Located only minutes from downtown Portland is Oregon's only state park within a major metropolitan area. There's so much to see and enjoy at the 645-acre park, one visit isn't enough.

Every day, visitors come to hike or stroll Tryon Creek State Park's eight miles of nature trails through the verdant ravine between Boones Ferry Road and Terwilliger Boulevard in southwest Portland. Cyclists of all ages bike along the three miles of paved trail on the park's eastern edge, stopping along the way to admire a trillium. Horseback riders are invited to ride four miles of horse trails.

Some people visit Tryon Creek just to sit in the Glenn L. Jackson shelter and listen to the chatter of the jays and squirrels. Others, especially people with mobility-related disabilities, come to enjoy the peaceful setting of the fully-accessible Trillium Trail. Tryon Creek is one of the only streams in the metro area with a run of steelhead trout.

The Friends of Tryon Creek State Park operate a nature store, summer youth day camps, school tours, guided nature walks and special events. They can be reached at (503) 636-4398.

Vital stats: There is no fee to use this park.

Tyron Creek offers opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, biking, attending nature programs, viewing interpretive displays, bird watching, watching wildlife and enjoying nature all within the Portland metropolitan area.

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