Summary: This trail is perfect for both dogs and humans alike, offering a scenic, accessible route through diverse landscapes with minimal mud. Padme, who loves new places to explore, enjoyed being off leash, splashing in the creeks, and running wild along the bay. For me, the educational signs and the unexpected beauty of the bay at the turnaround point made the hike a delightful and refreshing escape from the usual routine. Grade: Trail Stats Parking – Easy with a side of Potholes Parking at this hike is incredibly easy. The navigation took me straight to the parking lot, which is split into two sections. The first section has a park host and restrooms, while the second section has the trailhead. In between the sections are a few backyard-pond-sized potholes that are easy enough to drive through if you take it slow. I didn’t see a way around them, so I just tried to get as much to the side as possible. I worried that my small car with average clearance might not have made it through the middle of the potholes without getting stuck. However, I made it through just fine, and if you’re concerned, you can always park in the first section of the lot to avoid them altogether. Great news: parking is free! Why It’s Good for Padme Padme loved this trail. She enjoys exploring new trails because there are always new things to sniff, and on this one, she got to be off-leash. There are signs saying something like “let your dogs run and play,” but no signs that I saw indicating that dogs must be on a leash. So, she was off-leash and had a blast running around. The trail itself is meant to be ADA-compliant, though the reserve can be thick with vegetation or sparsely dotted with trees. There were plenty of logs to jump over, and one side of the trail was always fairly close to a creek feeding into Tillamook Bay. The water in the creeks was high, and Padme decided to take a dip. She misjudged the drop and ended up swimming more than she expected, but she’s a good swimmer, and I was right there if she needed help. She even climbed up onto the bridge over the creek and looked like she was about to jump in the same deep area, but I gave her a firm “leave it.” She’s got a sense of humor and an adventurous spirit, but I’d rather not have to go in after her! Once we reached the bay, she was in the water in a flash. She likes to bite at the water to drink while looking for sticks, and of course, she got the zoomies on the beach. Her zooms were epic that day, and I was just happy to see her so thrilled. Why It’s Good for Me It takes a lot for me to get up and get moving some mornings. I sometimes just want to stay in bed and be luxuriously lazy, but I know if I do, I won’t feel as good during the week—and neither will Padme. She gets so much out of these hikes, and we have so much fun together. So, I pushed myself to find a trail! My main priority for the day was as little mud as possible. In January in Oregon… that’s asking for a lot. But this trail was perfect—there was standing water, but no real mud. I’m also used to driving for hikes with Padme. A friend of mine often suggests in-town trails, but I just don’t want to risk running into too many other dogs and stressing Padme (or myself) out. Tillamook is a great place to visit, though! There’s plenty to do if you like to shop or eat, and the people are amazing. What I didn’t expect was how many educational opportunities the trail offered. There were cute signs about the local flora and the types of birds to watch for. This trail is great for families, people with ability issues, or nerds like me. What I think I loved the most about this trail was the turnaround point—the bay. I travel to Tillamook frequently for work, and one of my colleagues always jokes that it’s a coastal town with no coast. When he asks if I went to the beach in Tillamook, I’ve never really looked for it. I knew where the trail was and that it was probably mud-free, but I didn’t check the map much beyond that. When I got to the turnaround point and saw the water, I laughed out loud. There it was—the water! It might not have been a typical beach, but who cares? The bay was beautiful, and I wasn’t expecting such a lovely surprise. Wrap Up: Overall, this trail offers a great mix of adventure, relaxation, and accessibility, making it a fantastic choice for both pups and their owners. Whether you’re looking to explore new terrain, enjoy some quiet time by the water, or just let your dog run free, this hike delivers. It’s a perfect getaway for a refreshing outdoor experience with a little surprise at the end—Tillamook Bay. Get out there and take your dog on a hike!
