Trail Running in Chehalem Ridge Nature Park

One of my first posts, and one of my most popular, is Trail Running in Oregon's Wine Country. As I continue to grow as both a runner and a writer, I thought I'd expand on each park (and add some new ones to your list). First up is my favorite, Chehalem Ridge Nature Park.

You'll run faster if you pretend you're Bella Swan flirtatiously running from Edward Cullen - and the mossy rainforest vibe here makes it easy to use your imagination

Chehalem Ridge at-a-glance

You can read on for more of my thoughts, but here are the fast facts on Chehalem Ridge Nature Park.

• About 45 minutes from Portland - see Google Maps pin (be aware that the last part of the drive is unpaved gravel)

  
  

• Trail map

  
  

• Trail Policies

  • NO DOGS ALLOWED (I'm sad about this to be honest)

  • Horses and bicycles are allowed on some trails

  • Parking is free!

  • There are flush toilets with sinks, and a drinking fountain

• Official website

• My usual route ranges from 4-7 miles, with some nice hills. The longest I've run here was about 9 miles, but you could easily make a 10+ mile loop.

• All trails are either gravel or dirt - no pavement.

• Occasional cougar and bear sightings - no need to be afraid or have bear spray, just keep in mind when running solo around dusk.

The official Chehalem Ridge Nature Park map

Exploring Chehalem Ridge Nature Park

The main route is Timber Road - a wide, gravel road that cuts through the park. The other trails all branch off from Timber Road. You won't be able to avoid hills entirely, but if you want gentler slopes, I'd recommend taking the Woodland Trail and Witch's Butter Trail. Personally, the gravel surface on Timber Road hurts my feet, so I prefer the side trails, which are softer dirt. I even ran here during a snowstorm once, and didn't need spikes.

My first and only snowy run! The gentle slops of Chehalem Ridge made it doable without spikes - I've slipped too many times in Forest Park to even attempt a snowy run there.

At the end of Timber Road is a small loop trail on a plateau (the Mampa Trail) overlooking the beautiful Tualatin Valley. This is a great turnaround point, regardless of the loop you choose.

If you want a longer run, take the Chehalem Ridge Trail and Madrona Hill Trail to the edge of the park boundaries. I've only done this once (and it was about 9 miles total) and the views are a little underwhelming compared to the Mampa Trail, but it's still a wonderful run.

The beautiful view of the Valley at the top of the Mampa Trail. I route most of my runs here with this as the turnaround point.

Let's make a day of it!

Chehalem Ridge Nature Park is about 45 minutes from Portland. It's the perfect destination for a weekday evening run, during summer months, or a quick weekend getaway. If you have several hours to kill, you might as well make a day of it!

Here are some of my favorite local stops by Chehalem Ridge:

• Henry Hagg Lake (17 minutes away): This is another one of my favorite easy summer trips. There is a $10 day pass fee (it is a county park so unfortunately no other pass covers it) and you can pay at a self-serve kiosk. Hagg Lake offers several beaches, picnic areas, boat access, a mountain biking trail (that can also be a trail run), and a disc golf course. I enjoy biking on the road around the lake - about 13 miles total and some gentle hills. Scoggins Creek is my favorite place to picnic, as it gets fewer people than the lake access picnic areas.

• Telvet Coffee in Forest Grove (16 minutes away): I love coffee shops located in old, historic houses. I was really surprised at the affordability here, and I enjoyed sitting by the fire and eating a bagel after my run. It is open from 7 am to 5 pm on most days.

• Fernhill Wetlands (15 minutes away): I've recently downloaded the Merlin app and forced myself to get into birding. Post-run at Chehalem, I walked around the Fernhill Wetlands and tried to catch as many different species as I could. I ran into another couple doing the same thing - it was obvious when they were walking into bushes holding their phones in the air trying to record the bird songs!

• McMenamins Grand Lodge (16 minutes away): An Oregon classic! Even if you don't eat here, I'd recommend spending some time wandering the hotel and surrounding grounds. There are some secret rooms to discover, fun artwork and architecture, and a soaking pool (requires advance registration). What could be better than an outdoor soak after your trail run? Check their calendar for live music too!

• Cornelius 10 Cinemas (18 minutes away): My husband and I had our first date here, at the drive-in movie theater. We watched Robert Pattinson as Batman. Check out their current showings here. They usually have outdoor movies starting around dusk.

  
  

This was my post-run picnic setup at Hagg Lake last summer. I love the Scoggins Creek picnic area, because it's less popular than the lakeside picnic spots. I highly recommend setting up with snacks and a book here after a long run at Chehalem Ridge.

Well that's all for now folks! This is just the beginning of my trail running series, check back soon (or sign up for my email list) for your next trail run! Let me know your favorite trails.