystery. (Several stairs, such as the ones near NE 32nd Avenue and Fremont Street, are literally hidden in the hedges.) Wildlife may be scarce, but the civilized landscape offers plenty of scenery, with Japanese maples, murals, tabby cats on the prowl, and enough gorgeous homes to keep you rubbernecking all morning.

Don’t forget: Siri. Or some other GPS-enabled assistant. The twists, turns, and hidden signs could confuse the hardiest orienteer. Pack a handy map from Metro or Laura O. Foster’s excellent Portland Stairs Book.

Post-hike watering hole: THE MOON AND SIXPENCE This British-themed den provides the antidote to rain-soaked days. Try the massive plate of fish and chips or the messy-good turkey and cranberry sandwich. Among the 20 beers on tap, you’ll find plenty of local micros, and the bottle selection goes on for days. 2014 NE 42nd Ave; 503-288-7802

Trailhead directions: Climbers can enter the loop anywhere between NE 50th Avenue and Sandy Boulevard (down the street from the post office) and the Sabin HydroPark, at NE 19th Avenue and Prescott Street. Five TriMet lines serve the neighborhood. No fees or permits required.

Aldrich Butte Trail

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 16:24:00 -0700

Image: Michael Novak

Why it’s great: Columbia Gorge weather be damned! Aldrich Butte serves up eye-popping vistas, no matter the forecast. Perched above the town of North Bonneville on the Washington side of the Gorge, Aldrich’s 1,141-foot summit sits beneath the clouds but above the fog for a panorama that ropes in the sprawling Bonneville Lock and Dam complex and a wide swath of Oregon-owned goodies, from Eagle Creek and Wauna Viewpoint clear upstream to Hood River. An unsigned trailhead (along with an unflattering start beneath a row of power lines) keeps foot traffic scarce. But press on. After a quick climb and a turn to the left, a faint path leads to a quiet, leafy forest. Follow it a short distance and turn right on a lumpy, seldom-used road. Take in peekaboo views of Table Mountain’s rocky flanks looming above a tranquil meadow, then veer left, up the curving road, to reach the large overlook, where the curious remains of two stone foundations, including a small set of stairs, hint at the site’s past life as a dam construction lookout and survey station.

Don’t forget: An indistinct footpath near the summit offers a loop option. But it’s less confusing to retrace your steps down the road.

Post-hike watering hole: Bonneville Hot Springs Resort & Spa Local offerings from Everybody’s Brewing and Walking Man highlight a short tap list along with a good selection of bar eats. 1252 E Cascade Dr, North Bonneville, WA; 509-427-7767; bonnevilleresort.com

Trailhead directions: From Cascade Locks, cross the Bridge of the Gods ($1 toll required), and turn left on WA 14. Go 3 miles and turn right on Hot Springs Way. Turn right and continue about a mile, and look for a gravel turnout on the left. The trail begins behind the chain-link gate. No fees or permits required.

Butte Creek Falls Trail

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 12:10:00 -0700

Image: Michael Novak

Why it’s great: Butte Creek Falls is all treat and no trick for both waterfall and fall foliage lovers. Tucked inside the Santiam State Forest outside of Molalla, the trail here remains virtually unheard of, thanks, in large part, to the immense popularity of nearby waterfall juggernaut Silver Falls State Park. But Butte Creek’s top-secret feel only amps up the appeal of cathedral-size trees, pools of water, and not one, but two showstopping falls. Within minutes from the trailhead, hikers descend to a sheet-like cascade (lower Butte Creek Falls) that spills over a dark basalt-laden grotto set beneath towering firs and golden-hued vine maples. Scope out the cave behind the falls, and then continue a short distance up the well-maintained path to a rocky outcropping with a stadium-seating perspective of the 70-foot-plus upper falls.

Don’t forget: State forest officials typically begin to close access to roads here at the end of October. While the trails here are kid-friendly, the viewing area for the upper falls is lined with precipitous cliff edges—keep the little ones close and pets on a leash.

