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May

5

Forests for Families

One of the most intriguing and exciting stories was born in the forest just off Portland’s front step—the Tillamook State Forest. That’s where four successive and devastating fires—collectively called the Tillamook Burn—destroyed over 400,000 acres of ancient forest in the last century. The Tillamook Forest Center is located just off Oregon State Highway 6 that links Portland to Tillamook.

The center tells the story of how four devastating fires in the 1930s, ’40s, and ’50s claimed hundreds of thousands of acres of old-growth forest and how thousands of men battled the flames to protect what they could and then how an army of volunteers brought the forest back to life. Chris Friend, a retired education specialist, said the place is well suited to families who are eager to learn more: “We teach about the pioneers who settled here, the Native Americans who were here for thousands of years, and we tell the stories of the fires and the forest replantings that followed.” Ongoing interactive exhibits and interpretive programs are suitable for children of all ages, and special events scheduled throughout the year will keep you coming back for more.

When you’re ready, you can leave the center’s main exhibit hall to cross the 250-foot-long Wilson River Suspension Bridge or climb up into the clouds—seventy-two steps up—to the top (40 feet high) of a replica fire lookout tower that is adjacent to the center. Back in the 1950s fire lookout towers were common. In fact, fifteen of them dotted the high country in Oregon’s North Coast Range.

Lisa Gibson, an education specialist with the Oregon Department of Forestry, said that the replica four-story fire lookout tower provides visitors with a “snapshot of life” from an earlier era right after WWII. I joined her for the trek to the top of the tower and she said, “It’s a beautiful coincidence that there are seventy-two steps to the top because there are 72 million trees planted across the Tillamook State Forest.”

Guided tours at Magness Tree Farm will teach your kids much about the outdoors.

Gibson said the women who “manned” fifteen towers atop the remote and rugged Oregon Coast Range Mountains began after WWII and continued through the early 1990s and they were called the Cloud Girls. “It was a really romantic idea,” added Gibson. “These young women out by themselves in the forest—living on their own and watching for fire among the clouds and the tops of the trees. People had a vision that included a somewhat romantic image for their service.”

They were a special breed of Oregon Department of Forestry personnel because women like Eleanor Mitchell answered a call that few men dared in the late 1940s. Mitchell was prized and admired by all for her patience and willingness to endure lonely weeks in the woods to provide service to the community. “By all accounts, she really enjoyed the job. It was a very important civic responsibility that you had as a fire lookout,” added Gibson. “The fire lookouts were key in providing information to field offices to get fire crews ready to attack that fire before it got so big they couldn’t control it anymore.”

The Tillamook Forest Center is fully accessible inside and has ADA-accessible outdoor trails as well. Baby changing stations and ample picnic areas make this a pleasant destination for the whole family. It is free to visit and filled with educational possibilities.

It’s seventy-two steps to the top of the Tillamook Forest Center’s four-story-tall fire lookout tower.

As the suburbs grow larger and our pace of life goes faster, it’s good to know that some Oregon places provide an outdoor escape into a bit of the backwoods. If you follow Bill Wood’s lead, there’s a good chance you’ll learn something new too.

Wood is a retired “guide” who for years was the man in charge at the Magness Tree Farm. He taught thousands of youngsters much about life in his forest. Magness Tree Farm is an 80-acre parcel tucked into the hills just a handful of miles between Wilsonville and Sherwood, Oregon. The site boasts more than 2 miles of trail; most of it is a fairly gentle grade and as you hike, you will often have Corral Creek by your side.

Down close to ground, take note of the varied wildflowers—a show that begins in April when white-faced trilliums light up the scene. “Most of the spring flowers begin to show in April,” noted Wood. “By May, we’ll have all kinds of color here that lasts the next 4 or 5 weeks.”

Magness is just part of the outdoor education story because it is owned by the nearby World Forestry Center, located in Portland’s West Hills adjacent to the Oregon Zoo.

Back in the forest at the Magness Tree Farm, be sure to check out the three rustic cabins that you can rent for a longer stay. Each cabin sleeps up to 12 people and offers electricity, but no heat—so if you spend the night, you want to prepare for colder nights. Reservations are required. Wood said that once folks discover the Magness landscape, they seldom want to leave: “When they first come here, they are awe-inspired by the creek and the serenity of the surroundings. They hear the birds, see the squirrels, and relax with their kids. When we see them a second time, they usually bring another family and so our circle expands. It’s really a wonderful place to be and yet you don’t have to travel far to get here.”

The farm is open daily to the public from dawn to dusk with occasional closures for special events. Easy to moderate trails are well-suited for all ages; there is a ½-mile paved trail with interpretive signs for a self-guided tour to help you see how the forest grows and changes. You can even bring your dog on a leash to hike with you. A small stream, sheltered picnic area, recreation field, and restrooms make this a great place to spend a day in the woods with your family.

5A Tillamook Forest Center

Where: 45500 Wilson River Highway, Tillamook, OR 97141

Web: tillamookforestcenter.org

Phone: 503-815-6800; 866-930-4646

Watch the Episode: traveloregon.com/TillamookForest

5B Magness Tree Farm

Where: 31195 SW Ladd Road, Sherwood, OR 97140

Web: worldforestry.org

Phone: 503-228-1367

Watch the Episode: traveloregon.com/treefarm