This state park is in the shadow of Silver Falls. A good thing if you're wanting to spend some time…read morewalking/running trails and woodland environment mostly to yourself. A small fee will grant you admittance. Parking is ample. Research what's to see at this park (if I told you, you wouldn't be invested). It's a hidden gem. Is there some treasure there for you?

I am lucky enough to live within walking distance to this park, so I'm fairly sure I've been on…read moreevery walking path, bike trail, and horse path there is over the years. It skirts right along the Willamette River and hides some of the very best picnic spots if you know where to look. I've seen deer, rabbits, plenty of squirrels, and even a bobcat once. Oh yeah, there's also a lake that you can yell towards that gives back a fantastic echo. Love it.

On a sunny day this not so hidden gem is a refuge from the bustling city although it's in the…read moremiddle of an upscale neighborhood in west Linn you can't tell it's quiet secluded and a pleasant experience to indulge in nature or read a book. I've seen lots of wildlife here from eagles to deer and much more

'Tis the season to enjoy Maddax Woods Park…read more Like many parks in West Linn, a group of volunteers aid the city with seasonal displays and activities to make each public park a little unique. At Maddox Woods that means this is the 10th year of the Lighting of Maddax Woods, a seasonal light display and a wildlife scavenger hunt for the kids. There are 36 animals (woodcuts) throughout this 7 acre park along the Willamette River to try to find during your visit. This is a natural park and nature trail that is part of the Willamette Greenway Trail and when you head up the hill and cross the bridge that trail connects you to Burnside Park. Thanks to land donations to the city by early West Linn families there is a lot of open space along the river to enjoy with your human and canine companions. This location is also a prime spot for birders to view one of the largest heron rookeries in our area, that is across the river on Goat Island. This park is pretty hidden and I only discovered it a couple of years ago when you head downhill from the West Linn Public Library. It is more of a nature preserve and walking park without a playground or other amenities. There is a handicapped accessible porta-potty near the entrance. The volunteers sell Christmas trees for $20 to help fund their activities throughout the year. They also have a monthly work party to help maintain the space. You can contact the Friends of Maddax Woods here: http://westlinnoregon.gov/parksrec/friends-maddax-woods. ---- The Lighting of Maddax Woods - 4-9 pm November 16 - December 31, 2013.

A cool park tucked away from traffic. Has a nice grass field and is next to the river.read more

Tucked away right off the main street in Canby, behind Safeway and Starbucks, is a small river/pond…read morepark. I didn't see anyone fishing in the pond. But as soon as you drive in becareful it is one way in the same way out. A lot of young kids come here to play in the Molalla River. It is a one-way once you come in. The bathrooms are within walking distance, but driving distance (again one way) is another way to go. The bathrooms were clean and 2 available. There are picnic areas and a good little walk/hike around the park. We met my nieces up at the lake to soak up some sun and spend some time together. Great place for teaching, skipping rocks, or catching and releasing tadpoles! My sons first experience, and he got really good. I've been informed that this place gets super packed when school is put for summer, and there are a handful of kids around. I also saw them riding boogie boards and a kayak. There was a family who came down to fish but didn't seem like they caught anything. The water is super cold until your body gets used to it. Definitely recommend flip-flops. Rocks are a bit rough in the feet!

Beautiful | family-friendly…read more We're pretty lucky to have places like this in Wilsonville. I'm so thankful for it. It's dog friendly (some trails) and must be kept on leash. The main trail, before breaking off into other small ones, is paved. We parked in the residential area to begin the walk. We then broke off to go into the woods. It was a very short loop, but it was SO beautiful, especially during the fall season. It's a popular spot to exercise and take your kids to.

This park is adjacent to the community we live in (Villebois) and we have taken many walks through…read morehere. There is a paved path that runs through it between Villebois and Wilsonville road. The is also a path of crushed granite that winds through a short forest area that is nice. My wife doesn't like the sound of the crunching rocks on the path. They are fine with me. We have seen some great wildflowers and many deer that hang out here. It's not that large of a park, but a nice walk. If it is really hot out, the paved path has no shade so don't do it mid day if you don't like the heat.

Oregon is such a beautiful state. Newell Creek Canyon Nature Park is a lovely park in Oregon City…read more On a recent holiday weekend, the parking spaces were somewhat occupied but with plenty of spaces available. There is a map and public restrooms in front of the park. There was also a map at the point where certain trails split off. The hubby and I did not get too far along the trail we were walking along because I was actually was not wearing proper shoes. Other walkers/hikers ahead of us were either families or couples. I did not see any homeless folks as another review had mentioned. But, again we did not venture too far. Although it was a warm summer day, the tall beautiful trees provided plenty of shade. Flowers along the paths were lovely as well. If I visit Oregon City again, I would likely be back to hike far enough to see the waterfall. 4 stars.

