Wildlife Preserve

Tualatin Hills Nature Park is a few miles west of home in the heart 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. There are five miles of trails, with about 1.5 miles paved and the rest well-maintained paths with wooden walkways over the wetland areas.

Reflections in a pond

Lily Ponds

We did a four-mile loop hike. 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.

We truly enjoyed the lily ponds, creeks and marshes. It was fun spotting the squirrels and waterfowl.

One of the scenic ponds along the trail

Gray Squirrel

Well-maintained trails

Ponderosa Pine Trees, much more prevalent on the east side of the Cascades

A skiff of ice in a Cattail pond

Gray Squirrel