These pet friendly flower fields will make your canine companions feel at home in no time. Furthermore, these vibrant displays are an effective way to incorporate sustainable and low maintenance flowers into a pet-friendly garden!
Get out your Rover, pack some tasty treats and explore these exciting locations with your pup!
Tryon Creek State Natural Area
Tryon Creek State Natural Area (TCSNA), situated within a west Portland canyon, offers an urban refuge for hikers. Dubbed after mid-19th century settlers Socrates Hotchkiss Tryon, this 658-acre park serves as an essential habitat for several plant species as well as providing vital salmon and steelhead spawning grounds.
Though surrounded by urban environments, this park features an array of trails suitable for all skill levels. Beginners can experience its beauty on the paved Ruth Pennington Trillium Trail while experienced hikers will discover plenty of adventure on more challenging mountain bike paths and terrain.
This state park in Oregon stands out as being unique because it is situated within a metropolitan area, making it an attractive option for hikers and nature enthusiasts of all ages. Many trails of this state park provide shade from dense forest canopy for an enjoyable and tranquil hiking experience.
Hikers will delight in strolling through fragrant forests and bubbling brooks, while wildlife watchers may spot salmon, steelhead, otters, beavers, frogs and more in their natural environments. In addition, there’s also a Nature Center and several educational programs such as guided hikes, summer day camp, Junior Ranger Program school field trips or special events at this park.
This area boasts an abundance of native wildflowers as well, from trillium blooms to flowering Indian plums, yarrow, and salmonberry bushes in bloom during spring. If you visit in early April for the park’s annual wildflower festival you will likely witness particularly vibrant displays from these blooms – not only yarrow but also blooming Indian plums, yarrow, and salmonberry bushes will bloom brightly!
Visitor can experience the beauty of local wildflowers through presentations and workshops offered at this festival, plus there will be food from local vendors!
Tryon Creek State Natural Area is an idyllic destination to take your pup for a hike and admire its picturesque surroundings. Dog owners must keep their pets on a leash and clean up after them as this helps preserve the park’s environment. For more information about Tryon Creek State Natural Area visit their website; the park is open daily from 7 am until sunset.
Camassia Natural Area
Wildflower hikers frequently head out into the Cascade Mountains in search of vibrant flowers, but West Linn’s 26-acre gem Camassia Natural Area gives locals an opportunity to see vibrant blossoms close by. Each spring, its grassy plateaus bloom into vibrant hues with common camas lilies, blue-eyed Mary flowers, rosy plectritis and buttercups creating vibrant displays.
Within earshot of Interstate 205 lies an ecological preserve encompassing habitats from wooded wetland to open prairie and Oregon white oak savanna – which has become increasingly rare over time. The Nature Conservancy has worked hard to restore this site by clearing away invasive plants and cutting back woody fuels that could worsen fire-risk.
Camassia Nature Preserve’s main trail is designed as a loop that encompasses some of the best displays of wildflowers. When wildflower season hits, trails become one-way to accommodate an increased foot traffic. Hikers may choose one of several spur trails but should return to the loop trail in order to complete an entire walk.
After hiking the Loop Trail through the forest, you will emerge into a meadow full of wildflowers interspersed among grasses and oak trees. Camassia Meadows were restored by The Nature Conservancy to remove invasive species and to restore native wildflowers and grasses that occur naturally here. The loop trail then winds around several short meadows before continuing back through to where you started your hike.
At the end of the Loop Trail you will come to a pond and neighborhood trailhead entrance. To add more distance to your hike you may take an alternate pond trail; however it is strongly suggested that when finished returning back onto Loop Trail.
Parking spaces can be found both within the neighborhood and at nearby high school. Access to the preserve is free for use; donations are appreciated, however. Please be aware that dogs, bicycles, horses and hunting are not permitted on site as are camping, littering and fires; volunteering naturalists will be on hand on weekends to orient visitors about what to expect when visiting this park.
Powell Butte Nature Park
Powell Butte Nature Park in Portland is a 611-acre city park offering more than 9 miles of trails for walking, running and bicycling. This urban oasis features diverse terrain such as meadows, old growth forests and scenic overlooks as well as many wildflowers lining its paths – many are also dog-friendly!
Powell Butte Park is an attractive destination for hikers, runners, bicyclists and equestrians of all kinds – making it accessible via bicycle or public transportation and providing opportunities for bird and wildlife watching.
From Powell Butte parking lot, head north on Pipelane Lane – an unassuming service road passing industrial sites and construction work before quickly turning into woods with grassy meadows and walnut orchards along its route as you traverse this former dairy pasture. During construction of Reservoir #2 50 million gallon reservoir was extensively renovated as were its trails; new names and alignments became official in 2015.
After crossing a small stream, follow the paved universal access trail as it winds its way past alders and two reservoirs before arriving at an isolated ditch hiding two reservoirs. Along this stretch is an expansive meadow of thistle, lupine, and goldenrod blooming adjacent to the trail, offering spectacular views of Mount Saint Helens and Silver Star Mountain.
As you make your way along the paved trail, you will pass by Powell Butte’s summit and its “mountain finder”, an array of planks marking five nearby mountains visible from there. This area makes an excellent picnicking spot while taking in stunning mountain views.
Hikers, bikers and equestrians alike are encouraged to explore this park; however, please keep in mind that it is a shared-use trail system and please adhere to good stewardship principles which include leaving no trace, respecting other users, keeping pets on leashes, alcohol use (any type), firearms (all forms), golf carts, frisbee golf (any form), vending and any unauthorized use of terrain are strictly prohibited; litter should be carried directly to the dumpster in the parking lot while wet trails should stay on paved trails when possible for increased enjoyment by all users; For more information please visit Friends of Powell Butte website
Iron Mountain Trail
Are you up for an invigorating hike near Lake Oswego? Look no further than the Iron Mountain Trail for an exciting adventure. This shaded path passes through varied woodland terrain, featuring Pacific madrone and Oregon white oak, as well as Pacific madrone. Visit during peak wildflower season and you may even witness blooming meadows of flowers along your journey!
As you gradually ascend a dirt path into the trees, the trail gradually narrows until reaching above treeline and becoming increasingly winding and rugged. When nearing its summit, stunning views will open up before you of mountain peaks rising from their surroundings.
This hike is a favorite among locals due to its easy parking, accessible challenge level and stunning scenery. Leashed dogs are welcome on this six-mile round-trip hike but not recommended for beginners or anyone with low levels of physical fitness; rather this trail should only be undertaken by experienced hikers capable of managing its physical challenges of ascending this scenic mountain.
Once past Heaton Flats Trail, you’ll begin to encounter more rocks and more difficult terrain as the trail climbs steeply up Iron Mountain. This section of trail is an excellent place to spot various wildflowers such as purple fescue, meadowfoam, and arrowleaf balsamroot; with any luck you might even spot rare fairyslippers blooming higher up.
If you feel up for it after your rocky ascent, take in the panoramic views from the summit before beginning your descent back towards the trailhead. Keep in mind this hike is popular during wildflower season so arrive early to guarantee parking availability.
Hipcamp offers pet-friendly campsites near Iron Mountain that feature stunning vistas. Read reviews left by fellow campers to make the right decision for yourself and your four-legged friend.