Nature Field Trips Near Portland, Oregon

If you're a teacher or group leader looking for nature experiences, Portland, Oregon is the perfect place! There are natural areas both in the city and close by which are great for field trips. Here are a few ideas for your group's field trips.

Oxbow Regional Park is located just outside of Gresham, on Portland's east side. The park is nestled in a curve, or oxbow, of the Sandy River. Oxbow Park includes 1200 acres of nature, water access for swimming, kayaking and rafting, and 15 miles of hiking trails. Your group can wander the trails on its own, or if you have at least 10 people, you can register for a naturalist-led field trip. Naturalists can lead programs on animal tracking, river exploration, ancient forests, bird watching and more. The cost for a naturalist-led field trip (as of 2011) is $2 per person with a $25 per group minimum. School field trips can be booked for a flat $50 fee per class. There's also a $5 per car or $7 per bus entry fee for the park. The park is open from 6:30 a.m. until sunset.

Tryon Creek State Natural Area is the only Oregon state park located within a major metropolitan area. It's just off of Terwilliger Blvd., near Lewis and Clark College, within the city limits of both Portland and Lake Oswego. The park consists of 670 acres devoted to day use only, including a bicycle path, horse trails, hiking trails, and the fully accessible Trillium Trail. There is no entry fee for the park. School field trip programs are available through the Friends of Tryon Creek State Park for $4.50 to $7.00 per child. Guided walks are available to the general public and are great for small groups; the Friends of Tryon Creek suggest that you call if you have a group larger than 10. The park is open from 7:00 a.m. to dusk, and the Nature Center is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Tillamook Forest Center is about an hour southwest of Portland on Highway 6. This interpretive center opened in 2006, and helps to educate people about all of the different uses of the forest, as well as the Tillamook Burn and other large forest fires in the area. It includes an exhibit hall with interactive exhibits, an actual-size replica of a fire lookout tower, and a demonstration forest. It's also located on the scenic Wilson River. Self-guided and guided field trips are available for school groups, scout groups and other youth groups. These programs require a minimum of 15 to a maximum of 40 participants (although smaller groups could easily do a self-guided tour). All of the programs are FREE, as is admission to the center! Transportation assistance is even available for schools with financial need. The center is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; it's closed for the winter during December, January and February.

Magness Memorial Tree Farm is a property of the World Forestry Center. It's located off of I-5 near Wilsonville, and includes 80 acres of forested land, 2.5 miles of hiking trails, a visitor center, picnic shelters and bunkhouses for overnight stays. The site is free and open to the public daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (there is a fee for bunkhouse and/or picnic shelter rentals). Easy to moderate, self-guided walks are available. Guided walks and educational activities are available for $5.00 per child.