Tryon Creek State Natural Area
Encyclopedia
The Tryon Creek State Natural Area is a state park
located primarily in Portland
, in the U.S. state of Oregon
. It is the only Oregon state park within a major metropolitan area
. The 645 acres (261 ha) park lies between Boones Ferry Road and Terwilliger Boulevard
in southwest Portland in Multnomah County
and northern Lake Oswego
in Clackamas County
and is bisected from north to south by Tryon Creek
.
trails known as the 40 Mile Loop
. Near the main entrance off Terwilliger, part of the parking lot is devoted to horse trailers. Riders can choose between the 2 miles (3.2 km) North Horse Loop and the 3 miles (4.8 km) West Horse Loop. Hikers can use the bike path, the horse trails, and 8 miles (12.9 km) of hiking trails. The paved 0.35 mile (0.563269 km) Trillium Trail, a loop furnished with drinking fountains and interpretive signs, can accommodate wheelchair
s.
A park building called the Nature Center is near the main park entrance. It has a small play area for toddler
s, a gift shop, a large classroom, and a separate area for educational exhibits. Nearby is the Glenn Jackson
Shelter, a covered structure for outdoor events.
, pioneer settler, established a donation land claim
at the south end of the canyon. Five years later, he died, leaving the land to his wife, Frances. The land then passed to other relatives, including Socrates Tryon, Jr., who sold the 645 acres (261 ha) in 1874 to the Oregon Iron Company
. For nearly 25 years, the company logged
virgin cedar
and fir to use in its foundry
in Lake Oswego. Its logging road later became Old Iron Mountain Trail in the state park. In 1900, fire in the upper canyon left charred snag
s still visible along the park's Center and Big Fir trails.
Logging resumed in 1912 in the north part of the canyon, where The Boone's Ferry Wood and Tie Company had a site near what became Alfred Street. A sawmill and steam donkey
engine operated near what became the sites of Beaver Bridge and Obie's Bridge. The lumber was used chiefly for railroad tie
s, cordwood and flagpoles, and left huge cedar stumps that remain in the park. Intermittent logging continued through 1961, and a 1962 windstorm known as the Columbus Day Storm
blew down many remaining trees.
Local efforts began in the 1950s to establish a park along the creek, In 1969, the government of Multnomah County bought 45 acres (18.2 ha) to start a large regional park and sought citizen assistance with the project. This led to formation of Friends of Tryon Creek Park, which raised private funds for the park, helped arrange land deals, helped solve problems of jurisdiction in a two-county, two-city park, and sought help from the state. In 1970, Oregon Governor Tom McCall
announced the formation of Tryon Creek State Park.
Over the next few years, the state bought more than 600 acres (242.8 ha) of land for nearly $3 million, including federal matching funds. The Friends and the state collaborated in park planning and further fund-raising. In 1973, more than 300 volunteers built trails, and the nature center and shelter were finished by 1975. The park was officially dedicated on July 1, 1975.
, Western redcedar
, and Western hemlock. The forest understory in the park includes many trillium
s, celebrated each spring during the park's Trillium Festival. More than 90 species of wildflower such as fringecup
are found in the park as well as plants such as sword fern
.
More than 50 species of birds as well as small mammals such as beaver
inhabit the park. Tryon Creek is among the few streams in the Portland metropolitan area with a run of steelhead
trout, and coho salmon
have been recorded spawn
ing in the creek. Water striders, invertebrate
s that can walk on water, are common in the pools of Tryon Creek
.
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
located primarily in Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, in the U.S. state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. It is the only Oregon state park within a major metropolitan area
Metropolitan area
The term metropolitan area refers to a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing. A metropolitan area usually encompasses multiple jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships,...
. The 645 acres (261 ha) park lies between Boones Ferry Road and Terwilliger Boulevard
Terwilliger Boulevard
Terwilliger Boulevard is a street in Portland, Oregon, U.S. It begins at southwest 6th Avenue and Interstate 405 near Portland State University. It passes through the neighborhoods of Marquam Hill, Southwest Hills, and Burlingame and by Lewis and Clark College before ending at Oregon Route 43 in...
in southwest Portland in Multnomah County
Multnomah County, Oregon
Multnomah County is one of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Though smallest in area, it is the most populous as its county seat, Portland, is the state's largest city...
and northern Lake Oswego
Lake Oswego, Oregon
Lake Oswego is a city located primarily in Clackamas County in the U.S. state of Oregon. Small portions of the city are also located in neighboring Multnomah and Washington counties. Located south of Portland surrounding the Oswego Lake, the town was founded in 1847 and incorporated as Oswego in...
in Clackamas County
Clackamas County, Oregon
Clackamas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county was named after the Native Americans living in the area, the Clackamas Indians, who were part of the Chinookan people. As of 2010, the population was 375,992...
and is bisected from north to south by Tryon Creek
Tryon Creek
Tryon Creek is a tributary of the Willamette River in the U.S. state of Oregon. Part of the drainage basin of the Columbia River, its watershed covers about in Multnomah and Clackamas counties...
