Tryon Creek State Natural Area facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tryon Creek State Natural Area
High Bridge over Tryon Creek, 2007
Tryon Creek State Natural Area Location in Oregon
Location	Multnomah and Clackamas, Oregon, United States
Area	645 acres (261 ha)
Elevation	121 ft (37 m)
Established	1975
Named for	Socrates Hotchkiss Tryon, Sr. who settled nearby in about 1850
Governing body	Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
Website	Tryon Creek State Natural Area

The Tryon Creek State Natural Area is a special state park located mostly in Portland, Oregon. It's unique because it's the only Oregon state park found inside a big city area. This park covers about 645 acres. It sits between Boones Ferry Road and Terwilliger Boulevard in southwest Portland. It also reaches into northern Lake Oswego. The park is split down the middle by Tryon Creek, a beautiful stream.

Explore Tryon Creek Park

Tryon Creek State Natural Area offers many ways to explore nature. You can find hiking trails, a paved path for bikes, and special trails for horses.

Paths for Bikes and Horses

A 3-mile paved bike path runs along Terwilliger Boulevard. This path is part of Portland's larger system of greenway trails. It is known as the 40-Mile Loop.

If you love horses, there's a special parking area for horse trailers. Riders can choose between two horse trails. The North Horse Loop is 2 miles long. The West Horse Loop is 3 miles long.

Hiking Trails and Accessible Paths

Hikers can use the bike path and the horse trails. There are also 8 miles of trails just for hiking.

The Trillium Trail is a paved path that is 0.35 miles long. It's a loop trail with drinking fountains and signs that explain nature. This trail is designed to be easy for wheelchairs to use. It also has benches and two viewing decks where you can relax and enjoy the scenery.

Nature Center and Shelter

Near the main park entrance, you'll find the Nature Center building. It has a small play area for young children. There's also a gift shop and a large classroom. You can see educational exhibits inside too.

Close by is the Glenn Jackson Shelter. This is a covered spot for outdoor events. It's a great place for groups to gather.

History of Tryon Creek Park

The land that is now Tryon Creek State Natural Area has a long history. It changed from a settler's home to a logging site, and finally became a beloved park.

Early Settlers and Logging

In 1850, a pioneer named Socrates Hotchkiss Tryon, Sr. settled here. He claimed land at the south end of the canyon. After he passed away, his land went to his wife and then to other family members.

In 1874, the Oregon Iron Company bought 645 acres of this land. For almost 25 years, they cut down trees like cedar and fir. They used the wood in their factory in Lake Oswego. Their old logging road is now called Old Iron Mountain Trail in the park. In 1900, a big fire in the canyon left many burned tree stumps. You can still see these along the park's Center and Big Fir trails.

Logging started again in 1912 in the northern part of the canyon. A company cut down trees for railroad ties and other wood. This left huge cedar stumps that you can still see today. Logging continued on and off until 1961. Then, a big windstorm in 1962, called the Columbus Day Storm, blew down many more trees.

Creating the State Park

People in the local area started trying to create a park along the creek in the 1950s. In 1969, Multnomah County bought 45 acres to begin a large regional park. They asked citizens for help.

This led to the creation of the Friends of Tryon Creek Park group. This group raised money and helped arrange land deals. They also helped solve problems since the park was in two counties and two cities. They asked the state for help. In 1970, Oregon Governor Tom McCall announced that Tryon Creek State Park would be formed.

Over the next few years, the state bought more than 600 acres of land. This cost almost $3 million, with some money coming from the federal government. The Friends group and the state worked together to plan the park and raise more funds. In 1973, over 300 volunteers helped build the trails. The nature center and shelter were finished by 1975. The park officially opened on July 1, 1975.

Plants and Animals of Tryon Creek

Tryon Creek State Natural Area is home to many different plants and animals. The park's environment supports a rich variety of life.

Trees and Wildflowers

The main trees you'll find in the Tryon Creek area are red alder, bigleaf maple, Douglas-fir, Western redcedar, and Western hemlock.

The forest floor in the park is covered with many trilliums. These beautiful flowers are celebrated every spring during the park's Trillium Festival. More than 90 types of wildflowers grow here, like fringecup. You can also see plants such as sword fern.

Wildlife and Creek Life

Over 50 different kinds of birds live in the park. You can also find small mammals like beavers.

Tryon Creek is one of the few streams in the Portland area where steelhead trout live. Coho salmon have also been seen spawning (laying eggs) in the creek. You might spot water striders in the creek's pools. These amazing invertebrates can walk right on top of the water!