This nature park is somehow both beautifully maintained and not adequately maintained at the same time. Important to note that it is a 'nature park' and not a 'city park' which means fewer amenities (no playgrounds and only one restroom in the main parking lot at the Mather Road entrance) and most importantly, no pets or bikes. There are rules for a reason. There are multiple trails that connect to various neighborhoods and loop up to a Summit Trail, however we didn't get any views from the summit. I've started a hike from the Mather Road entrance and it is all up hill for the first stretch. Our most recent experience was better when we parked part way up the hill and started our hike off of SE Talbert Street to connect to the Park Loop Trail. Unfortunately, the posted signs about poison oak were accurate and the trails were covered in poison oak. And while the trails were easy to navigate, the plants are overgrown and crossing the path, so it is hard to avoid contact. I recommend a change of clothes and/or wet wipes to avoid getting poison oak from your stroll. The area is a nice option on hot or rainy days due to the canopy of trees, but not recommended for young children or those with mobility issues. It is a beautiful short hike and you feel away from it all, even though you are close to the city. The restroom was clean and there is shelter that can be rented for events. read more

Gorgeous neighborhood park! Beautiful hiking trail with a nice large free parking lot!!! The trails are well marked and I got cell phone service while I was on the trail. There are many trails to choose from. I choose to do the park loop, west ridge, and summit and it was a nice little loop that took about an hour or so. It had snowed the morning of, so the trails were muddy so I would definitely recommend hiking boots. I would definitely come back! read more

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Close to freeway Quiet Snakes, frogs, spiders and deer- oh! My! Shaded. Nice in the heat. read more

Nice park for a walk/hike/run. There aren't any picnic areas that I saw, but more of a forested/hilly path type of place. The paths are earthen so if it has rained recently it could get muddy. Many portions of the paths are uneven with rocks & tree roots as well, so you do need to watch your step in places. There are also many inclines, making for a great hike/run/walk and a few different trails/lengths to choose from. There are a few signs in the parking lot and at the start of the trail saying dogs/pets are NOT allowed...but unfortunately several people either didn't see the signs or didn't care and were wandering around with their dogs. I imagine it would be a great place to view some wildlife at certain times of the day if there aren't dogs around to spook them. The only restroom facility is at the parking lot, so plan accordingly. read more

I went to Mount Talbert Nature Park a few days ago, and it was really awesome, as well as very intriguing and inspiring. Plus, the hike I went on was very neat and very cool; it really was an eye-opener, and in a good way at that. :) I highly recommend this place to people who are looking for a good place to have a hike, and I give it five stars (although ten stars would be even better). :) read more

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A beautiful and amazing hike! The views are fantastic, it's so quiet and peaceful! It has no rest stops while on the mountain I suggest you use the facilities before heading up. Bring a water bottle and some binoculars for wildlife viewing there are picnic benches in a covered patio area which makes for a great picnic lunch spot. No dogs allowed for the sake of the wildlife please. read more

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Tucked away in Clackamas is Mt Talbert. No picnic tables but more of just a good place for a hike. The trails have a decent incline in some parts but a lot of up down up down and some parts can be muddy depending on the weather and a lot of parts have roots and rocks so be careful in some parts! There is a bathroom at the bottom but that's all. read more

Mount Talbert Nature Park - Parks Near Me - Clackamas, Oregon

No dogs allowed. Not even with a leash. I didn't know that till we got there. Very disappointing. I get it, it's a wildlife preserve, but put it on the recommendation page so people don't drive out there for nothing. read more

This is a lovely hidden gem, close in to Clackamas. I imagine it would make a great spot to take out-of-town guests who would enjoy experiencing a Pacific Northwest hike without driving for a couple of hours. It is peaceful and beautiful. You really are in a rainforest, with the accompanying sights, sounds, flora, and fauna. I like that there are multiple intersecting trails, so depending on your time and stamina, you can create your own adventure. This is a moderate hike with a bit of elevation. Paths are fairly narrow, so you'll likely be single file in spots. read more

Perfect getaway but close to home. Several trails, great for a leisurely family hike or a rigorous solo trail run. We see deer more often than not and lots of other wildlife. Restroom at parking lot is clean and there is a covered eating/resting area. read more

