South Hill Trail – wanderingyuncks

Willamette Mission State Park – 10/10/2026

It had been a couple weeks since I’d been able to get out and attempt a hike due to issues with my right hip just as my left Achillies was feeling better. In those two weeks I had visits to massage therapy, physical therapy where I got some new stretches/exercises, and low back x-rays (which came back normal). My discomfort level was finally at a point that I was ready to give an easy short hike a try.

We chose Willamette Mission State Park because it offered loop options of various distances and is only 13 driving miles from home. We parked near the restrooms at the Filbert Grove Day Use Area and planned on hiking a mix of the equestrian loops and paved biking trails.

From the parking lot we picked up the paved bike path and followed it back along the entrance road.

Dark-eyed junco

Common toadflax (invasive)

We stuck to the pave path following it into the woods.

We turned left when we came to a “T” junction and soon emerged from the woods.

Northern flicker

Robin

We veered left on the dirt equestrian path that led us down into a high-water channel near the Windsor Island Slough.

The high-water channel. This area floods in winter and remains so through most if not all of spring.

After crossing the channel, the trail briefly passes along the Windsor Island Slough where we spotted a belted kingfisher, a great blue heron, and several ducks.

Mallards

We continued on the equestrian trail staying straight when we passed the South Hill Trail on our left and then staying left when the trail split at the start of the South Loop.

Sparrow

The start of the South Loop. Last year I had taken the right here and returned via the South Hill Trail (post) so this section of the South Loop would be new to both Heather and I.

The trail quickly arrived at a large field where the South Loop turned left.

There was no discernable trail for this section of the loop.

We looped around the field for 0.9-miles before arriving at the South Hill Trail junction. There were lots of birds and a few squirrels in the trees along the field.

One of many robins.

Steller’s jays were also abundant.

Squirrel

At the South Hill Trail junction I reassessed how my hip and heel were feeling to see if we needed to cut the hike short and head back or if we could continue around the field on the South Loop. Everything was feeling good so we continued on the South Loop and detoured on a short wide path down to Goose Lake.

Wood duck

At the far end of the field the loop arrives at a hazelnut orchard and turns left next to a gravel road.

Whie Crowned sparrow

Primrose

We turned right onto a dirt road following pointers for the loop and soon found ourselves back in the woods.

Hazelnuts on the ground.

The loop soon entered more open lowlands where more birds were spotted (but few were photographed).

Golden-crowned sparrow

We completed the loop and returned to Windsor Island Slough where the number of herons had multiplied.

Great blue heron #1

Great blue herons #2 & 3

The GBHs were joined by a great egret who was perched at the mouth of the slough.

We recrossed the high-water channel and stayed straight on the equestrian trail and followed it along the Willamette River then crossed the paved bike path.

American kestral

Bald eagle

We had not gone unnoticed.

Another northern flicker.

There were dozens of cedar waxwings in the trees along the river.

The equestrian trail crossing the paved path.

We forked left when the equestrian trails split and followed this section of trail to the equestrian trailhead near the Filbert Grove Day Use Area.

Ground squirrel near the day use area.

Fall has arrived at the Filbert Grove Day Use Area.

This was a 6.5-mile hike with minimal elevation gain.

We saw a lot of wildlife and heard even more which made an enjoyable hike. My heel held up really well and my right hip did too. My low back did start to tighten up just a bit in the last third of a mile or so, but after getting home and doing some stretching that felt better too. There’s still definitely something not right and I have more appointments later this month, but it was encouraging to be able to get out again and enjoy nature. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Willamette Mission State Park

Willamette Mission S.P. Equestrian Trails – 11/02/2025

A storm system moved through Oregon a week ago followed by a few nice days and then another round of rain on Saturday. This was a much weaker system, and it had moved on by Sunday morning. I had few free hours at the beginning of the morning which was boosted by falling back an hour for Daylight Savings. Heather was walking with her friend Elizabeth so I would be on my own. I decided to head back to Willamette Mission State Park for the second time this year (9/1/25) and check out some of the equestrian trails.

