Thursday was a cold and sunny day in Corvallis, perfect to get out with a group of vibrant people from the Corvallis Senior Center and visit Tryon Creek State Natural Area. We left Corvallis at 8 am and headed north on I-5 towards Portland, Oregon. After a brief stop to have a snack, we arrived at Tryon State Park just before 10 am. We were met by our volunteer guide who shared some of the history of the area. It is compelling to see such a large natural area literally minutes from downtown Portland. The area was logged until about 60 years ago, so our guide told us. Almost falling into the hands of developers, local citizens got together to save the area. Tryon State Park has 8 miles of hiking trails, 3.5 miles of horse trails, and a 3 mile bicycle trail. There is also a nature/visitor center where we browsed around and found some interesting items to purchase. Park trails are maintained for year-round hiking. We had a great time and I recommend Tryon State Natural Area. It is a great place for seniors and young families. Oh, the opportunites to take some outstanding photos are endless.
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