As a follow up to my visit to the discovery museum I went for visit to the World Forestry Center demonstration forest. Magness Memorial Tree Farm is situated south west of Portland in the Chehalam Hills. It has several miles of trails passing through second growth forest and a built up area for hosting groups. As part of my “when timber was king” tours I was curious if this place would work in as part of that and if it might replace the Hopkins Demonstration forest. I walked most of the trails in the place to be sure I covered it all. It appears at one time to have signage by the trails to explain some point about the forest in that spot. Most of the signage is gone but the sign post remain. One trail did still have signage that spoke in general terms about the nature. I found today it is used by folks near by to walk their dogs or take a run. So pretty much like Forest Park. Looks like it’s initial purpose has been abandoned.
Sign
They have a small patch of blue berries by the parking lot that was still showing Fall color.
By the parking lot as you arrive it a covered picnic table area.
Welcomes you to the private property that is open the public and spells out the rules.
Sign explain a little about the place but the place does not seem to living up to the signage.
An old tractor welcomes you to the tree farm.
At one time there were prominent educators involve in the tree farm and several are recognize for there efforts.
This building was closed up but appeared to be the class room building.
A bit visuals for education.
Map of the trail system.
Barbecue grills and picnic tables provide for an eating area.
There three log cabins around an open grass area to provide bunk houses for campers.
The third sleeping cabin.
The Woods Tour tail is dirt and has all of it’s signs removed. Hopefully they just pull them in the winter and replace them in the summer but post did not look like that.
The Nagle trail is paved and has information signs.
The Nagle Trail has a series of this information signs.
The Nagel Trail is paved and has signage about the natural forest. It does a half mile loop.
The property is cut by Coral Creek. A couple of bridges all for access to both sides of the property.
Coral Creek runs through the middle of the property.
Places like this showed that the tree farm was initially laid out for educations.
There were many large maples mixed in with the doug fir. More of what you would see in a naturally reforested area.
This trail comes off of the Nagel trail that is the main paved trail. Nice newer post for holding a sign but no sign.
The property is cut by a couple of roads so require road crossing.
Most of the trails were dirt and in good shape. I found no logs that needed to be step over.
I found many post set up to hold signage but no signs. I was left to wonder why.
This clear cut opened the view up to look down the river valley .
This property next to the demonstration tree farm shows your standard large area clear cut. Every tree is removed or put into piles to be burned.
Judging by the age of the burn pile this area was cut a least five years ago and never replanted.
They did get some help last year get some of the under story managed.
Ran into a number of folks out walking their dogs.
This section must have been cleared cut about 15 years ago and in a few more years will be ready to thin for fence post. So at least at that time the place was still being actively managed.
A section of trail. They did do a good job in building their trails. No wash outs or streaming on any of the trails.
Himalaya Black Berries are most destructive plant in the area. They will choke out all native plants and have no predictor in the region.
With no signage it is hard to know why this area was different. This was not a natural meadow as it did not have the geology for it.
This one small area was free of all of ground cover. I don’t know if this cleared or if the trees provide enough shade to keep it out but it had nice feel to the spot.
This one short section was planted with cedar and not Douglas fir.
From when the tree farm started to now the area has changed. The area is now more valuable for Winners and housing then Timber.
The trail brings you up to the neighbors property. A tall dear fence is in place to keep deer out from the grapes.
The only sign that had info about forest management was this one that side this section had been thin for possible power pole trees. The trees now stand 150 feet tall so they would make very tall power poles.
The trail that ran through adjacent property to another tree lot is now close off.
Looking up the hillside it looks pretty much like what we see everywhere with a recovering forest.
You must be logged in to post a comment.