I'm gonna start with the bad cause I like to get that out of the way, there is on-site parking and…read morerestrooms and accessible picnic area and benches upon arrival, but unfortunately those spaces were occupied by people who were living in the park, sleeping on the benches, using the bathroom on the ground, and these are spaces where smaller children obviously would be spending their time. It was not a clean or safe area that I would recommend for anybody who is not here to actually hike a trail.......now that that's out-of-the-way let's talk about the trails! The trails are in good condition, the trees are beautiful of course, and all the lush greenery is so gorgeous, we saw some snakes, bunnies, so many different types of birds and fungi, there are very sturdy benches throughout and some parts of the trails can get pretty narrow. There is no actual view of the canyon It's just all gorgeous greenery which for me it's not disappointing in anyway, but if you are expecting a view, there is not one. Be mindful that if you are hiking down, you have to hike up on your way out I would definitely come back here again, but this is not a place I would suggest for a solo hike or with anyone who needs any type of attention or assistance. Bring a friend and remember there are no pets allowed at all.

Burnside Park is a nature park set aside for hiking, river access, and wildlife viewing in West…read moreLinn. It is located along the Willamette River. You can walk along the main Willamette Greenway Trail, cross a bridge over Bolton creek and eventually enter into the adjacent Maddax Woods Park. There are also views of Goat Island in the Willamette where an important Great Blue Heron nesting area is located. There are actually several entrances to the park. The easiest access is at the Edgewater Court Trailhead. The next easiest trailhead would be at the end of Holmes Street. This trail has nice views, and some fairly steep steps that lead down to the Greenway Trail. Many Trillium flowers can be seen along here in March and early April. A third trailhead leads down from the end of Buck Street. The Buck Street trail is a dirt trail that is steep in parts. I have seen Bald Eagles, Red Tailed Hawks, and Hummingbird nests along this trail. The trail is scenic but it can be slippery when wet. Traction shoes and/or hiking poles would be good to have here. Basic park rules are: 1) Dogs are allowed, but must be on a leash at all times. (Leash law strictly enforced) . There is a dog park at nearby Mary S Young Park. 2) No fires allowed anywhere in Park. 3) Park closes at dusk 4) No littering 5) No removal of native plants and trees. The trees have all been rescued from invasive English Ivy at least once by wonderful volunteers. If you wish to join a Burnside Park volunteer group you can sign up at solveoregon.org . This nature park was set aside many years ago by Mrs. Caufield to preserve and protect it in a city park. It is a natural little paradise which has been preserved for future generations.

Burnside Park is connected to Maddox Woods Park along the Willamette River on the Willamette River…read moreGreenway Trail. It is common for hikers to start their trip in one park and then walk through the other over the connecting bridge. I should note that this park has two entrances in the local neighborhood. If you enter the park on Buck Street, your hike will start with quite a steep downhill path, so it definitely is not the place to start for those with mobility issues or any concerns about rolling ankles. Or if you have a dog that tends to pull you down trails. The entrance off of Edgewater Court would be a better bet. This is a 10-acre nature park ideal for wildlife viewing and hiking along the lovely Willamette River under a nice canopy of trees. No play structures or amenities.

Nice park and Water fountain at this location. You can also see the Willamette river up close when…read moreyou take the dirt trail down to the shoreline. Nice restrooms on site too.

There's no sewer odor, it's not that kind of a water plant, I think. Looking at the signage I…read moregather it takes water in from the river and treats it to make safe drinking water, so it's not recycling sewage. If you just came here and didn't know it was a water plant you wouldn't notice anything odd. It is kind of small, just the building and a field, but there is a nice man-made stream with waterfalls on it that the ducks like to sit in. The only bad bit is you can't see the water clarifiers and basins from the park itself, they are behind locked gates and high concrete walls. This makes sense that they are not accessible to the public because you don't want strangers tampering with the water, but it would still be cool if there was a viewing platform from a distance. As it is now you can only see them by looking at Google satellite maps. But you can look in through large windows in the building and see the giant pipes they're using, so that's a pretty good compromise.

Beautiful park connected to a wetlands. Lots of wildlife, so please carry out what you bring in!…read moreDogs permitted on leash. Love this park as it is also handicap accessible. Beauty for all!

I'm a local environmental science and botany teacher who does a lot with my students in the park…read more The City of Sherwood officials who manage the park are really open to us being there all the time (like 1-2 times per week with a total of 34 kids at a time). In return, we give back: annual trash pickups, painting over graffiti, planting native trees and shrubs, installing plaques, etc. It's a great partnership. We utilize the trails to ID plants, analyze water quality in Cedar Creek, catch insects, use the field for large activities... It's really helpful. Plus, there's a decent bathroom and a great play structure if we finish a lesson early.