Outdoor Project

Big, old-growth trees typically have a few things in common: they grow in temperate climates with significant rainfall,  they live on protected land, and they are close to rivers.  Oxbow Regional Park provides all of the above, and the Oxbow Nature Trail will lead you into the heart of the old-growth forest of Douglas fir, western hemlock, bigleaf maple, red alder, black cottonwood and western red cedar.  Really, any combination of the trails in the park will make for a great hike.

The Cedar Trail hike is a short little adventure, but it is just long enough to offer a nice break from the urban surroundings and provide an introduction to the ecosystem in Tryon Creek State Park.  The hike remains relatively level for its entire length with the exception of a few modest grade changes, most of which feature well-maintained steps built into the trail.  Once on the trail, you’ll enjoy the dappled light on the moss and licorice ferns. Red alder and bigleaf maple trees ostensibly dominate the park’s landscape.

Even though it is enormous, Forest Park can get quite busy during the summer months.  Avoid some of the crowds and distance yourself from the white noise of the city by heading up Germantown Road toward the northern end of the park.