A nice weekend day in early summer. A good time to do the 4.2-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 spotting squirrels and bunnies along the trail. Always a pleasant place to visit.

Young Cottontail Rabbit

Fireweed

Whitetail Dragonfly up close

Boardwalk along marshy area of trail

Squirrel near Estacada

Red Elderberries

Translucent wings of a Whitetail Dragonfly

A chubby Squirrel

Valerian (?)

Spotted Towhee

Squirrel near Estacada

Indian Pipe (sometimes called Cadaver Flower)