Orenco Woods Nature Park and Playground
Orenco Woods Nature Park, Northeast Birch Street, Hillsboro, OR, USA
Sunrise to Sunset
$
playground, hikes
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Orenco Woods Nature Park has a stroller-friendly nature trail and a large playground.
Orenco Woods Nature Park is 44 acres large and has 2.5 miles of trails, scenic bridges, and wetlands that include a creek and pond.
Over 100 years ago, the 42-acre park was part of the Oregon Nursery Company, the largest nursery on the West Coast. It was best known for introducing the "Orenco apple." A green apple sculpture, titled The Seeds of Orenco, sits along the trail in tribute to the park's history. Orenco gets its name from OREgon Nursery COmpany. The historic McDonald House is located on the edge of Orenco Woods Nature Park, sort of off by itself, across from the grassy field. Malcolm McDonald was the co-founder of the Oregon Nursery Company and built his home on the property in 1910. It is on the National Register of Historic Places but unfortunately, there is no timeline set for its restoration and it is fenced off and abandoned.
You can watch great blue herons and beavers in the wetlands below the beautiful arched bridge. Look for deer and raptors in the oak savanna and forest. We saw two red-tailed hawks flying overhead, and one was carrying its fresh lunch. Speaking of lunch, bring your picnic to enjoy on the huge grassy field or at one of the tables. Most of the picnic tables are covered. The weekend we went to Orenco, the tables were reserved, however.
The playground was my kid's favorite part of the hike. I told them we'd hike first, then go to the playground to incentivize them to finish the hike without complaining. It worked. The road noise from the surrounding area was noticeable toward the back of the park away from the playground and parking lot. But, it's still a popular place and I can see why. It provides easy access to nature while still surrounded by an urban environment.