.
Resources
The park includes hiking trails, a paved bicycle path, and horse trails. The 3 miles (4.8 km) bicycle path, which runs along Terwilliger Boulevard on the east edge of the park to Lake Oswego, is part of the Portland metropolitan area's system of greenwayGreenway (landscape)
A greenway is a long, narrow piece of land, often used for recreation and pedestrian and bicycle user traffic, and sometimes for streetcar, light rail or retail uses.- Terminology :...
trails known as the 40 Mile Loop
40 Mile Loop
The 40-Mile Loop is a partially completed greenway trail around and through Portland in the U.S. State of Oregon. It was proposed in 1903 by the Olmsted Brothers architecture firm as part of the development of Forest Park....
. Near the main entrance off Terwilliger, part of the parking lot is devoted to horse trailers. Riders can choose between the 2 miles (3.2 km) North Horse Loop and the 3 miles (4.8 km) West Horse Loop. Hikers can use the bike path, the horse trails, and 8 miles (12.9 km) of hiking trails. The paved 0.35 mile (0.563269 km) Trillium Trail, a loop furnished with drinking fountains and interpretive signs, can accommodate wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
s.
A park building called the Nature Center is near the main park entrance. It has a small play area for toddler
Toddler
A toddler is a young child, usually defined as being between the ages of one and three. Registered nurse, midwife and author, Robin Barker, states 'Any time from eight months onwards your baby will begin to realise he is a separate person from you...
s, a gift shop, a large classroom, and a separate area for educational exhibits. Nearby is the Glenn Jackson
Glenn Jackson
Glenn L. Jackson was a businessman in the U.S. state of Oregon, and an influential transportation planner in the state. He made a strong mark on the state as a 20-year member, and later chair, of the Oregon State Highway Commission, later known as the Oregon Transportation Commission...
Shelter, a covered structure for outdoor events.
History
In 1850, Socrates Hotchkiss Tryon, Sr.Socrates Hotchkiss Tryon, Sr.
Socrates Hotchkiss Tryon, Sr. was a pioneer physician in what became the U.S. state of Oregon. A native of Vermont, he later lived in Iowa and California before moving to the Oregon Territory where he settled the land that now comprises part of the Tryon Creek State Natural Area in Portland and...
, pioneer settler, established a donation land claim
Donation Land Claim Act
The Donation Land Claim Act of 1850 was a statute enacted by the United States Congress intended to promote homestead settlement in the Oregon Territory in the Pacific Northwest...
at the south end of the canyon. Five years later, he died, leaving the land to his wife, Frances. The land then passed to other relatives, including Socrates Tryon, Jr., who sold the 645 acres (261 ha) in 1874 to the Oregon Iron Company
Oregon Iron Company
The Oregon Iron Company was an iron smelting company located in what is now Lake Oswego, Oregon. The company was established in 1865, and in 1867, became the first company in the United States to smelt iron west of the Rocky Mountains...
. For nearly 25 years, the company logged
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
virgin cedar
Thuja plicata
Thuja plicata, commonly called Western or pacific red cedar, giant or western arborvitae, giant cedar, or shinglewood, is a species of Thuja, an evergreen coniferous tree in the cypress family Cupressaceae native to western North America...
and fir to use in its foundry
Foundry
A foundry is a factory that produces metal castings. Metals are cast into shapes by melting them into a liquid, pouring the metal in a mold, and removing the mold material or casting after the metal has solidified as it cools. The most common metals processed are aluminum and cast iron...
in Lake Oswego. Its logging road later became Old Iron Mountain Trail in the state park. In 1900, fire in the upper canyon left charred snag
Snag
In forest ecology, a snag refers to a standing, partly or completely dead tree, often missing a top or most of the smaller branches. In freshwater ecology it refers to trees, branches, and other pieces of naturally occurring wood found sunken in rivers and streams; it is also known as coarse woody...
s still visible along the park's Center and Big Fir trails.
