In Oregon City, just south of historic Willamette Falls, is a park that’s perfect for exploring with young kids or for any nature lover who wants a little time away from the hustle and bustle of life. Perched above 15 million-year-old volcanic bluffs is the small but beautiful Canemah Bluff Nature Park. Here you’ll find an easy 1.7-mile loop trail that weaves its way through a natural area overlooking the Willamette River and Oregon City, which played a prominent role in the state’s history as the official end of the Oregon Trail.
Centuries ago, Canemah Bluff was a meeting place for Native American tribes to gather, fish, trade, and swap news. The word Canemah is a Chinook word that translates to "the canoe place". Long ago, sacred tribal artifacts were discovered in the area, likely hidden amongst the wild Camassia flowers that still bloom in a carpet of blue here every summer. In 2022 the Confederated Tribes of Grande Ronde were victorious in taking back their ancestral land in and around Willamette Falls.
The trailhead starts at the Canemah Neighborhood Children’s Park which has a big playground, picnic tables to bring a snack or lunch, a basketball court with both half-size and full-size hoops so everyone can have fun, and clean, well-stocked restrooms. The parking lot at the Children’s Park is quite small and can fill up on a nice day. Many regular parkgoers have commented that if you can’t find a spot, you may have to go several blocks away into the surrounding neighborhood, so be prepared for a little walk.
While on the trail, wildlife enthusiasts should keep their eyes peeled for birds like sparrows, white-breasted nuthatches, hawks, eagles, orange-crowned warblers, black-throated gray warblers, and Hutton's Vireo. Throughout your hike, you’ll be surrounded by old oak trees, Douglas fir, grand fir, and big-leaf maple, and in the spring and early summer, the ground is full of colorful wildflowers like iris, camas, and trillium.
One very cool feature of this park is that the trail takes you past the historic Canemah Pioneer Cemetery which dates back to 1864. This lovely little hillside area is home to roughly 280 graves of some of the first pioneer families to come to the area including the founding family of Canemah, the Hedges. Sometimes the gate to get in can be locked, but if you’re determined to get in there’s a number listed on the sign you can call to have the keyholder come open it for you.
The park is very well kept up, with interpretive signs so you can learn about the natural world and the history of the area including how native tribes and settlers used this area to portage around the falls and the trading routes that have been used for centuries. Willamette Falls itself is the largest waterfall in the northwestern United States by volume and has been the power source to both electric companies and paper mills since the late 1800s. One of the largest, Blue Heron Paper Company mill, was closed down in 2017 and bought two years later by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde who plan to restore the area to its original state.
Important to note is that dogs (or any pets) are not allowed at the park and this is to preserve the natural habitat, though you may have dogs on leash at the Children’s Park. There’s also a small shelter with two picnic tables, ideal for a kid’s birthday or family gathering.
Address: 917 4th Ave, Oregon City
Hours: 5:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
