Linnton Loop Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
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- Start point: Linnton Trailhead
- End point: Leif Erikson Drive North Trailhead
- Hike type: Loop
- Distance: 5.2 miles
- Elevation gain: 930 feet
- High point: 880 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Seasons: All year
- Family Friendly: Yes
- Backpackable: No
- Crowded: Yes, on the Wildwood Trail only
Contents |
Hike Description
This hike takes you into Forest Park from the small trailhead area at a bus stop in Linnton. The loop described actually takes you through two parks, Linnton (1938) and Clark & Wilson (1927), established before Forest Park came together as a grander entity in 1948. Together with Macleay Park (1897) and Holman Park (1939), these were folded into Forest Park upon its creation. Linnton Park’s acreage was donated by Aaron Meier, from the family of Meier and Frank fame; the Clark & Wilson Timber Company, which operated in and employed much of Linnton at one time, donated its 17 acres to preserve some of the hillside timberland.
From the bus shelter, head up the creek on its north bank under big-leaf maple, Douglas-fir, Pacific yew, and western hemlock. Here, there is a lush understory of sword fern, licorice fern, salmonberry, and red huckleberry. There’s a tiny waterfall on the creek near the trailhead. At a footbridge over the creek, a trail switchbacks up to the right to a triple-trunked Douglas-fir and then along the slope above the Linnton Schoolhouse to a neighborhood. The main trail crosses the footbridge under a few mossy yews and western red-cedars. You will make nine switchbacks up the slope from here. Note some larger Douglas-firs and groves of cedar. Traverse up below the ridge crest in an Oregon grape carpet, and then switchback up to the ridge crest and the junction with Firelane 10.
Go straight (right) up Firelane 10 and pass the ¾ mile marker. After the ½ mile marker, an extension, the Keyser Trail, spins off the main track to the left. (The trail is named after one of the prime movers in the formation of Forest Park.) Follow this road bed down and then up again to rejoin Firelane 10 at the ¼ mile marker. Pass a salmonberry bog and reach the junction with the Wildwood Trail.
Go left here in mostly deciduous forest and cross two creeks. Then you'll drop gently into a gully and pass the junction with Firelane 8. The Wildwood rises and then descends into another gully before ascending to Germantown Road, where there is roadside parking. Walk up the road about 40 yards and cross it to the Germantown Road Trailhead on its south side. You can pick up the Wildwood Trail here at a colorful information board. The Wildwood passes the junction with the Cannon Trail, which runs down to Leif Erikson Drive. You'll keep rising, then drop into a gully, and then rise again, heading in and out of more gullies. When you reach the junction with Waterline Road, go left.
This track drops steeply and is very muddy in the wet season. Head more gradually down along the ridge crest and then drop steeply again past a rusting gate to Leif Erikson Drive. Go left here and pass the unmarked junction with the Tolinda Trail at a curve in the road. You will pass ¼ mile markers on the right and more precise mileage markers off the road to your left. Cross a slope of young alders and rise gently past the 10 ½ mile mark. Leif Erikson crosses a deep gully under cedars, Douglas-firs, big-leaf maples, and hemlocks. After you pass the junction with the Cannon Trail, you'll notice the 11-mile marker and a port-a-potty. Soon reach the large Leif Erikson Drive North Trailhead, with its own colorful information board. Continue to Germantown Road and cross it to gated Firelane 9.
The firelane drops very steeply down a ridge crest and reaches a green gate. To your right are the ruins of an old reservoir. When you reach moss-covered MacKay Avenue, make a right. (There is a connector going left here to the Linnton Trail, but the descent to the creek is extremely steep and slick and any use of this trail will cause more erosion.) There are views across the Willamette to huge lots of new cars in the port area north of the St. John’s Bridge. Pass a plaque commemorating Clark & Wilson Park and reach Wilark Avenue. Go left down Wilark to the junction with Hoge Avenue. Continue straight on Wilark down to a dead end and go right down a staircase. This leads to an elevated sidewalk above Highway 30/St. Helens Road. Turn left here for about 100 yards and reach the Linnton Trailhead.
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- Dogs on leash
- Share firelanes with mountain bikers
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
- Forest Park Topo Trail Map (Portland Parks & Recreation)
- Forest Park (Portland Parks & Recreation)
- Green Trails Maps: Forest Park, Hoyt Arboretum, Washington Park #426S
- Forest Park Conservancy: Trail Map and Visitor's Guide to Forest Park
- Northwest Portland Bike/Walk Map (Portland Bureau of Transportation)
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Linnton Loop Hike
- A nice little snow hike in Forest Park. Feb. 24th
- Linnton and Clark & Wilson Parks (Portland)
- Forest Park, Linnton Trail/FL10/FL9 loop 07Mar2011
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Linnton Loop Hike
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- Forest Park: Exploring Portland's Natural Sanctuary by Marcy Cottrell Houle
- One City's Wilderness: Portland's Forest Park by Marcy Cottrell Houle
- Portland Hill Walks by Laura O. Foster
More Links
- Forest Park (Portland Parks & Recreation)
- Linnton Park (Portland Parks & Recreation)
- Forest Park – Linnton loop (I Heart Pacific Northwest)
- Linnton Trail – Ascending Into the Primeval Magic (Meandering through the Prologue)
- Forest Park (Portland, Oregon) (Wikipedia)
- The Forest Park Conservancy
Contributors
- bobcat (creator)