Chehalem Ridge Nature Park is a nature park in the

Portland metropolitan area The Portland metropolitan area is a metro area in the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington centered on the principal city of Portland, Oregon. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) identifies it as the Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro, ...

in the U.S. state of

Oregon Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...

. Opened in 2021, the park is owned and operated by

Metro Metro, short for metropolitan, may refer to: Geography * Metro (city), a city in Indonesia * A metropolitan area, the populated region including and surrounding an urban center Public transport * Rapid transit, a passenger railway in an urba ...

, the regional government in the Oregon portion of the metro area. This is despite that the park is located outside the regional government's boundary. The park is named after the

Chehalem Mountains The Chehalem Mountains are a mountain range located in the Willamette Valley in the U.S. state of Oregon. Forming the southern boundary of the Tualatin Valley, the Chehalems are the highest mountains in the Willamette Valley. The range extends fr ...

, where the park is located. The park is located off Dixon Mill Road, east of Gaston between Oregon Route 47 and

Oregon Route 219 Oregon Route 219 (also known as part of the Hillsboro-Silverton Highway No. 140 (see Oregon highways and routes)) is an Oregon state highway which runs between the cities of Hillsboro, Oregon, Hillsboro and Woodburn, Oregon, in the United States. ...

History

Metro purchased the property for the park in 2008 from

Stimson Lumber Company Stimson Lumber Company is an American Forest products company based in Oregon. Founded in 1931, it was started by three partners, including G. W. Stimson of the Stimson family of King County, Washington, responsible for the Stimson House, Hollywo ...

using money from voter approved bonds passed in 1995 and 2006. In 2010, restoration to the former tree farm began with tree thining the and removal of invasive plant species. Construction of park amenities started in 2020, paid for from other bond measures in 2013, 2016, and 2019. Chehalem Ridge opened on December 13, 2021, after $5.2 million in construction.

Features

Located in southwestern Washington County, there are three streams located in the park. The built environment includes two picnic shelters, of trails, park benches, restrooms, and parking. The highest point in the park is Iowa Hill, at the end of the Mampal Trail. Flora at the park includes Douglas fir trees, Oregon white oak, Pacific madrone, and western red cedars. Animals include black-tailed deer, bobcats, hermit thrush, coyotes, ruffed grouse, Douglas squirrels, and alligator lizards.

References

External links

* {{Protected areas of Oregon Metro (Oregon regional government) Parks in Washington County, Oregon 2021 establishments in Oregon Protected areas established in 2021

History

Features

See also

References

External links