Kaiser Woods Natural Area

Kaiser Woods Natural Area is a 28-acre site along the Rock Creek Trail greenway in the Bethany area where you can find a native forest, wetlands, trails, and a playground.

We continue sharing more of our local hikes in Portland or nearby! Kaiser Woods is a small but beautiful Natural Area and so near that sometimes we forget to visit it!

I remember that I used to drive one hour or more to practice my nature photography hobby. However, with these last months of staying at home order, I luckily rediscovered this and other natural places.

Also, surprisingly for me, this Spring I found pretty wildflowers on a walking distance! That was so convenient and therapeutic (Walking in Nature and photography is really good for my mind and soul)!

Activities

Kaiser Woods Natural Area is located in the Bethany area in Portland. Along the Rock Creek Trail, this quiet and lovely forest offers 1.25 miles of soft-surface trails and wetlands areas.

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And with the addition of the playground of Kaiser Wood Park, it provides that combination that for instance, my kids love, traditional, and natural parks in the same adventure.

Fortunately, we have these urban forests. To enumerate some examples of times I’ve been enjoying these woods, I used to run (now with an injury😢) so when I needed a break from paved trails I adventured under these trees.

Other activities besides hiking or running, you can do there are nature photography, birds or wildlife watching, to mention some.

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This year with all the difficult things going on, discovering so many wildflowers in Kaiser Woods was a blessing for me.

Look at some of them, they are gorgeous:

Additionally, If you love biking you can combine the trip to this Natural Area with access to the paved trails system. Last Spring and Summer we used to go to Rock Creek Trail with our bikes and visit forests, wetlands, playgrounds in the same ride. It was so much fun!

Finally, if you are looking for other forested areas to hike locally in Portland and surrounding areas you can find more alternatives here: urban forest. Also loving natural areas, wildlife refuges and preserves? You will really enjoy some or all of these options.

Stay safe and happy hikes!

Main features/Amenities

• 28-acre of native forest with 1.25 miles of soft-surface trails and wetlands areas.
• Located along the Rock Creek Trail greenway, includes access to paved trails ideal for biking, walking, or running.
• Adjacent three-acre Kaiser Woods Park with play structures for younger and older children.
• Rock Creek trail has Port-a-potties in some locations (Not sure about the availability or maintenance of those during stay-at-home order so plan accordingly).

Important information

• Location: Powerline corridors E of Kaiser
• Website: http://www.thprd.org/parks-and-trails/nature-play-areas
• Hours: Open daily, dawn to dusk.
• Parking: there is no dedicated area. Park around the surrounded neighborhoods.