What is the Cooper Mountain Nature Park?
One of my favorite places to go for a peaceful hike. It’s not far from my house, yet the scenery makes it seem like a world away. The trails here are groomed with gravel and there are different loops of varying distances. The colorful, calm forest canopy is juxtaposed with open sweeps of prairie and oaks. As I walk the trails, I admire the breathtaking views from these prairies of the coastal range and the idyllic farmland and vineyards in between. When I’m not enjoying the scenic views, I’m appreciating the various wildlife and ecology of the area; eagles, owls, rabbits, and other creatures give life to the park along with some of Oregon’s rarest wildflowers such as the meadow checkermallow and pale larkspur.
Cooper Mountain Nature House
The Nature House offers nature education programs, nature camps, and more. This is where the trails start and end.
Forest Megaphones
At the start of my hike, I find one of the many megaphones scattered around the park. The soothing sounds of nature are amplified by these devices.
Prairie Overlooking the Valley
The view at the first clearing on the trail.
An Old Quarry
As I descend further into the valley, I come across what looks like an old quarry. Perhaps this formed from a basalt lava flow…
Meadow Checkerbloom
Towards the end of my hike, I come across a rare sight at the Cooper Mountain Nature Park. The Meadow checkerbloom attracts a variety of native bees, wasps, flies, beetles, and butterflies. They are found only in the Willamette Valley.
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