Lake Oswego Parks & Recreation Hikes and Rambles Spring/Summer 2015 Calendar of Hikes/Rambles/Walks Welcome to our Tuesday and Thursday series of day hikes and rambles, most within two hours of Lake Oswego. Information is also available at LO Park & Rec Activities Catalog . To recieve weekly News email send your request to [email protected]. Hikes are for hikers of intermediate ability. Hiking distance is usually between 6 - 10 miles, and usually with an elevation gain/loss between 800 - 2000 ft. Longer hikes, greater elevation gains or unusual trail conditions will be noted in the hike description. Hikes leave at 8:00 a.m., unless otherwise indicated. Rambles are typically shorter, less rugged, and more leisurely paced -- perfect for beginners. Outings are usually 5-7 miles with comfortable elevation gains and good trail conditions. Leaves promptly at 8:30a unless otherwise noted. Meeting Places All hikes and rambles leave from the City of Lake Oswego West End Building (WEB), 4101 Kruse Way, Lake Oswego. Park in the lower parking lot (behind the building) off of Kruse Way. Individual hike or ramble descriptions may include second pickup times and places. (See included places table.) for legend. All mileages indicated are roundtrip. Second Meeting Places Code Meeting Place AWHD Airport Way Home Depot, Exit 24-B off I-205, SW corner of parking lot CFM Clackamas Fred Meyer, Exit 12-A off I-205, north lot near Elmer's End of the Oregon Trail Interpretative Center, Exit 10 off I-205, right on Washington Street to EOT parking lot by covered wagons Jantzen Beach Target,Exit 308 off I-5, left on N Hayden Island, left on N Parker, SE corner JBT Target parking lot L&C Lewis and Clark State Park. I-84 exit 18. SPS Sunset Plaza Safeway, Exit 67 off US 26W, NW Murrary Rd. at Cornell, SE corner of parking lot WT Wilsonville Target, I-5 Exit 286/Elligsen Rd east, NW corner Target parking lot. CLICK For a map of meeting places, WEB and Second Meeting Places. HERE Meeting times Hikes leave at 8:00a (unless otherwise noted). Rambles leave promptly at 8:30a (unless otherwise noted). New participants arrive 15 minutes early. Return time depends on hiking and driving distance. During the Winter walk schedule, if Lake Oswego schools are closed due to inclement weather, winter walks are cancelled. What to Wear Clothes suitable for weather conditions. Sturdy, lug-soled, waterproof walking shoes/boots, sun protection. What to Bring Daypack containing lunch, sufficient water, sun protection, trail snacks, rain gear, extra clothing and personal items such as sunglasses, insect repellent, first aid kit, compact space blanket, whistle and flashlight. Ticks and poison oak may be encountered. Parks &Recreation Fee A $1 per person Parks & Rec fee payable to hike leader at 1st or 2nd meeting place. Car Pooling & Fees Arranged among participants. Driver donation noted with each hike; bridge tolls shared by all. All mileage shown is roundtrip. Park Passes Northwest Forest Park Pass (NWFP) may be required for each vehicle at selected trailheads in National Forests. Drivers are responsible for obtaining passes prior to hike. State Park Pass (SPP) available at trailhead. General Information Hikes/rambles are not canceled due to rain. Leaders may change hike location due to hazardous driving or hiking conditions. Leaders may refuse to take anyone not properly equipped or who is judged incapable of making a specific trip. Participants accept responsibility for personal safety. No pets permitted. Hike/Ramble/Walks Calendar Month Days (select a day) MAY 5 7 12 14 19 21 26 28 JUN 2 4 9 11 16 18 23 25 30 JUL 2 7 9 14 16 21 23 28 30 AUG 4 6 11 13 18 20 25 27 MAY | Coordinators: Tuesday Joan Baldwin, Thursday Yvonne Jacobs MAY 5 - Hike Surveyors Ridge with Bald Butte Option Leader: Elaine McWilliams. 6 mi. 650 ft. [Moderate] Follow the ridge with ups &downs, car shuttle, & lunch spot with a great view. Scout report: Elaine says; Surveyor's Ridge is Easy but with Bald Butte, the hike is Moderate. Jaska & I will lead a car shuttle hike just over 4 miles along Surveyor's Ridge (south of Hood River). We'll initially gain about 200 ft to rimrock viewpoints, then enjoy the walk along the ridge, gradually losing 800 ft to the shuttle. Along the way, there are trillium, orchids, and loads of red currant, as well as a great lunch spot with Mt Hood and the Hood River Valley in front of us (as long as there's no snow as on scout day!!). Those who wish to achieve more can continue on the same trail, from the shuttle point, up Bald Butte and back (Round Trip 1.4 miles with 450 ft elevation gain). That trail and summit are plainly visible as you hike the 5 ridge toward the shuttle, so it may beckon to you!! For those who don't go up the butte, the shuttle (Tu) point has a picnic table and views (plus warm cars if necessary). Drive 170 mi. WEB 8:00a, 2nd Calendar meeting place 8:45a L&C ($17/$13) MAY 5 - Ramble Camassia Natural Area Change notes: hike mi. & elevation, added 2nd meeting place Leader: Helen Hansen. 