Hiking Fort Cascades Loop: Scenic Views, History, and How to Stay Safe from Poison Oak
Grade: Padme’s Paws (Out of 4) My Grade (A to F) C- Exploring the Fort Cascades Loop Trail with Padme turned out to be an easy and scenic adventure, but not without a few challenges. The hike is perfect for those seeking a short, low-elevation walk, but the presence of Poison Oak made it a bit more stressful than expected. Despite this, the beautiful views of the Bonneville Dam and the fascinating petroglyphs kept the experience memorable. It also provided some valuable moments for leash training and reinforcing our bond. Padme had a great time exploring the trail, and it reminded me of how important it is to be prepared when hiking with a dog. Though the trail is manageable for most, it’s essential to be cautious of hidden hazards like Poison Oak and to practice good leash etiquette. In this post, I’ll share how the hike went for Padme and me, along with tips for making your own hike safer and more enjoyable with your furry companion. This trail is a great option for those who enjoy history, nature, and a peaceful outdoor experience with their pets. However, be prepared for the occasional unexpected challenge, especially if you’re not familiar with the trail’s potential hazards. Trail Stats Parking and Facilities Parking at the Fort Cascades Trailhead is a breeze. The small parking lot rarely fills up, and there are restroom facilities available making it a convenient starting point for your hike. Best of all? There are no parking fees! Whether you’re planning a short walk or a more extended visit, the hassle-free parking is a welcome bonus. Why It’s a Great Hike for Dogs—Or Not The Fort Cascades Loop Trail is a short, low-elevation hike perfect for an easy day out with your dog, like Padme. While there are rocks to climb and grassy spots for your pup to explore, one big challenge is the presence of Poison Oak. With clear signage about the plant, you’ll need to be extra vigilant and keep your dog on a leash at all times. While the trail is beautiful, I found myself focusing more on keeping Padme away from Poison Oak than enjoying the hike itself. If your dog has good recall skills, it’s still a fun experience, but if not, keep them leashed for safety. One thing to note: I encountered a dog off-leash during my visit, and though Padme stayed calm, the other dog’s owner seemed frustrated by her pet’s lack of recall. If your dog isn’t reliably obedient, it’s best to keep them leashed. Why It’s a Great Hike for People The Fort Cascades Loop Trail offers scenic views of the Bonneville Dam and features historical markers with the option to call a ranger for more information. You’ll even discover ancient petroglyphs along the way! However, while this hike is described as “family-friendly,” it may not be stroller or wagon accessible due to uneven surfaces. The trail is easy, but there are enough roots and rocks to make it a bit challenging for families with young children in strollers. Despite these minor drawbacks, it’s a lovely trail for tourists and history buffs. Just be mindful of Poison Oak—it’s prevalent in this area, and I had a close encounter when I stumbled into some tall grass. Trust me, that itchy feeling stays with you! Tips for Hiking Fort Cascade Trail with Your Dog While the Fort Cascades Loop Trail is a manageable and scenic hike, here are a few tips to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience: Highlights and Memorable Moments Despite a few challenges, the Fort Cascades Loop Trail delivered unforgettable moments. We were treated to stunning views of the Bonneville Dam and came across ancient petroglyphs—an unexpected delight! The hike also provided valuable lessons in leash training and reinforced the importance of keeping Padme safe in nature. While I had a close call with Poison Oak, the experience allowed me to bond with Padme, practice good trail habits, and enjoy the beauty of the surroundings. This is a trail worth checking out but be prepared for a few obstacles along the way!