Post-hike watering hole: Farmstead Restaurant & Pub Take in fairway views—and frequent live music offerings—at this convivial, wood-toned eatery at the Arrowhead Golf Club. Happy hour features pulled pork sliders with ginger hoisin sauce or ahi tuna for less than four bucks. 28313 S Hwy 213, Molalla; 503-829-7427

Trailhead directions: From Oregon City, take Highway 213 south and follow signs for the town of Scotts Mills. Cross Butte Creek Bridge in Scotts Mills and turn south (left) on Crooked Finger Road. After 9.5 miles, Crooked Finger becomes a gravel road. Continue 2 miles to the unsigned CF 400 Road (look for arrows to Rhody and Butte Lakes). Turn left and drive 2 miles, and look for the trailhead and restroom on the left. No fees or permits required.

Trail of the Month: Baskett Slough

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 05:40:00 -0700

Why it’s great Nineteen miles south of McMinnville, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge is a scenery-packed leg-stretcher to reinvigorate you during early autumn wine-country excursions. A series of hiking trails threads nearly 2,500 acres of diverse habitat, set aside in the mid-’60s to shelter declining flocks of dusky Canada Geese. The trails access seasonal marshes and lakes, wavy prairies of oak, and lush forests packed with sword ferns. More than 200 species of birds and mammals make their homes here, including American kestrels, western spotted towhees, acorn woodpeckers, and blacktail deer. If time is short, opt for the -mile climb to the summit of 414-foot Baskett Butte for sweeping vistas of vineyards, blue walls of coastal mountains, and red tail hawks swirling in the sky.

Don’t forget September is the last month hikers have access to Morgan Lake Trail (3.2 miles) and the Inter-Tie Trail (.40 miles), before seasonal closures go into effect from October 1 to March 31 to protect wintering waterfowl. Also: poison oak is abundant—stick to the trails.

Post-hike watering hole
Red Hills Market Red Hills Market has become the convivial social heart of Dundee. The seasonally inspired kitchen turns out wood-fired pizzas loaded with goodies like spicy pork and basil, while a bocce court beckons out back. For sips, choose from more than a hundred bottles of local and imported wine and craft brews, or peruse “Rex’s whiskey tasting list.” 155 SW Seventh St, Dundee; 971-832-8414; redhillsmarket.com

Trailhead directions From Portland, follow Highway 99 south to McMinnville. Continue south on 99 toward Corvallis. Drive 17 miles and turn right on Coville Road (across from Firesteed Vineyards). Continue for 1.5 miles. Trailhead on the right. No fees or permits required.

Class Act

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 06:57:00 -0700

Clouds aren’t the only thing swirling around in the skies this week: The Vaux swifts are back in town.

Each September, some 30,000 of the tiny winged migratory critters roost in the towering smokestack of Chapman Elementary School in Northwest Portland, the largest such gathering of Vaux swifts in North America.

With seemingly as many Portlanders turning out to view the birds whirl through the sky and dive-bomb, enmasse, into the school’s chimney, it might also be the largest display of bird-lovers in the country.

Needless to say, the whole scene, which tends to peak at sunset, can be dizzying. So to help bring things into focus, Audubon Society volunteers will be manning the school’s lawn for SwiftWatch 2010 just about every night in September.

Feel free to stop by and borrow a pair of binoculars, or chat them up about swift trivia. (Did you know swifts have been clocked at 100 mph? Or that they can’t actually perch on branches?)

To help you brush up the Vaux swift phenomenon here in Portland, I dug up this Oregon Field Guide episode about the little black birds from back in 2000.

(No word on whether that black swift hat is still available).

Kelley Point Park

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 10:25:00 -0700

Activity: Walking the dog

Why it’s great: Situated near the confluence of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers, this 104-acre park offers something to keep every make and model of tail wagging. Stick to the trees, and you and your furry friend can take in a shady path bursting with springtime foliage. But if your pooch is a water dog at heart, take one of the numerous side trails down to the river, scoop up some driftwood, and enjoy some fierce volleys of fetch. From a human perspective, the spectacle of two mighty rivers meeting underneath Mount Hood’s craggy backdrop makes this a welcome diversion from a routine swing around the block.

