Imagine stepping into a lush forest where woodpeckers forage, squirrels leap from limb to limb, owlets wait quietly for their next meal, and wildflowers paint the understory as the seasons change. Discover it all at Tryon Creek State Natural Area, your oasis in the city. Here you can explore 658 acres of second-growth forests, walk along the meandering Tryon Creek, and connect with the flora and fauna that call this special place home
Located about 15 minutes from downtown Portland, Tryon Creek is Oregon's only state park within a major metropolitan area. What will you explore today?
The park features 8 miles of hiking trails, 8 bridges and a boardwalk over a wetland. Bring along our Tryon Creek Checklist of Vascular Plants and see what you can identify!
The 0.3 mile fully paved Trillium Trail is 6-feet wide with a slope up to 3.2%. Resting benches and turnaround areas located along the trail. There are occasional bumps caused by roots that affect the trail surface. See images of the trail surface in the photo carousel at the bottom of this page.
Park trails are maintained for year-round hiking. Hiking trails in the park can be muddy during wet weather.
The park boasts 3.5 miles of packed gravel trails for equestrians. Trails travel along ridgeline, then down to the creek and back. From the equestrian parking area, the North Horse Loop is 2.1 miles and the West Horse Loop is 3.1 miles.
The 3-mile paved bicycle path parallels Terwilliger Boulevard on the east edge of the park, from Boones Ferry Road to State Street (Oregon Highway 43) in Lake Oswego. It is part of the Portland metropolitan area bikeway system 40-mile loop.
Tryon Creek hosts educational programs and guided hikes throughout the year. Contact the park to schedule a school field trip.
Visitors can obtain park information, purchase gifts and enjoy interpretive exhibits and programs at the Nature Center and nearby Glenn Jackson Shelter. The park hosts educational programs and guided hikes throughout the year. Check the event calendar for a schedule.
Tryon Creek State Natural Area from Access Recreation on Vimeo.
Park Hours
November - February: 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.
March: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
April: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.
May - August: 7 a.m. - 9 p.m.
September: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.
October: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
The Nature Center at Tryon Creek State Natural Center is open daily from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Tryon Creek State Natural Area is located at 11321 S. Terwilliger Blvd. Portland, OR 97219.
Due to our designation as a natural area, limited staff availability and parking, we do not permit events at the Jackson Shelter. An exception would be events or meetings put on by Oregon Parks and Recreation Department or the Friends of Tryon Creek. These events and meetings are for the increased enjoyment and education of park visitors and to further management efforts for the park. Currently, the shelter serves as a beautiful viewpoint and as a shelter from the elements for all visitors to enjoy.
While we do not have a designated area for visitors to reserve, we are happy to suggest the following nearby parks with event space:
Land for the park was acquired between 1971 and 1988 by gifts from Multnomah County, Friends of Tryon Creek, Annette T. Kraft and John and Julie Des Camp, as well as by purchase from private owners. The park was obtained to provide a natural area typical of the Willamette Valley ecosystem within the Portland metropolitan area which would be available for public study and education. Tryon Creek is named for Dr. Socrates Hotchkiss Tryon, an Oregon settler of 1850, who settled a claim near Oswego on which the park land is located.