Kayaking and Hiking Adventures

Chehalem Ridge Nature Park trail map Starting Location:  parking area Point of Interest  :   trails for hiking, biking, horses with views Length of hike:   Several trails, we did just over 1 mile Level :  Easy/Moderate - dirt/gravel trail, not too steep Bathrooms :  Yes, flush toilets Parking :  Large paved lot, EV Chargers:   Well, maybe? (Here's a picture of a Nissan Leaf, with their charging cord plugged into a nearby electric box) This Nature site seems pretty new, and has lots of amenities, including bathrooms, paved seating areas, covered areas for picnics or gatherings, and information signs. Plenty of parking for large vehicles with bike racks.  This site also has the best marked trails I have ever seen. Almost every trail junction is clearly marked with names and arrows.  Also, there was a cougar sighting in the area, but over a month ago. We weren't lucky enough to see one. There is a nice view of the valley, but again, th...

Miller Woods Conservation Area Starting Location:  parking area Point of Interest  :   conservation area with information signs Length of hike:   Several trails, up to 4.7 mile loop Level :  Easy/Moderate - dirt/gravel trail, some steep Bathrooms :  Yes, flush toilets with heated bathrooms! Parking :  Large gravel lot in good condition EV Chargers:   No Our second hike of the day. We opted to do part of the Outer Loop, which was just over 2 miles long. The trails are color coded and well marked.  There are a lot of birdhouses all over the area, including along the hikes. This shows a string of birdhouses on posts, and a sign showing what birds you might see. There are lots of benches around the pond area, and quite a few along the trails, to just sit and enjoy the view. The weather was overcast, but the area is beautiful, and the leaves were colorful. There are a series of doors on the ground, where you can lift it and see some of the ha...

Erratic Rock Natural Site Starting Location:  parking area Point of Interest  :   weird rock from a long ways away Length of hike:  .25 mile loop Level :  Easy/Moderate - paved trail, pretty steep for last half Bathrooms :  No Parking :  Small pull out parking on side of road. EV Chargers:   No We were doing several hikes today, so we started with the closest and shortest. There is a sign showing where the trailhead is, and a small pull out area on the side of the road for parking. The trail is paved, with some informational signs. There is a vineyard next door, and a private residence on the other side. The first part of the trail is very flat, but when you turn the corner to go uphill, it's pretty steep. It's a cool rock, but it's not big. Apparently it used to be bigger, but people chipped away parts of it to take home? I think it was worth the short hike, and you learn a little bit about geography. The weather was foggy, so we didn't have...