Accessible Trails in Marion County Oregon

Located south of the Portland metropolitan area, Marion County stretches from the Willamette River to the Cascade Mountains. Marion county, and its western neighbor Polk county are counties in the upper Williamette Valley. Accessible trails in the Cascade mountain section of Marion County is covered in Willamette National Forest (Willamette N.F.).

Champoeg Heritage Area

Directions:

Off US 99 W, 7 miles E of Newberg. From I-5, take Exit 278 and head west. Follow the signs to Champoeg State Park.

Features:

Situated on the south bank of the scenic Willamette River, Champoeg's acres of forest, fields, and wetlands recreate the landscape of a bygone era.

There are three accessible trails. A paved path runs from the Visitor Center 0.6 miles through a meadow to a pavilion. A gravel 0.4 mile nature loop starts from the campground. Another paved trail at the campground heads 1.5 miles east along the Willamette River. See brochure with map.

Other:

Tour the park's visitor center, Newell House, and Pioneer Mothers Log Cabin museums to discover pioneer life at Champoeg. See Oregon State Parks Website.

Willamette Mission State Park

Directions:

Drive I-5 north of Salem 9 miles to Brooks exit 263. Head west on Brooklake Road for 1.8 miles, turn right onto Wheatland Road for 2.4 miles, and turn left at the Willamette Mission State Park sign. Follow the entrance road 1.8 miles, keeping left at all junctions (entrance fee). Park at the Filbert Grove Day Use Area.

Features:

A Day-use Area set in an old hazelnut orchard. There are two ADA trails: Either take a 1.2-mile paved path east through a filbert grove to the Wheatland Ferry landing or go west on a 3-mile paved loop through riverside woods.

Other:

This is the oldest ferry landing in Oregon, dating to 1844. It is also home to the world's largest cottonwood (26 feet in circumference), which you can see on a return loop from the ferry landing. See the Oregon State Park brochure.

There is also an ADA fishing dock.

Mento Brown Island Park

Directions:

2200 Minto Island Road, Salem. Coming from I-5 North or I-5 South, take the Mission Street exit and head west toward downtown Salem. Continue on Mission St. until it ends at Commercial St.  Take a left onto Commercial St., drive for four blocks and turn right onto Owens St. which is the next light.  Owens soon turns into River Road and the park entrance is a mile after that. Come through the main entrance and go directly to the Main Parking area at the end of the road where there is a covered picnic and barbecue area, playground, and trails that go to the river.

Features:

There are approximately five miles of paved bikeway and two parking lots. The trails lead to points of interest along the sloughs with observation platforms available for bird watching.

Other:

All the trails, even at the South entrances, inter-connect with each other. Most of the trails are paved and end up back at the Main Parking area.The City of Salem has constructed a bicycle path along South River Road which ties into the Minto-Brown Island bike trails. See trail map.

Accessible warm-water fishing platform. The trail also passes a paddle boat area and several fishing spots.

Note: Salem's Cascade-Gateway Park Walter Wirth Lake is another accessible fishing spot for trout and warm-water fish. From I-5: Take Mission St W to Turner Rd SE. Turn left and go to 2100 Turner Rd SE.

Ankeny Wildlife Refuge

Directions:

Go west from the Ankeny Hill exit No 243 on I-5 between Salem and Albany just north of the Santiam River. Drive south and then west on Wintel Road. The Rail Trail comes at 2.2 miles from the freeway; the Egret Marsh Boardwalk Trail is 0.3 miles farther.

Features:

Ankeny Wildlife Refuge is a 2,800-acre refuge with nearly a mile of accessible boardwalks that lead to bird blinds overlooking Wood Duck Pond and Pintail/Egret Marshes.

The boardwalk passes through an Oregon Ash forest, and the viewing blind is perched on the edge of the woods overlooking a wetland unit. Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge provides another great viewing opportunity for waterfowl, hawks, eagles, and shorebirds from their observation platforms.  Elevated boardwalks provide barrier-free trails to good viewing platforms.

The graveled Rail Trail begins between hayfields and cottonwood fens (bogs). At 0.2 miles turn right onto a boardwalk through a maple forest. After 0.4 miles along the boardwalk, a short spur leads to a bird blind at Wood Duck Pond. Continue 0.2 miles to the end of the boardwalk through creeks and marshy pond openings. You are apt to spot blue herons, ducks and red-legged frogs.

To reach the Egret Marsh Boardwalk Trail, return to your car and drive 0.4 mile west on Wintel Road to the parking area. A railed walkway winds through marshy woods and across Bashaw Creek to a bird blind overlooking Pintail and Egret Marshes.

Other:

For more information about the refuge see Alkeny NWR and a site with an informational map.