The 5 Best Places in Corvallis, Oregon to Go for a Walk, Hike, or Run

Many of us call the wonderfully green city of Corvallis, Oregon our home. The beautiful courtyard, the winding Mary's and Willamette River, and the wonderful people all make Corvallis a great place to live. Corvallis has always been friendly to biking, and the many bicycle shops show that. What about places to walk and hike though? Although they are slightly more hidden than the bike paths, they are truly a wonderful side of Corvallis that we don't see very often. Today in this article we're going to discuss 5 great places to go for a walk in Corvallis. (All directions are from downtown Corvallis)

1. Bald Hill Park

Take Harrison to 53rd street, cross through 53rd street onto Oak Creek Road, look for the Bald Hill parking lot on the left.

Bald Hill Park is one of the more prominent nature parks in Corvallis. The beautiful view from the top gives you great views of the Willamette Valley, and the Cascades and Coast Range mountains. It's a mildly steep climb, but there are many different paths to take to the top, which gives it a lot of variety every time you go. One path even has a nature trail, teaching you some of the common plants and animals you will find in Corvallis, OR. There are many benches along the way, so if you need to rest often, this is a great hike. Quaint little Oak Creek winds through the park. Be sure to also see the restored barn next to the main path. There is also access from the fairgrounds (directions below) and Reservoir Road.
Estimated Walk Time: 30 minutes to 3 hours.

2. Irish Bend Covered Bridge

Take Harrison to 53rd street, take a left on 53rd, park in the largest parking lot in the Benton County Fairgrounds.

A historic covered bridge in great condition sits over Oak Creek, giving this short distance walk a great place to take pictures. This paved path goes straight to the covered bridge, and if you want to continue walking, it will take you into the heart of the beautiful Oregon State University campus. The path cuts through the local OSU dairy farm, (don't worry, there are fences) and gives a great view of Bald Hill Park. There is also a bench for those that need to rest.
Estimated Walk Time 30 minutes to 1 hour.

3. Fitton Green Park

Take Harrison through 53rd street onto Oak Creek, continue until you see the sign for Fitten Green trail head on your left, go up that road and keep heading up following the signs.

If you're looking for a hike that starts and stays at a relatively high elevation, with great views and still has the wilderness feel to it, I cannot recommend Fitton Green enough. From the parking lot, it's only several hundred yards to an amazing vista of the Willamette valley, Coast Range mountains, Cascade Mountain range, Kings Valley, Philomath, and Corvallis. The terrain would probably be considered an oak savanna, with beautiful gnarled old oak trees (great for climbing!) and sweeping meadows. There are one or two benches along the way. You can also access the Caldwell Hill path from here (or the parking lot at the base of the hill), which is a long steep path that drops you off in beautiful Kings Valley. I would recommend bicycles for that path though.
Estimated Walk Time: 1-3 hours.

4. Mary's Peak

Drive out on Philomath Boulevard through Philomath, take a left onto Highway 34, continue until you see Mary's Peak Park on your right. (The road up to the peak is seasonally closed because of snow.)

Technically, this is not in Corvallis, but Mary's peak is such a prominent landscape feature (The highest point in the Coast Range mountains), and it's such an amazing hike that it can't be left from this list. There is a longer hike you can take from the bottom of the hill, but we'll talk about the shorter one. Drive all the way to the top, (there's a large parking lot with restrooms). Right there at the parking lot is a great view, but the best views are from the top. Take the main trail up to the top of the first hill, where your widest view towards the Willamette Valley will be (also a great spot to stargaze.) If you want to see a great view of the west (on some clear days you can even see the ocean!) go to the top where the tower is. That's also where the true summit is as well. There's a great hike from halfway up the mountain you can take, but it will take you most of the day. Great place to watch the sunset or stars.
Estimated walk time: 1-3 hours.

5. The Riverfront

From downtown, just walk east to the river!

This path is actually a long path that can take you all the way to Philomath City Park (Only recommended for bicyclists and distance runners) but the downtown part of the path is about 3/4 of a mile long, with beautiful fountains, benches, views of the river, and artwork along the way. Stop in at the local shops to make this a great date.
Estimated walk time: 1 hour

These are only a few of the wonderful walks and hikes in the beautiful city of Corvallis, Oregon. Visit Corvallis City Parks to find more about parks and places to walk. Make sure when you walk to be safe, keep it clean, and enjoy the beautiful surroundings!