But the Wildwood Nature Loop is Old
Summary: Spending time outdoors is enriching for both Padme and me, offering her new scents and sights while providing me with peaceful escapes. On the Wildwood Nature Loop, a flat and scenic trail, Padme enjoyed exploring safely on-leash, though I wish she could run freely. While an unsettling encounter at the end of the hike shook my sense of security, I still found the trail beautiful and enjoyable overall. Grade: Padme’s Paws (Out of 4) My Grade (A to F) B Trail Stats Parking – Easy Peasy: Parking is not a problem at all. There are a few of parking lots. You will need a pass: Why It’s Good for Padme Just being outside is good for Padme. The more smells and landscapes I can introduce her to in the PNW, the better. One of the things I always consider when hiking with Padme is whether it’s safe to let her be off-leash. To be clear, 99% of the places I visit require dogs to be on a leash, usually 6 feet or shorter. To stay safe in the woods, keeping dogs on a leash is often the best choice. With bears and big cats around, a running dog can trigger a predator’s prey instinct. Without realizing it, your dog could lead a dangerous animal straight back to you. This is an important factor to keep in mind. Another consideration is whether other people are on the trail. Some people have biases against big dogs, especially those that resemble Rottweilers. I want Padme to be safe—not just from wild animals but from “wild” people as well. The Wildwood Nature Loop is a fun trail, but it’s incredibly popular, so Padme has to stay on-leash. While she misses out on running, she still gets plenty of sniffs—other dogs, and even other animals. This trail is flat and easy to navigate, with few boulders or downed trees for her to use as an obstacle course. That isn’t as fun for her. On the upside, it also offers access to streams, creeks, and the river. Padme had a great time, but I want even more freedom, fun, and challenge for her. Why It’s Good for Me I chose to do this trail this weekend because I had done it earlier this year and knew it was gorgeous. After my run-in with the guy with the gun the week before, I decided to do a well-populated, less remote trail. A friend had told my partner and me about this trail a couple of years ago, but only about a portion of it. It has a sunken observation window for the stream where people can watch salmon spawning. I didn’t see salmon there, but I did see them in a small creek early on in the hike. I was really surprised—they were in water that didn’t even fully cover them, flipping around as they headed upstream. I’d never seen that in real life, and it was incredibly cool. The trail was flat for the most part, but I appreciated that a few sections were paved so people with mobility issues could enjoy them. There are also several plumbed bathrooms, though some were closed for the season. Pleasant surprise? The bathrooms have heating! One section I particularly enjoyed was called “The Wetlands Loop.” It features a nice arched bridge and several boardwalks that angle off the main trail, leading to specific points of interest. It was an easy, fun, and beautiful hike. One of the most satisfying things about this hike for me was seeing my progress. The trail is over four miles long, and the first time I did it, I was so tired, and my feet and knees were so sore (because I was out of shape) that I couldn’t do much of anything for the rest of the day. This time, it wasn’t a problem. Four miles is an easy hike for us now, and that makes me so happy and proud of myself. Warning: Discussion of Potential Violence For the last year, I’ve hiked with Padme almost every weekend. During all that time, nothing worse than painful blisters had happened to me—until recently. Last weekend, and again on this hike, I encountered the potential for violence. Last weekend, a man on the trail took my announcement that my dog was reactive as a challenge. He got into my space until Padme stopped him. When I asked him if he was trying to be an asshole, he started grunting at me and cussing me out. At one point, he threatened me, saying, “I’ll take you and your dog on.” I stayed as calm as possible, acting as if he was annoying and beneath me as I walked away, but it scared me. I’ve never been threatened on a trail with physical violence before. Two scary weekends in a row have taken it out of me. I’m so grateful to have friends who let me call them crying and help me untangle the mess of emotions I was feeling. It was a weird mix of fear, anger, and some leftover childhood trauma, I think. Part of me felt like I should’ve done something more—said something different, pepper-sprayed him, or even punched him. But I’m too old, smart, and sane for that kind of nonsense—or at least I tell myself that. I’m fine. Nothing happened other than an old man yelling mean things at me. But it reminded me of how vulnerable people can be, and how easy it is for some entitled individuals to try and steal someone else’s joy. Wrap Up: Hiking with Padme is one of my greatest joys, even when challenges arise. Despite an unsettling moment at the end of the hike, the Wildwood Nature Loop reminded me why I love exploring the outdoors—beautiful trails, new discoveries, and meaningful time with my dog. Get out there and take your dog on a hike!
You Old Goat (Marsh)!
