McDowell Creek Park 1/24/15

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kaltbluter
Posts: 397
Joined: June 2nd, 2014, 10:36 am

McDowell Creek Park 1/24/15

Post by kaltbluter » January 27th, 2015, 6:21 am

Last weekend I took the family for a short hike in McDowell Creek Park. It is more of a walk than a hike so I wasn't going to post a trip report but then I noticed that it didn't have an entry in the Field Guide.

I thoroughly enjoyed the walk and this is a great place if you have small children.

Instead of a trip report I'll write some inspiration for any potentially bored Field Guide authors.

McDowell Creek Park Trailhead (Lower)
Latitude: 44.464157
Longitude: -122.681155
Maps: Google Maps
Elevation: 800 feet
Driving time from Portland: 2.0 hours

Fees and Regulations
No permits are required to park at this trailhead.
Dogs are allowed on leash.

Driving Directions
From I-5 exit onto Hwy 20 and head east towards Lebanon.
Four miles east of Lebanon turn left onto Fairview road and bear right at the T-junction.
Appr. 0.9 miles bear left to stay on McDowell Creek road.
Another 7.6 miles turn right into the parking area for McDowell Creek Park.

Other Notes
There is a vault toilet and picnic tables.
There are two other parking lots in McDowell Creek Park.

Categories
Trailheads
Central Oregon
The map posted at the trailhead:
Image



McDowell Creek Park Hike

Start point: McDowell Creek Park Trailhead (Lower)
End point: McDowell Creek Park Trailhead (Lower)
Hike Type: Loop
Distance: 1.7 miles
Elevation gain: 280 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Seasons: Year-round
Family Friendly: Yes
Backpackable: No
Crowded: Yes

McDowell Creek Park has three trailheads creating multiple route options. The trails are well maintained and suitable for small children.

There are four waterfalls in this small park. At 119 feet the largest is Royal Terrace Falls, followed by 40-foot Majestic Falls, Crystal Pool Falls and Lower McDowell Falls.

For this 1.7 mile route, start at the lower parking lot. At Royal Terrace Falls take the stone steps up to the overlook at the top of the falls. Continue couter-clockwise (staying to the right at one trail junction) to the upper parking lot and Majestic Falls. After Majestic falls a series of wooden stairs leads downstream and crosses McDowell Creek. The trail follows along side the creek passing Crystal Pool Falls before coming to the middle parking lot. Cross the bridge at the middle parking lot and walk a short distance to Royal Terrace Falls. From here, continue downstream and return to the lower parking lot.

Maps: Hike Finder

Trip Reports:
McDowell Creek Falls 2/16
McDowell Creek County Park and Soda Creek Falls
McDowell Creek Falls 4/21/2012
Mc Dowell Creek Falls and beyond April 2006
McDowell Creek Park 1/24/15

Categories:
Creeks
Waterfalls
Hikes
Royal Terrace Falls:
Image

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Majestic Falls:
Image

Image

Crystal Pool Falls:
Image

Image

Lower McDowell Falls:
Image

Some other photos from the walk:
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miah66
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Joined: July 6th, 2009, 8:00 pm

Re: McDowell Creek Park 1/24/15

Post by miah66 » January 27th, 2015, 8:09 am

Thanks for the information. I love places like this where you can just ramble slowly and enjoy the scenery and find some solitude. Those falls are really cool, good photos. I love the bird too, but I'm not sure what kind of sparrow it is. Might be a female or a juvenile as it doesn't have much coloration.
"The top...is not the top" - Mile...Mile & a Half

Instagram @pdxstrider

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kaltbluter
Posts: 397
Joined: June 2nd, 2014, 10:36 am

Re: McDowell Creek Park 1/24/15

Post by kaltbluter » January 27th, 2015, 9:34 am

I tried to ID the bird online but I didn't manage to find a good match. The Clay-Colored Sparrow was close but the head pattern is a little off and they don't appear to be common in Oregon.

Maybe there is an ornithologist-hiker on PH that has the answer.

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bobcat
Posts: 2764
Joined: August 1st, 2011, 7:51 am
Location: SW Portland

Re: McDowell Creek Park 1/24/15

Post by bobcat » January 27th, 2015, 5:59 pm

Truthfully, and quite coincidentally, this Field Guide author (not bored) had this next on his list! May I plunder a picture or two as well?

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kaltbluter
Posts: 397
Joined: June 2nd, 2014, 10:36 am

Re: McDowell Creek Park 1/24/15

Post by kaltbluter » January 27th, 2015, 8:19 pm

bobcat wrote:Truthfully, and quite coincidentally, this Field Guide author (not bored) had this next on his list! May I plunder a picture or two as well?
Plunder any pictures you like.

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sprengers4jc
Posts: 1036
Joined: October 22nd, 2013, 11:35 am
Location: Vancouver, WA

Re: McDowell Creek Park 1/24/15

Post by sprengers4jc » January 28th, 2015, 8:50 am

Looks like a great day out there! I especially love the spiderweb and the waterfall photos. Great addition to the FG :) .
'We travel not to escape life but for life to not escape us.'
-Unknown

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bobcat
Posts: 2764
Joined: August 1st, 2011, 7:51 am
Location: SW Portland

Re: McDowell Creek Park 1/24/15

Post by bobcat » January 30th, 2015, 1:48 pm

@kaltbluter:

The hike is now in the Field Guide! http://www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org ... _Loop_Hike

As I said, I had it on my list, but thanks for all the extra information and especially some great pictures.

I'll also offer an ID for your bird: immature chipping sparrow (Spizella passerina). This is summer range for them, but it has been a balmy winter. Very close to clay-colored sparrow, but a better bet given the range.

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