Good Stuff: Kelley Point Park

When you're a city dweller, it becomes a little too easy to cut nature from your life. Oh sure, there are small trees, greenspace and even birds in our urban backyard, but those things are often obscured by noise, crowds, and a multitude of activities that keep us in perpetual motion and fill our spirits with unnecessary clutter. Sometimes, it's just too much. As my fuschia locks indicate: I'm not much of a nature girl, but I am rediscovering the joy of a quiet walk in the woods. Recently, I've been searching the Portland Parks & Recreation database and visiting parks all over the city—the first being Kelley Point Park in North Portland. 

Location

Kelley Point Park forms the tip of the peninsula at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, nestled between Marine Terminals 5 and 6 of the Port of Portland.

History

During the 1840's, there were several towns along the Willamette that wanted to be the premier city of the Northwest. Hall J. Kelley attempted to build the "Manhattan of the Northwest" where the Willamette and Columbia Rivers met, but the low, swampy land with a tendency to flood proved too much for the New Englander: he gave up and the land remained largely unused for over a century. In 1984, the city purchased the site from the Port of Portland, which had covered much of the peninsula with dredged material from the Columbia to create places to build the terminals.

To say that the park is isolated is an understatement. Its quiet beauty is absolutely beguiling—until the blast of a ship horn breaks the almost eery silence and reminds you that you are on a working river. Ships and barges slip in and out of view, and you can watch the goings on at the terminals from the beach. 

Even though the park wasn't in its green best, it was incredibly beautiful. I really enjoyed walking under the towering trees and hearing the wind whistle through them. I'm sure it was the time of year, but we only saw one other person during the few hours we spent in the park. That's a great selling point when you're seeking solitude. With all the great amenities, I suspect this place gets really busy during the summer. We'll see!

Things to Do

Birdwatching Wildlife includes Bewick's Wrens that frequent the park's black cottonwood forest. Caspian Terns, Osprey, Double-crested Cormorants, and gulls are common near the rivers. Sights from the vista point include ship traffic on both rivers. An informal Columbia Slough canoe launch lies near the park entrance along Kelley Point Park Road, west of Interstate 5 along North Marine Drive.

Biking The 40 Mile Loop hiking and biking trail runs by the entrance to the park.

Hiking The park has both paved and unpaved paths. The terrain is mostly flat and super easy to get around.

Play and Picnic There are wide open fields scattered with picnic tables. For information on reserving a picnic area, call 503.823.2523. 

General Information

Acreage: 104.16
Acquired: 1984
Park hours: 6 a.m.-9 p.m.
Amenities:disabled access restroom, historical site, paved and unpaved paths, picnic site with reservable picnic tables, public art, hiking and vista point.

What do you think of Kelley Point Park?