Fernhill Wetlands Trail Head is a beautiful place to go hiking with kids in Forest Grove, 30 minutes outside Portland by car. 

The park is located inside the wastewater treatment area owned by Clean Water Services, where water is cleaned and cooled before it returns to the Tualatin River.

Public access is free, and all visitors are welcome to enjoy the trails, restroom, Water Garden, and viewing stations. The picnic shelter is available on a first-come, first-served basis only, reservations are not accepted. The main loop around Fernhill Lake is 1.1 miles; trails are paved near the parking lot, restroom, and shelter. In the other areas, all the trails are stroller-friendly, unless it has rained. All around the trails, you will find big rocks that your kids will love to climb and benches to rest and observe nature. During weekdays the park is calm and quiet. It is a little busy on the weekends, and sometimes it can be hard to find a spot in the parking lot then.

Fernhill Wetlands is an amazing place to observe ducks, bald eagles, and other types of birds, and meet the muskrat – a semiaquatic rodent very similar to a beaver. Because of that, no dogs nor bikes are allowed on the trails. Also, feeding the wildlife is not permitted.

It is my daughter’s favorite place to jump in mud puddles during the rainy season and throw some pebbles in the water. Sunsets are gorgeous here too!

If you don’t live in Forest Grove, take the opportunity to eat something at McMenamins Grand Lodge, which is 1.1 miles away (less than five minutes by car)!