A great hidden gem. 2.5 mile loop and another 1.5 in cross trails. Hilly but not steep, the environment and plants change as you go along. Yeah the freeway sound is always there, but also several birds (& silent, beautiful butterflies.) wear stiff soled shoes as the some of the trail is rocky. & stay on the trail cause there's poison oak EveryWhere! read more

This is a pretty cool park to hike at but it's not a very long or intense hike. A great place to get some exercise and it's pleasing to walk within a forest of chirping birds. I chose to go here simply because it's close to my house. It's really easy to get lost at the place. There are a bunch of stopping points where you can choose between different paths, and some of these stopping points have no map. I along with my two buddies actually took the wrong path, thinking we were going the right way, and instead of ending back at our cars we ended up in the neighborhood of some apartment complexes. We stayed off the trail and took the streets back to our cars. Oh, and apparently they don't allow dogs? Dumb. I saw the sign, didn't bother to read why. Some lady who passed us during our hike bothered to inform us, while others were actually nice and welcoming. I don't care. I figure as long as I keep him leashed, bring a bag for his dirty work and pay my taxes, I'll take Kuma on a public trail as I please. read more

Keep this place a secret, ok? Mt. Talbert is an absolute gem in the Clackamas/Happy Valley area. I've head so many wonderful things about this place, I just had to come and take a look. I first thought it would be a good idea to take my dog to the park, BAD MOVE. This place does NOT allow dogs. I did the right thing and turned my car around, we went somewhere else. I noticed that there are giant signs all around the parking lot and even at the beginning of the trail, reminding folks not to bring their four legged friends in order to preserve the park. As I was leaving, I Noticed a couple starting up the trail.... with their beagle. Blargh! Today we went for a long run at the park (sans doggy). The trails were quiet, hilly, and overall perfect. We did get lost (3 times), but that's because my running buddy (the husband) didn't get a good look at the copious maps posted around each fork in the trail. Typical. Even though we were lost a couple times, the extra bit we did was just as gorgeous as the trail we were originally searching for-so no big deal. We will be back here, very soon. But please folks, do not bring your dogs to this park! read more

There is nothing like leaving a mall, then traveling a mile down the road to be in the middle of pure beauty. These trails are nothing tough to travel, with a steady elevation gain of 786 feet to the summit, I believe. I went on a foggy day so I couldn't see through the trees, giving the park a almost suspenseful look. Great to burn some calories quickly. read more

Mount Talbert Nature Park - Nature at its finest - Parks Near Me - Clackamas, Oregon

Great nature park in North Clackamas County. Mt. Talbert Nature Park is tucked away in a residential section of Clackamas. However, if you enjoy hiking and the peace and quiet of nature, this is the park for you. I like to hike the 4.2 miles of trails in the evening just before sunset. If you are quiet you will see deer, racoons, squirrels, rabbits and maybe even a small coyote. The park is open thirty minutes prior to sunrise and closes thirty minutes after sunset. There is plenty of parking but no services offered. As this is a nature park bike and dogs aren't allowed. Which sometimes kills me when I want to walk my dog! However, once you get up there amongst the thick forrest and peaceful meadow area you can appreciate why fido can't come. read more

I have a biased opinion...... This place is literally my backyard. The trails are good for kids and adults alike. I generally go running on these trails and they are mostly sheltered from the rain. This makes it nice so that the trails aren't too slick. read more

What can I say? Love the trees!! Nice and relaxing. No excuses allowed on hot days to go for a hike here since there is sooo much shade. Kind of steep in areas, so careful if it's your first time hiking. First time here and I L-O-V-E-D it read more

Mount Talbert Nature Park - A lot of trees and a lot of shade, great for any hot day - Parks Near Me - Clackamas, Oregon

We just hiked several trails on Mt. Talbert and the trails are pretty dry at the moment. There are several different ways to access the park, making it accessible to a number of neighborhoods surrounding the mountain. The trails are well-maintained and well-marked. Dogs are not allowed. We saw a number of families enjoying the nature, always nice to see kids who appreciate things beyond TV and the computer. At one point we hit a trailhead with a trail closed sign but after consulting with a local couple who regularly hike the area, they told us to ignore it as the fencing had been removed almost a year ago (they think the park maintenance just forgot to remove the sign) and the trail was in good condition. Mt. Talbert is very beautiful but my one complaint is that it's hard to see any vistas from anyplace, including the summit. Just too many trees! ;) Go enjoy this park and spend a while soaking up it's nature, will ya? It does a body good. read more

