West Hills
I enjoy hiking in Portland Heights in the springtime. There are multiple marked urban trails. And, there is a 205-acre nature park nearby.
The hikes follow streets, public stairways, alleyways and trails through greenways.
On many days I do an eight-mile hike following Southwest Urban Trails, a Connector Trail, Sunnyside Trail, Basalt Trail, Marquam Trail, Flicker Trail and Spotted Towhee Trail. On the way I drop down to the Marquam Nature Park Shelter at 290 feet and then climb to Council Crest at 1,071 feet, the highest point in the City.
Spotted Towhee (my favorite member of the Sparrow family)
Salmonberry
Wildflowers Too
There is always a nice combination of domestic and wild flowers, birds and small animals to see. And, as the year unfolds, different flowers come into bloom. And, if I’m lucky, I can spot coyotes, deer and racoons.
Mock Orange
Dark-eyed Junco collecting for the nest
Flicker Trail
Trillium
Jonquil
Dark-eyed Junco
Small creek along the trail
Red Dead-nettle
Pear blossom
Trillium blossom on its last legs
Wild Geese
Wet Trillium bouquet
Marquam Nature Trail
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