A nice weekend day in early February. A good time to do the 4.1-mile loop hike in the Tualatin Hills Nature Park a few miles west of home in the heart of the city of Beaverton. The 222-acre Park surrounds the confluence of Cedar Mill Creek and Beaverton Creek.

It is a remarkably diverse wildlife preserve with wetlands, forests, ponds and streams. The trails’ names tell the story – – – Oak, Creek, Old Wagon, Vine Maple, Big Fir, Cougar, Chickadee, Cedar Grove, Ash, Serviceberry, Big Pond, Trillium Loop and Ponderosa Loop.

The highlight of the hike was watching a fox squirrel foraging for food. Always a pleasant place to visit.

Fox Squirrel enjoying a snack (or is it a gray squirrel?)

Reflections in a small pond

Mushrooms on the forest floor

Runners along the trail

Squirrel on the run