This is 5 minutes from my house yet I rarely get there. It is beautiful moderate quick hike to do, and I always feel great after doing it. No dogs are allowed, which is fine as I don't have one...but there are plenty of kids. I usually do the loop and am alone by the 1/4 of the way in, so I'm good. Nice little gem close to home :) read more

Love mossy trees! Took a nice hike on a slightly showery day. Fresh air and the path was easily trekable. There was even a part where the path was a wood bridge. read more

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This place provides about 3 miles of hiking trail. Stepping on to the trail, you leave the city life behind and surrounding yourself with beautiful nature. read more

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Beautiful park. They seem to be doing some great oak restoration. On a one hour hike to the top we saw nuthatches, pileated woodpecker, and apparently just missed some deer. The park does not allow dogs, for restoration reasons. Yet there were at least three groups with dogs there. I would ask dog owners to respect the rules of the park. read more

I hate to give this 5 stars...because I want to keep this a secret. It is a nice trail that isn't overrun with people. Easy trails, if you are over seven and under seventy...nice hike option that does not require a two hour drive. Sorry, fellow dog lovers...for all to be able to enjoy and follow the rules, please keep your dogs at home. And to those that litter up here...respect yourselves and something others hold sacred and pack your trash out. It's too pretty to muck up with garbage and too many people. (sigh) read more

We are fans of all Metro Parks like Mt. Talbert Nature Park. You can always count on these natural spaces to be well-maintained and provide a nice little jaunt through the 'wilderness'. This last weekend my parents were in town and we wanted to get out and get a little exercise before we had a decadent dinner. This is one the of few parks we had yet to visit, so we decided to try it out. It was easy to find (just up from the Sunnyside/Clackamas Town Center part of town) and not too busy. I liked how the trails were a little steeper in spots (got the heart pumping a bit), but nothing was too overwhelming for my parents. So, I am sure it would be great for kids too. A great place to have a fun day hike. Just stay on the trails, there is plenty of poison oak out there. read more

Cool nature park, especially considering it's smack in the middle of a neighborhood. Excellent for a quick spot of exercise. There is some nice variance to the trails, and quite a nice bird population. There is a lack of a "reward view" for reaching the summit, but who wants to stare at McMansions in Happy Valley anyways? Not a destination hike, but worth it for the exercise and scenery. read more

I power walk the lower trail from the Sunnyside Mirmont entrance to Mather. Then back to Sunnyside,and then loop around to Mather again ;and back to Sunnyside every other day. During my trek I pick up at least two peaces of trash on the trail. My fear is my age I am 72. I would like to see some effort for keeping it clear. The only area that I find difficult is around the bridge . People throw bottles and cans into the berry vines. I pick up the ones I can get to as much as possible. I requested they install a trashcan,but nothing has been done. read more

Mt. Talbert is a great little mecca in the middle of suburbia. Summer 2012 they did some major pruning of the more heavily forested areas to reduce fire danger, so it is not quite as intimate and sheltered a feeling as before, but still a great hike with occasional sightings of bunnies and deer. Trails are fairly short but can be steep in spots, so younger kids may tire easily on those stretches. No dogs or bikes, a rule which most (but not all) park users abide by. read more

Marvelous place. This is right in the city, surrounded by malls and suburbs. but you get on the trails in this park, and it's not a lot different than the wildest parts of Forest Park. The trail condition is excellent, and the trail markings are as well. For a very urban park, you'd be thinking there might be a few hundred yards of trail, if you're lucky. But here there are more than four miles of trails! There are places here where you completely lose track of the fact that you're in a city, and can barely hear car noise from the freeway. I hike all over this area, and this place completely took me by surprise. A real gem. Good place for trail running, it would appear. I was here on a Saturday afternoon, and it was hardly overrun. .Probably passed a half dozen people in a two mile jaunt. read more