The massive area of preserved wild land that is Portland’s Forest Park was, after decades of work by conservationists formally established in 1948. This remarkable gem of multi-hued green and brown wildness covers nearly twenty one square kilometers of the western hills that overlook Portland. Providing “essential habitat for hundreds of native plants and animals, including species at risk,” it is a veritable oasis for nature right at the very doorstep of a large urban area. Networked with trails, it is a very popular site for hikers, bird watchers, and other outdoor enthusiasts, and draws visitors from far beyond the city’s own environs.
Those who may have previously ventured into the park likely did so with a copy of Marcy Cottrell Houle‘s One City’s Wilderness; Portland’ Forest Park in their knapsacks. It saw three editions over its life in print, the most recent in 2010, and has long been considered the definitive guidebook to the area. However earlier this year, Oregon State University Press published an entirely new book by Ms. Cottrell Houle that replaces it: Forest Park; Exploring Portland’s Natural Sanctuary.
This new book provides all who would be interested in exploring this truly noteworthy northwest forest with both a newly written history and an up-to-date guidebook for their journeys. As to the latter, “[t]wenty-one hikes covering seventy-five miles bring a full awareness of the park’s outstanding attributes” are included, which are “grouped by theme to encourage people to explore Forest Park’s watersheds, geology, lichens and mosses, vegetation, amphibians and reptiles, pollinators, native wildlife, and wildlife corridors.” It is very much expected that this new book will continue the great legacy of the author’s previous one in drawing visitors to and guiding them through one of the great urban parks of North America.
Editorial note: If you rose early and read this article immediately following it being published here, you would have read an opening paragraph in which I gave the city of Portland, Oregon a damned good – and in my opinion, much deserved – kicking. However upon reflection I have decided to amend this. Anyone who knows Portland knows what it has become; there is no need to belabor the point and my thoughts on the matter are irrelevant to the book at hand. I apologize if any offense was given.
