Washington – Nature Trails, Lakes and Culture

Washington combines wide-ranging nature experiences with unusual cultural destinations and diverse opportunities for active days. Families can choose between forest trails, waterfront landscapes, cycling routes, equestrian destinations and historic sites. When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home, it is therefore worth first deciding on the desired pace of travel: Should the trip focus mainly on walks and wildlife observation, are water-based activities the priority, or do longer cycling and mountain biking tours form part of the plan?

Forest Trails, Protected Areas and Varied Routes

Cooper Mountain Nature Park has 3½ miles of trails through coniferous forest, prairie and oak woodland. The Tualatin Hills Nature Park presents a different landscape: The 222-acre wildlife area includes wetlands, forests and streams that provide habitats for insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. The six-mile, largely continuous Westside Trail runs from the Tigard city limits to Tualatin Hills Nature Park, providing clear orientation for anyone who prefers longer stretches of trail.

At the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, nature lies in the floodplain of the Tualatin River. The River Trail is a 3.66-mile loop of moderate difficulty. A bird festival takes place there every year in May. For planning a trip with children of different ages, this contrast can be interesting: A loop trail and wildlife observation offer a different focus from an extensive active tour.

Water, Cycling and Forests as a Day’s Program

Swimming is possible at Henry Hagg Lake. The approximately 14-mile Hagg Lake Loop Trail is open to hikers, trail runners and mountain bikers. Rainbow trout are stocked in the lake; largemouth bass, sunfish, crappie, yellow perch and cutthroat trout are also found there. Those choosing accommodation for a more active holiday can incorporate these different possibilities into their own travel plans without taking the same type of excursion every day.

The Banks-Vernonia State Trail follows a disused railway line for 21 miles between Banks and Vernonia. The wooded L.L. Stub Stewart State Park offers camping as well as trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. There are also 15 miles of mountain biking trails for all skill levels. The 1,260-acre Chehalem Ridge Nature Park offers trails through diverse wooded landscapes, along with opportunities for walking, off-road cycling and horseback riding.

Road cyclists and water-based cyclists will also find notable points of connection. The Rock Creek Regional Trail ends at Rood Bridge Park, where the Tualatin River Regional Water Trail begins. There is also seasonal river access there on the Tualatin River for canoes, kayaks, paddleboards and boats up to 15 feet long transported on car roofs. The Tualatin Valley Scenic Bikeway is a 30-mile road cycling route. It connects Rood Bridge Park and the Banks-Vernonia Trail via rural areas in Washington County and the city of Forest Grove.

Culture, History and Wine Country

The Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals is set on 23 acres of wooded land, with its main building on the site. This building is the first Mid-Century-style ranch house in Oregon to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The grounds and nature trails can be explored free of charge by everyone. The Old Scotch Church was completed in 1878; its grounds include a cemetery containing the graves of pioneer settlers. Alongside nature and physical activity, both places add a historical dimension to a trip.

The wine landscape also complements the picture. David Hill Vineyards & Winery’s current tasting room is located in a farmhouse built in 1883 on the Rueter family homestead. Apolloni Vineyards has a 90-acre estate with 45 acres of LIVE-certified, Salmon-Safe-certified vineyards. When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home, the desired mix of excursions, landscape and regional culture can therefore be the deciding factor.

Places for Further Searches

If you would like to compare different starting points, you can visit the pages for Beaverton, Forest Grove, Hillsboro, Aloha, Tigard, Durham, Tualatin, North Plains, Gaston and Sherwood. This allows you to tailor your accommodation search to your personal focus: nature trails, water, cycling, history or wine country.

For the overarching travel overview: Oregon.