Logging resumed in 1912 in the north part of the canyon, where The Boone's Ferry Wood and Tie Company had a site near what became Alfred Street. A sawmill and steam donkey
Steam donkey
Steam donkey, or donkey engine is the common nickname for a steam-powered winch, or logging engine widely used in past logging operations, though not limited to logging...
engine operated near what became the sites of Beaver Bridge and Obie's Bridge. The lumber was used chiefly for railroad tie
Railroad tie
A railroad tie/railway tie , or railway sleeper is a rectangular item used to support the rails in railroad tracks...
s, cordwood and flagpoles, and left huge cedar stumps that remain in the park. Intermittent logging continued through 1961, and a 1962 windstorm known as the Columbus Day Storm
Columbus Day Storm of 1962
The Columbus Day Storm of 1962 was an extratropical cyclone that ranked among the most intense to strike the United States Pacific Northwest since at least 1948, likely since the January 9, 1880 "Great Gale" and snowstorm...
blew down many remaining trees.
Local efforts began in the 1950s to establish a park along the creek, In 1969, the government of Multnomah County bought 45 acres (18.2 ha) to start a large regional park and sought citizen assistance with the project. This led to formation of Friends of Tryon Creek Park, which raised private funds for the park, helped arrange land deals, helped solve problems of jurisdiction in a two-county, two-city park, and sought help from the state. In 1970, Oregon Governor Tom McCall
Tom McCall
Thomas Lawson McCall was an American politician and journalist in the state of Oregon. A Republican, he was the 30th Governor of Oregon from 1967 to 1975. A native of Massachusetts, he grew up there and in Central Oregon before attending the University of Oregon...
announced the formation of Tryon Creek State Park.
Over the next few years, the state bought more than 600 acres (242.8 ha) of land for nearly $3 million, including federal matching funds. The Friends and the state collaborated in park planning and further fund-raising. In 1973, more than 300 volunteers built trails, and the nature center and shelter were finished by 1975. The park was officially dedicated on July 1, 1975.
Vegetation and wildlife
Dominant plants in the Tryon Creek watershed are red alder, bigleaf maple, Douglas-firDouglas-fir
Douglas-fir is one of the English common names for evergreen coniferous trees of the genus Pseudotsuga in the family Pinaceae. Other common names include Douglas tree, and Oregon pine. There are five species, two in western North America, one in Mexico, and two in eastern Asia...
, Western redcedar
Thuja plicata
Thuja plicata, commonly called Western or pacific red cedar, giant or western arborvitae, giant cedar, or shinglewood, is a species of Thuja, an evergreen coniferous tree in the cypress family Cupressaceae native to western North America...
, and Western hemlock. The forest understory in the park includes many trillium
Trillium
Trillium is a genus of about 40–50 species of spring ephemeral perennials, native to temperate regions of North America and Asia....
s, celebrated each spring during the park's Trillium Festival. More than 90 species of wildflower such as fringecup
Tellima grandiflora
Tellima grandiflora is a herbaceous perennial plant of the family Saxifragaceae.A herbaceous plant, with rounded leaves, emerging from a rootstock, up to 30cm high. It is evergreen in mild winters. Flowers are borne in spring and early summer, on spikes up to 60cm high...
are found in the park as well as plants such as sword fern
Polystichum munitum
Polystichum munitum is an evergreen fern native to western North America, where it is one of the most abundant ferns occurring along the Pacific coast from southeast Alaska south to southern California, and also inland east to southeastern British Columbia, northern Idaho and western Montana, with...
.
More than 50 species of birds as well as small mammals such as beaver
Beaver
The beaver is a primarily nocturnal, large, semi-aquatic rodent. Castor includes two extant species, North American Beaver and Eurasian Beaver . Beavers are known for building dams, canals, and lodges . They are the second-largest rodent in the world...
inhabit the park. Tryon Creek is among the few streams in the Portland metropolitan area with a run of steelhead
Rainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
trout, and coho salmon
Coho salmon
The Coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. Coho salmon are also known as silver salmon or "silvers". It is the state animal of Chiba, Japan.-Description:...
have been recorded spawn
Spawn (biology)
Spawn refers to the eggs and sperm released or deposited, usually into water, by aquatic animals. As a verb, spawn refers to the process of releasing the eggs and sperm, also called spawning...
ing in the creek. Water striders, invertebrate
Invertebrate
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. The group includes 97% of all animal species – all animals except those in the chordate subphylum Vertebrata .Invertebrates form a paraphyletic group...
s that can walk on water, are common in the pools of Tryon Creek
Tryon Creek
Tryon Creek is a tributary of the Willamette River in the U.S. state of Oregon. Part of the drainage basin of the Columbia River, its watershed covers about in Multnomah and Clackamas counties...
.