Distance: Two miles
Rating: Easy

Route: Head northwest on the asphalt footpath leading out of the parking lot. After passing beneath a canopy of cottonwoods and red huckleberry bushes, you’ll hit a large open space ripe for a picnic (or a water break). Continue along the path for about one-quarter of a mile until you reach the Columbia Slough, a small tributary feeding into the Willamette. Once there, duck down toward the water to enjoy a sandy beach scene. By doubling back along the banks of the Willamette, you’ll come across a giant anchor that marks the junction of the two rivers and makes a fine photo op for you and your four-legged pal.

Getting there: Take I-5 north to exit 307 and turn left onto N Marine Drive – West. Travel 4.6 miles to N Suttle Road, following a sign for Kelley Point. For easier access to the trail, park in the second (and last) lot, located half a mile from the entrance on the left. No fees or permits required

Tom McCall Preserve

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 10:21:00 -0700

Activity: Wildflower viewing
Why it’s great: Wildflower lovers take note: The three miles of trails winding through this 231-acre preserve seem to have been carved out with your point-and-click camera in mind. In all, more than 300 species of plants grace the wide-open meadows and windswept hills found here, and thanks to the refuge’s high perch along on the Rowena Plateau near the eastern edge of the Columbia River Gorge, you can fill your frame not only with a natural carpet of blue-hued lupines and yellow glacier lilies, but also with unforgettable panoramas of Mount Adams, Mount Hood, and the Columbia River.
Distance: Three miles, out-and-back
Rating: Easy to strenuous
Route: From the parking area, head south on an old dirt road through open prairie thick with sunflowerlike balsamroots and purple-stemmed Columbia desert parsley. After about one-third of a mile, you’ll see a large wooden sign marking the McCall Point Trail. Head up the trail to the right for the short but intense 1,100-foot climb to the summit. If you’re not quite ready to tackle McCall Point, the Rowena Plateau trailhead (which lies just west of the parking area) marks a relatively level one-mile stroll perfect for anyone looking to snap a few pics amid the colorful grasslands without dusting up their Sunday best.
Getting there: From Portland, head east on I-84 for 64 miles. Take exit 69 and turn right onto Highway 30. Travel for 6.5 miles (through the town of Mosier) and make a right into the Rowena Crest Viewpoint area. Park along either side of the road. No fees or permits required.

Bird Creek Meadows Trail

Wed, 18 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0700

WHY IT’S GREAT:
The Pacific Northwest’s latest-season wildflower blooms happen near Bird Lake, a deep green pool framed by Mount Adams’s 12,276-foot summit and torch-bright clusters of lupines and asters. From the western bank, pick your way over several crossings until you set sight on Crooked Creek Falls, a 50-footer that gushes down a steep hillside alight with white mountain heliotropes and dandelions. Continue east to the signed “Trail of the Flowers,” a quarter-mile loop overrun with Indian paintbrush and hosting the occasional hummingbird. Also on tap: a detour up to Hellroaring Viewpoint. Here, at 6,500 feet, enjoy the vast gulley beneath Adams’s summit. In the distance, multiple falls shoot down the slopes and the Mazama Glacier pops and rumbles. Descend toward Bluff Lake—an ideal spot for a quick dip.

DON’T FORGET:
Trekking poles. In some years (like last) the thaw never reaches the upper parts of Adams. Take extra care on snow bridges—they give way easily.

POST-HIKE WATERING HOLE:
Trout Lake Country Inn Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this red barn has been everything from an airplane hangar to a bowling alley. Today it’s home to buttermilk pancakes, burgers, and some of the region’s best live music. On hot days, try the Black Butte Porter float. 15 Guler Road, Trout Lake, Wash.; troutlakecountryinn.net

TRAILHEAD DIRECTIONS:
From Hood River head north to WA 14, and turn left (west). Turn right (north) onto Highway 141 and go 21 miles to Trout Lake. At the service station continue onto Mt Adams Recreational Area Rd, keeping to the right. After 4 miles the road turns to gravel. Continue 10 miles to Mirror Lake campground and the Yakama Reservation. Continue 1 mile to Bird Lake. Watch for cows. $5 Yakama Reservation day-use fee required.