With Daylight Savings moving Sunrise back up to 6:52am I was able to make the 25-minute drive and be there when it opened at 7am. I parked at the equestrian trailhead.

While there was no rain in the forecast patchy fog was, but it was supposed to burn off around 9am. I picked up the dirt equestrian trail from the trailhead and followed it across the paved bike path.

The route I’d planned would be a little over six miles with less than a half mile of that being on sections of trail that we’d hiked before. I followed the equestrian trail for a half mile before arriving at a signed junction.

It won’t be long and some of the trail in the park will be closed due to seasonal flooding.

Right after I took this picture a deer dashed out of the brush on the left, ran across the trail and vanished before I could take another photo.

I went left at this junction which was labeled “H North Loop Start” on the signboard map.

This 0.4-mile section of trail wound through the woods before arriving at a 4-way junction.

I turned right onto the paved path at this junction and followed it for a tenth of a mile to a 3-way junction.

I turned left at the 3-way junction and continued on the paved bike path for 0.6-miles. There was some blue-sky on my right and fog to my left.

American kestrel in the fog.

I left the paved path here and veered right to rejoin the equestrian trails and stayed right at the junction for just under a quarter mile to a junction with the South Hill Trail.

This section of trail crosses this high-water channel coming off of Windsor Island Slough meaning the south loops are sometimes cut off from the rest of the park.

The path passes close to the slough, but it was hard to see with the dense fog. There was a great blue heron on the far side, but the fog made it virtually impossible to photograph.

The South Hill Trail to the left.

I stayed straight saving the South Hill Trail for my loop back and continued another 0.4-miles to another junction.

I turned right at this junction in order to make the widest loop possible. The trail passed through an open bottomland then curved left at a pointer to pass through a short section of forest before making a brief climb to the edge of a filbert grove.

Northern flicker

The trail turned right here following a roadbed around the filbert trees.

This post is “L” on the park map.

A coyote trotted across the road in front of me but disappeared in the trees before I got the camera up.

At the far end of the trees was the “M” signpost.

I turned left continuing around the filberts until I came to post “N”.

Quail

At “N” the trail made a ninety-degree turn to the right along a barren field.

Looking back at the “N” post.

This was the least obvious section of trail over the whole hike.

The “patchy” fog was not letting up.

A covey of quail.

After passing post “O” the trail curved along Goose Lake which I detoured down to when the opportunity presented itself.

Goose Lake

There were a lot of birds around the lake including a couple of ducks, but with all the fog it was hard to get any photos.

Stellar’s jay

After checking out the lake I continued around the field until reaching post “P” at a junction.

Doves

I turned right at post “P” which put me on the South Hill Trail which led through the woods for almost a mile to complete the loop.

Squirrel

This little buck was slowly walking up the trail in front of me for a while before deciding to duck into the brush.

These were some cool mushrooms.

Completing the loop.

I turned right and recrossed the high-water channel then veered right on a narrow path that led me back to the paved bike path.

Starlings

I turned right on the bike path for a few steps then veered left onto the continuation of the equestrian trail.

I followed this section of the equestrian trail for 0.6-miles to the 4-way junction where I’d turned right onto the paved path earlier in the morning.

American kestrel

I turned right onto the paved path and followed it three-quarters of a mile back to the equestrian trailhead.

Self-heal

Two tenths of a mile after turning right I passed a junction with the bike path I had just crossed a little earlier.

The fence along the parking area just ahead.

My hike came in at 6.3-miles with minimal elevation gain.

The dotted line is today’s track. Dark blue is our 2019 track and the track to the left is from our Spring Valley Greenway hike in 2022.

This was a nice little outing despite the fog and some muddy tread. Hopefully it will be a little clearer next time I visit but I did get to see quite a bit of wildlife so I can’t complain. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Willamette Mission Equestrian Trails