Ennis Creek Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Ennis Creek Trailhead
- End point: Ennis Forest Meadow
- Hike type: In and out
- Distance: 3.2 miles
- Elevation gain: 535 feet
- High point: 860 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Seasons: All year
- Family Friendly: Yes
- Backpackable: No
- Crowded: No
Contents |
Hike Description
A 350-acre area just across Newberry Road was one of four parcels of logged forest in the North Tualatin Mountains purchased by Metro via a May 1995 bond measure. The other properties were at Burlington Creek, McCarthy Creek, and North Abbey Creek. Along with the latter, Ennis Creek is not slated for further development, but you can use abandoned logging roads to walk these slopes of 30 year-old Douglas-fir, maple, and alder.
From the parking pullout, walk 60 yards up Newberry Road to a gated logging road on the right. The grassy track descends to the south fork of Ennis Creek and then begins to rise. A logging spur leads off to the right before you enter a dense, dark Douglas-fir plantation carpeted by sword fern and Oregon grape. Another spur leads to the left, and you’ll drop to cross a creek before hiking on the level to pass a couple of sections of culvert pipe to reach Ennis Creek. The culvert (#8) is blocked and the creek sometimes overflows the roadway, which is much eroded. A small waterfall pours over a basalt ledge just below the culvert pipe. After crossing the next stream, you’ll hike up in maple woods, with the track steepening to reach the nose of a ridge and a junction at a multi-trunked maple.
Turn left here to follow a narrower track. (The track to the right descends the ridge to the powerline corridor and private homes above Highway 30.) Hike up on a sometimes soggy tread under Douglas-firs and past a white survey marker post. Blue posts in the salal and Oregon grape indicate the boundary of Metro territory. You’ll reach a saddle where four old roads come together at a grassy expanse. The Metro corner post is to your right. Proceeding any farther will take you onto private land.
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- Neither pets nor bikes allowed
- Open sunrise to sunset
- Respect property boundaries
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Ennis Creek Hike
- Burlington Creek and Ennis Creek 4-15-22
- Ennis Creek (Pacific Greenway/PDX2Coast segment 2a?)
- Ennis Creek Hike, north of Forest Park June 3, 2012
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Ennis Creek Hike
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- Portland Forest Hikes by James D. Thayer
More Links
- “Metro Council approves public access plan for North Tualatin Mountains” (Metro)
- Greater Forest Park Conservation Initiative (Forest Park Conservancy/Forest Park Alliance)
- North Tualatin Mountains: Access Master Plan (Metro)
Contributors
- bobcat (creator)