Natural Areas

A diversity of native habitats can be found within Wilsonville’s park system. In the Willamette Valley, landscapes and plant communities have been influenced by geologic events, climate and cultural history. Glaciations, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and cataclysmic floods have shaped the landscape and created distinct soils and landforms. Native people maintained open pasture through periodic burns and settlers cleared extensive areas for agriculture. Native habitats such as meadows, coniferous forests, mixed deciduous woodlands, riparian corridors and wetlands are all accessible in local parks. Take a moment to visit the Oregon Ash forested wetland at Park at Merryfield or the mixed coniferous/deciduous forests of Memorial Park. Park system management minimizes disturbance of natural areas and promotes the enhancement and restoration of native habitats.

Click on each natural area to view a closer image.

Coffee Lake Wetlands METRO Regional Greenspace

The Coffee Lake Wetlands is a part of the larger Tonquin Geological area whose landscape was formed during the Missoula Floods some 13,000 to 15,000. As a result of these floodwaters Coffee Lake Wetlands is comprised of unique geological formations such as kolk ponds and basalt hummocks that provide important fish and wildlife habitat.

Graham Oaks Nature Park

Photo Courtesy of C. Bruce Forster In 1995, Metro acquired Graham Oaks Natural Area through the Greenspaces Bond Measure to protect, enhance and restore the 230-acre natural resource area. Long term goals for the area include: providing a north-south pedestrian and bicycle connection from Villebois to the adjacent schools, preserving the existing natural features, and providing interpretive information, educational programs and opportunities to Wilsonville student and visitors.

Park at Merryfield

Merryfield Park includes seven acres of intact mature wetland ash forest. A trail provides access to the park from the adjacent neighborhood and connects to Inza Wood Middle School, Boones Ferry Primary School, and Graham Oaks Natural Area.

Willamette River Water Treatment Plant Park

Nearly 10 acres of natural area, adjacent to the water treatment plant, has been set aside for public use. A trail that connects from the treatment plant and the neighboring housing community winds through the park and terminates at a viewpoint over the Willamette River.

Memorial Park - Forested Area

Memorial Park consists of 126 acres of forested upland habitat. Numerous trails wind through dense forested areas of bigleaf maple, red alder, Oregon ash and grand fir. With frequent viewpoints of the Willamette River and opportunities to observe wildlife; this is an ideal spot to commune with nature within the city.

Memorial Park - Meadow Area

East of the forested area in Memorial Park is an extensive upland meadow area with a diversified landscape. Tall cottonwood trees tower over the Willamette while just to the north is the first Giant Sequoia planted in Wilsonville by Ernest Kolbe, a long time Wilsonville resident and forester who planted most of the older trees in Memorial Park. A city sponsored restoration project is underway with new plantings of bigleaf maple and Douglas fir.

Boeckman Creek Crossing Trail

This trail connects the residential neighborhoods to the east of the creek, near Wilsonville High School, with the Courtside neighborhood and Town Center shopping center to the west. This paved, well-maintained path meanders through a forested canyon and is highlighted by a 60’ free span bridge across Boeckman Creek.

Canyon Creek Park

Canyon Creek Park is a community park in northeast Wilsonville. With a picnic shelter, grassy areas, parking, restrooms, and over 6 acres of accessible natural areas the park serves as a recreation destination for eastside employees and residents.