Cooper Mountain Nature Park includes a group of hiking trails with wildlife viewing and a playground.

Cooper Mountain Nature Park encompasses 232 acres and is situated overlooking the Tualatin River Valley on the edge of Beaverton. It includes 3.23 miles of trails that pass through different habitats - from conifer forest to prairie to oak woodlands. Enjoy the views of the Chehalem Mountains and overlook the farms in the valley below. If you want the shadiest and most forested trail, opt for the Little Prairie Loop. Be advised the entire park is situated on a hill with an elevation gain of over 300 feet. So, a stroller is not recommended as the trails are not paved, and it is challenging to push one up the hill.

If you do the Cooper Mountain Loop, it is 1.9 miles long. Or if you do the entire perimeter loop of the park, which includes the Cooper Mountain Loop, Blacktail Way, and the Little Prairie Loop, it is about 2.8 miles long. My three and five-year-olds completed the 2.8-mile perimeter with us, but it was a slight stretch for them coming back up the hill. However, we found the Prairie Loop to be very pretty in the forest, just a bit short for us. It was nice to do that one in the warmer summer weather.

If it is sunny, you will want sun protection as it is open primarily except the for Little Prairie Loop. If it has rained or snowed recently, the trails will be wet with a bit of stream running down the trails. You will want waterproof hiking shoes or boots for this type of weather. Learn from my three-year-old's mistake of jumping in puddles after the snow melted when she chose sneakers over her boots. We tried to warn her. Yes, she finished the hike anyway. But, she was not comfortable. You may see a variety of wildlife on your hike. We saw deer, including a buck, birds, and squirrels. There is an ear trumpet for listening to the bird calls. We had to lift our kids to use it, which was a bit difficult to do while carrying our one-year-old on my back. Springtime will bring wildflowers in bloom. 

The perfect end to your hike is to eat a snack or picnic at the top of the mountain by the nature play playground and then let your little ones play as a reward for their valiant efforts, conquering the mountain. It includes a lovely, large sand play area. There are some picnic benches and restrooms nearby that are still open in winter. Water fountains will be turned off for the winter, however.