trails and greenways

Join with other hikers and walkers for a day of giving back to trails!

Info and Registration: http://vols.wta.org/web/web.pl?sm+21654+WP

Every 1st and 3rd Saturday through October the Washington Trails Association (WTA) hosts a morning work party at a nearby park from 9am to 12pm.

WTA provides all tools and instruction at these events that are geared towards youth, families and the young at heart (all ages welcome!)

This Saturday we're at Whipple Creek Regional Park in Clark County near Ridgefield, WA. The park features an extensive trail network that offers multiple loop options through lush Douglas-fir forest--an shaded oasis reminiscent of Old-Growth groves in the western Cascades.

If you've always wanted to explore the Clackamas Watershed, but haven't been sure where to start, come on a CRBC hike this year!

Spend a day learning about geology, local flora and fauna, and the history of the Clackamas Watershed, while experiencing incredible scenery. This is a great opportunity to visit environments close to home, often pristine ones, that emphasize the natural beauty and biodiversity the Clackamas River Basin has to offer, leaving hikers with a greater sense of appreciation and motivation to protect these valuable resources.

Mark your calendars for these upcoming hikes:

* July 12th - Bull of the Woods Fire Tour

* August 16th - Mount Lowe and Rhododendron Ridge 

All tours are led by CRBC Board Member Bryon Boyce. See hike descriptions below for meeting locations. Bring plenty of water, a camera, bug spray, and a lunch. Be aware that temperatures in the upper watershed are cooler than in town so layer clothing for comfort and wear appropriate footwear. Hikes are free and participants will carpool. RSVP to attend by emailing Morgan Parks at MORGAN@CLACKAMASRIVER.ORG or calling 503-303-4372 x101. 

Next Hike - July 12th Bull of the Woods Fire Tour

Far-ranging views and wildflowers can be seen along the ridge-tops from Bull of the Woods (at 5523 ft.) and its lookout on this moderate to strenuous 10.5 mile hike. High mountain lakes will be visited as well. A car shuttle will exit at a second lower elevation trailhead. The route will involve substantially more downhill than uphill. Overall there will be 1075 feet elevation gain and 3375 feet loss.

This tour will be an excellent opportunity to visit wilderness areas of the Bull of the Woods Fire Complex of 2010 and the Mother Lode Fire of 2011. Learning about fire ecology and fire management in Western Oregon will be a focus of the outing. The fire left a mixture of damage types. Some were burned mostly by ground fire, leaving most of the tree canopy green. Other sections resulted in stand-replacing crown fires with large areas basically charcoal. In moderately and lightly burned areas, only deeply rooted herbaceous plants and shrubs have survived. Some recovery will be evident.

The plant zones we will pass through vary from high elevation forest to open rocky meadows and slopes to dense upper and mid-montane forest. The valleys of the fire area all drain to the Collowash River. Meet at the Clackamas River Ranger District -- 595 NW Industrial Way in Estacada, at 8:30 am. This is a full day hike. Due to the wilderness designation, the hike is limited to 12 participants.

If you've always wanted to explore the Clackamas Watershed, but haven't been sure where to start, come on a CRBC hike this year!

Spend the day learning about geology, local flora and fauna, and the history of the Clackamas Watershed, while experiencing incredible scenery. This is a great opportunity to visit environments close to home, often pristine ones, that emphasize the natural beauty and biodiversity the Clackamas River Basin has to offer, leaving hikers with a greater sense of appreciation and motivation to protect these valuable resources.

Mark your calendars for these upcoming hikes:

* June 28th - Thunder Mountain

* July 12th - Bull of the Woods Fire Tour

* August 16th - Mount Lowe and Rhododendron Ridge 

Read full hike descriptions including meeting locations HERE.

All tours are led by CRBC Board Member Bryon Boyce. See hike descriptions below for meeting locations. Bring plenty of water, a camera, bug spray, and a lunch. Be aware that temperatures in the upper watershed are cooler than in town so layer clothing for comfort and wear appropriate footwear. Hikes are free and participants will carpool. RSVP to attend by emailing Morgan Parks at MORGAN@CLACKAMASRIVER.ORG or calling 503-303-4372 x101. 

Next Hike - June 28th at Thunder Mountain

This diverse route crosses several high elevation passes and hillsides varying from dry rocky huckleberry fields to lush wet meadows, finally reaching the open top of Thunder Mountain at 5185 ft. To the north is Mount Hood, to the east Fish Creek Mountain, to the southeast Olallie Butte and to the south Mount Jefferson. Little remains of the once important lookout tower.

Wildflowers grace portions of the area. Local climate and soil conditions make a contrast between species-poor dry areas and species-rich wetlands. The route includes abandoned and active trails and decommissioned roads. There are several interesting geologic features remaining in this once-volcanic area.

This hike is mostly within the Clackamas drainage and rated as moderate at 8 miles in length with an overall elevation gain over 1000 ft. Meet at the Oregon City Shopping Center at 1900 McLoughlin Blvd. in Oregon City, at 8:30 am. Park in the lot adjacent to the entrance near the bank. We will be stopping along the way at an interesting geological site called the "Molalla Eye" that you won't want to miss! This is a full day hike.

Join Washington Trails Association (WTA) volunteers for a morning of giving back to trails with this 1/2 day work party.  WTA offers a series of Saturday events aimed at engaging youth and families in near-town stewardship projects. But the "Young at Heart" are welcome too. These events are on every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month at parks and trails nearby.

This Saturday the crew will be at Whipple Creek Regional Park restoring and rerouting a trail.

WTA provides all tools and instruction plus post work party refreshments. No prior experience with trail work needed, just a willingness to lend a hand.

For more information or to register, click: http://bit.ly/1tZ2A5m Or call Ryan at (360) 722-2657

Join Washington Trails Association (WTA) volunteers for a morning of giving back to trails with this 1/2 day work party.  WTA offers a series of Saturday volunteer trail maintenance events aimed at engaging youth and families in near-town stewardship projects. But the "Young at Heart" are welcome too. These events are on every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month at parks and trails nearby.

This Saturday the crew will be constructing a new trail that will meander between Vancouver Lake and Buckmire Slough.

WTA provides all tools and instruction plus post work party refreshments. No prior experience with trail work needed, just a willingness to lend a hand.

For more information and to register visit: http://bit.ly/1xyU81t Or call Ryan at (360) 722-2657