3 mi. 100 ft. [Easy] Enjoy the flowers, as well as views of the river and Mt. Hood. Scout report: Helen says, The ramble is 3 miles with an elevation gain of 100 feet. The ramble will be done before lunch. You will need poles for the mud. We will ramble thru Wilderness Park and a West Linn neighborhood before walking around Camassia. We will see Camas and other wildflowers. Drive 20 mi. WEB 8:30a, 2nd meeting place 9:00am trailhead parking lot in Wilderness Park at Skyline Drive and Clark Street ($2) MAY 7 - Hike Sand Lake Estuary Change notes: 2nd meeting place, driver $,NWFP required Leaders: Liz Miner & Jeanine Thoene. 6 mi. 80 ft. [Moderate] From Tierra Del Mar, trek through dunes & return via the beach. Visit Clay Myers State Natural Area. Bring binoculars! Drive 190 mi. Scout report: Liz says, 6 miles- easy hike. We will first visit Clay Meyers Natural Estuary, an easy 1.5 mile walk through salal, evergreen huckleberry and rhodys. We will pass the Lilian Parker Craft Waterway and hopefully see some sort of wildlife there. On the loop we will have low tide so we can see how the rise and flow effect the lake. With luck, the Bald Eagles and the Great Blue Heron will make an appearance. We will then retrace 2.8 miles by car to the Sand Lake Park and have 7 lunch at the Fishermans' Blocks. The view there is of the mouth of the Sand Lake and Great Pacific (Th) Ocean. We'll walk up and back the sandy beach watching for migrating whale, breathing the Calendar invigorating fresh ocean air and enjoying an occasional dune buggy sighting. Bring Binoculars! WEB 8:00a, 2nd meeting place 8:30a SPS ($19/$17) NWFP required. MAY 7 - Ramble Lacamas Park Trail Change notes: hike elevation Leaders: Sandy Brooks & Connie Crow. 5 mi. 300 ft. [Easy] Fir forest, lake, canyon, creek, & waterfall. Scout report: Sandy B. says; Connie and I recently scouted this gorgeous trail on a light - rainy day. It is a moderate, 5 mile loop with 300 ft. elevation. Boots and poles are recommended for areas of slippery rocks and rooted trails. The Camas Lilies were spectacular, in full bloom hopefully until mid May. Waterfalls with unusual pocked marked rocks were gushing. Crossing over a dam, we will have lunch beside scenic Round Lake. Bathrooms are available at the lunch site. Drive 60 mi. WEB 8:30a, 2nd meeting place 9:00a CFM ($6/$4) MAY 12 - Hike Wind Mountain Plus Change Notes: hike elev. Leader: Terry Morse. 5 mi. 1300 ft. [Moderate] Enjoy spring flowers & spectacular view from this former spiritual quest site. After descending Wind Mountain, hike surrounding trails. Scout report: Terry says; Wind Mountain plus 5 miles 1300 elevation. First we will summit Wind Mountain; a 1.25 miles 1100 ft climb to the summit. The trail is in good condition but steep with two short talus rock fields to cross. Please bring poles. As we climb we will see evidence of the Collins Point slide, a glacial slide started in 1700 which affects the terrain in the valley between Wind and Dog Mountain. The summit of Wind Mountain is believed to be a Spirit Quest site for Native populations beginning approximately 1000 years ago. The views looking east and west are spectacular. Bring a windbreaker jacket for the inevitable breeze that blows at the top. After descending we will hike on private property in forested canopy on trails and forest roads with 12 moderate elevation changes. (Tu) Drive 120 mi. WEB 8:00a, 2nd meeting place 8:45a L&C ($12/$8 + bridge toll) Calendar MAY 12 - Ramble Willamette Mission State Park/Schreiner's Iris Garden Change Notes: hike mi. Leader: Maureen Becker. 4.8 mi. 20 ft. [Easy] Visit nation's largest black cottonwood tree & site of Jason Lee's 1834 Methodist settlement along the Willamette R. Lunch in heavenly Schreiner's Iris Garden. Scout report: Maureen says, Hike 4.8 miles 20 foot elevation gain. Jason Lee's 1834 Mission may have flooded in 1861 but we are fortunate to have his spot. Walk through meadows and along the banks of the Willamette river that are fabulous for birding and a variety of native trees and flowers including the Mission Rose, camas, and the nation's largest black cottonwood.