Page 51 - Happy Valley Guide 2014

With some of the state’s best nature

parks and trails right in their own

backyard, Happy Valley residents have

other communities green with envy.

MOUNT TAlbERT NATURE PARk

The largest undeveloped butte in Northern Clackamas Northern Willamette Valley, are found at Mount Talbert.
County, Mount Talbert rises as a forested green sentinel A 1/2-mile stroller-friendly gravel trail leads from the

overlooking the web of development that surrounds it and park entrance to a small native prairie that blooms with
the busy I-205 and Sunnyside Road interchange.
wildlowers such as camas and woolly sunshine in the

Stretching from Portland’s Rocky Butte southward to spring.
the Clackamas River, a group of extinct volcanoes and

lava domes lend unique geographic character to the Facilities
region’s east side, providing important wildlife habitat and Mount Talbert Nature Park offers parking, restrooms
panoramic vistas. Mount Talbert is the largest of these and a picnic shelter as well as 4.2 miles of hiking trails

undeveloped buttes in northern Clackamas County and that loop around the natural area and lead to the summit.
right here in Happy Valley.

The nature park includes the top of the former lava Location
dome as well as the west facing slopes visible to the tens The park is just east of I-205 and south of Sunnyside

of thousands of people that travel I-205 every day or shop Road. From Southeast Sunnybrook Boulevard turn south
at the Clackamas Town Center. The park offers miles on 97th Avenue and follow until it becomes Mather Road.
of new hiking trails, information about the cultural and The park entrance is on the left off of Mather Road.

natural resources found there and greater access to nature A secondary entrance, at Southeast 117th Avenue and
close to home.
Sunnyside Road, is also open with limited parking. Trails

Metro provided funding for improvements to the site at this location are not universally accessible.
and the nature park is managed by the North Clackamas
Parks and Recreation District.
Access

Mount Talbert Nature Park is free and open daily.
Wildlife and vegetation
The park opens half an hour before sunrise and closes

A series of interpretive signs along the trails provide half an hour after sunset. Many of the park facilities
visitors information about the plants and animals that are wheelchair accessible including the parking area,

can be seen and heard
restrooms, picnic shelter
at the nature park.
and paved trails. Dogs and
Residents and visitors
bikes are not permitted on

to Mount Talbert include
the trails.
deer, coyotes, raccoons,
You can hike 4.2 miles

Western gray squirrel,
of trails through 200 acres of
rubber boa, pileated and hairy conifer and streamside forests,

woodpeckers, white-breasted oak woodlands and prairie in Mount
nuthatch, Western tanager and many Talbert Nature Park. For more information, call
more.
North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District at

A revitalized oak savanna and a wet prairie 503-742-4357 or visit ncprd.com.
meadow, two increasingly rare habitats in the

SCOUTERS MOUNTAIN NATURE AREA

The Scouters Mountain Nature Area located in

Happy Valley is our region’s newest nature park.
Land for the park was purchased by Metro from

voter-approved funding. Development was funded
by the City of Happy Valley through a Metro 2006

natural areas bond measure, originated to provide

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