Summary: Goat Marsh Trail in Gifford Pinchot National Forest is a scenic, easy hike with a mix of forest paths, golden marsh views, and a rewarding lakeside view of Mount St. Helens. The drive to the trailhead can be rough for low-clearance cars, so be prepared. Padme enjoyed exploring downed trees and open spaces, while I appreciated the magical landscape that felt like stepping into a storybook. Hikers should be mindful of some knee-challenging spots and stay alert, as I encountered an armed hiker on the trail, which was a surprising reminder of the need for caution. Grade: Trail Stats Parking – Confusing Parking at or near the trailhead for this hike was very easy for me. I let AllTrails.com give me directions, and it took me right there. It was extremely easy to find a place to pull off the small road. As far as I could tell, and according to the Washington Trails Association website, there is no cost to park. From where I live in Portland, AllTrails took me through a very scenic route that I really enjoyed, out through Battleground and Amboy, Saddle Dam Park, and Yale. It was an incredibly twisty and gorgeous drive. I’m not sure why it took me this way instead of up I-5 and east on 503, but I’ll take it for the scenery. I’d have never seen that area if I hadn’t. If you’re ever out that way, give it a drive! I’ve not written about this before, but I feel the need to now. I own a small car—a tiny car. I drive a lot for work and need the gas mileage advantages. With a small car comes very little ground clearance, however. This was not good for this drive. At some point on this drive, a sign on the forest road advised that the road was bad, and boy-howdy, they were not kidding. A couple of times, I wondered if I was having a stress dream. I’m not blaming anyone except myself here. I’m someone who has a lifted-truck delusion with a mini-car reality. Just be aware! Please, please, please: do as I say and not (unfortunately for me) as I do—print out the directions back before you leave for the trip. I usually remember how to get back to the main roads, but I took a wrong turn this time and ended up going further up the mountain on a very sketchy road Why It’s Good for Padme I like giving Padme new experiences. I’ve never done a hike that is associated with an actual “marsh” before and had assumed it was a muddy, gloopy mess. This was not that. I mean, it might have become that further out, but it looked like a golden wheat field, and from the places that Padme frolicked, it didn’t look that muddy or gloopy. Every hike is good for Padme—she gets to run, play, and frolic. There were lots of downed trees that were long enough for her to run the length of them here, which is fun for her. This trail even has a spot where the trail goes under a downed tree. It would be easy enough to go off trail and find a spot to go around or over it to get to the trail on the other side, but the actual trail requires a hiker to scurry under the tree. I ended up doing it a couple of times because Padme and I could do it together. I’m pretty sure she thought I was a little silly for doing it, but she’s usually down for me being silly with her. Why It’s Good for Me I have probably said this before, but I will probably always be tougher on a trail in regards to Padme than myself. I enjoy being outside, but I need things to be fun and stimulating for Padme. Ok, I might be a little bit neurotic about my baby, but I don’t care. I want her to be happy. But this place, this trail, just seemed magical from start to finish. I studied medieval literature in college, and everywhere I looked, I expected some sort of fairy king to appear to “invite” me into his realm. It was an easy hike overall, but there were two things that I feel the need to point out. According to the GPS, the trail went straight through this little weird ditch that wasn’t so easy on my knees and was confusing about whether or not I was actually on a trail. When I got to the other side, it was fine. The trail was right where it was supposed to be, but it was confusing. On the way back, I realized there was an addition to the path that was a little easier on my knees. It still went through a ditch, but it wasn’t as confusing. The second thing I want to mention is that very close to the end of the trail, as you skate along the edge of the lake, there’s a stretch of about 100 feet or so where the trail has some bumps of 1½–2½ feet to get down and up. If I were younger, I would have just taken the short jump down. But I’m older and my knees are crap, and even that short of a distance makes me think of braces and hospitals. Lol. Just be aware, creaky-knee brigade. The lake was beautiful. Several trees were down in the water on the edge closest to the trail. The reflections off the surface of the water were amazing. The trees on the slope on the other side. One of the best things about this hike was the views of Mt. Saint Helens. All around the marsh and lake, I saw some great views of the mountain, but the best view in my opinion was the view at the top of the lake. Warning: Discussion of Firearms I loved being