Forest Park

Lady Ferns.

Forest Park is a bit mysterious.  The largest forested park in city limits in the USA, it's 5,170 acres with one park ranger assigned to it.  Parts of it are far too popular for comfort with people who illegally offleash large dogs, especially if you have a young child.   A single, detailed, easy to read map of Forest Park doesn't seem to exist, although packs of 10 individual hiking maps can be purchased (not cheap!).  Fortunately, Marcy Cottrell Houle just published her revised and expanded "One City's Wilderness:  Portland's Forest Park".  This is a great book which now covers every trail in Forest Park and offers detailed descriptions of what to expect. We checked it out of the library to see if it would be useful enough to own, and we are definitely impressed!  It goes a long way to making the park more accessible. My husband took us on a ramble based on Hike 18.   We found a few marvels along the way.

Trilliums in profusion.

Maidenhair ferns.


Jasper spotted this albino banana slug!

Red-flowering currant.

Trillium.

Comments

Unknown said…
Albino banana slug - bizarre! What a great catch!
oooh, that banana slug is silvery gorgeous!
Unknown said…
Marcy's book is a great resource, but it is worth mentioning that an excellent topo map for Forest Park does exist. It is produced by Green Trails, and available through the Forest Park Conservancy for $10.
Anonymous said…
Wow, that albino banana slug is awesome!
Laura Lucanidae said…
Thank you Stephen for the information that a topo map exists of Forest Park! I should have been more specific and said that a single map of the trails of forest park does not seem to exist. But according to the description on Forest Park Conservancy's website, this map does show the trailheads, as well as and the trails within Hoyt Arboretum and Washington Park. Information about how to get it is here: http://forestparkconservancy.org/portland-hiking-trails/maps.html

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