Urban Adventures In Oregon's Mt. Hood Territory

By Katie and Houston Vandergriff
Downs & Towns

One of the best things about traveling with Houston is that he finds adventure in everything. On this trip, we explored Oregon’s urban side, mixing history, scenic views, art, food and wilderness. Our urban adventure took us on a guided Willamette Shore Trolley ride, on an art scavenger hunt around the streets of Lake Oswego, through several local parks and into the wild beauty of Camassia Nature Preserve — all in one day.

Our day began with a step back in time aboard the Willamette Shore Trolley, a railcar that runs along historic tracks from Lake Oswego to Portland. In the morning, we met David Harold, the trolley master. Stepping into the trolley felt like being transported to another era. David took us on a three-hour, story-filled ride along the Willamette Shore Trolley route. The tracks were laid in the mid-1800s, and David and a host of volunteers maintain this national gem.

The Willamette Shore Trolley runs from Lake Oswego to Portland on a roundtrip tour.

David kept us entertained with stories from recent times and the past, pointing out historical locations and homes along the route. He shared tales of birthdays, weddings and holidays that had been made more special because of the trolley.

Near the middle of our ride, we went through a quarter-mile-long tunnel. It was so long that we couldn’t see any light from the entrance or exit. David stopped the trolley and turned off all the lights to show how completely dark it could get.

David also shared stories of conflicts with neighbors over the trolley’s historic 20-foot right of way. The track has been in place since the mid-1800s, well before most of the homes in the area. Towns have built up around it, and because the line runs along the river, it sits on prime waterfront property. The tracks even split some home lots in two, with the trolley regularly running down the middle. One creative house was built on both sides of the tracks, with a connector running over the line. Houston thought it would be the coolest thing ever. Me? I’m not so sure.

We stopped in Portland to “turn around.” The tricky thing is the trolley doesn’t actually turn — it has two driver areas, one on each end. While we were stopped at the edge of town, a young girl and her mom were walking nearby. David invited them inside to look around. The little girl didn’t like the loud noise when David showed her how to blow the whistle, but she loved ringing the bell.

We rode back to Lake Oswego. The wooden seats, windows and trim are polished to a golden shine. The trolley, trestles and tracks are spotlessly clean and clearly a labor of love. David has volunteered with the trolley for 29 years, and his obvious pride shows that he and his team are responsible for its successful renaissance.

Trolley season opens in May and runs most weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day. They also offer special holiday events throughout the year including Christmas Ships Trolley Trips and Tinseltown Trolley. You can also book a private trolley tour which works great for families or groups who might want a neurodiversity tour.

After our trolley ride, we enjoyed a leisurely lunch on the patio of the Lakeview Taphouse. Houston had a hamburger and French fries, while I ordered halibut fish and chips.

One of Lake Oswego’s highlights is its Gallery Without Walls, which has transformed the city into an open-air art museum. We found an online map of the sculptures and set out to locate them. We had hoped to discover and photograph them all, but that was too big a task for an afternoon. Besides, we got distracted watching a grandma and granddaughter enjoying ice cream cones.

So, we made a stop at the Lake Oswego Creamery. To our delight, it serves Tillamook ice cream — our undisputed favorite. I had a small cone of Marionberry Pie, and Houston had a cup with a scoop of chocolate peanut butter and a scoop of peanut butter cup. He was definitely going with the peanut butter theme of the day.

We continued our adventure with a stop at the remains of the historic smelter furnace in George Rogers Park. The park has paved walkways and runs along the river’s edge. It was full of picnickers, sunbathers, artists, exercisers and casual strollers. Signs in a covered area tell how the area’s iron industry helped fuel the Industrial Revolution.

We also squeezed in an afternoon walk along the accessible boardwalk at Boardman Wetlands Nature Park. From above the water, we watched several duck families. Downy ducklings followed their mothers along the edges. The park is located in a neighborhood, yet it feels miles away.

Camassia Nature Preserve offers excellent trails, fields of purple wildflowers and incredible views of Mt. Hood.

To round out the day, we stopped at Camassia Nature Preserve. It was a little tricky to find, but GPS guided us to a dead-end street in a neighborhood. There are a few parking spots and a portable restroom that let you know you’re in the right place.

We started on the loop and met a woman walking the opposite direction. She saw Houston taking photos and stopped to chat. She lives in the neighborhood and comes every day, especially when the camas lilies are in bloom. She leaned in and whispered, “It just gets better.”

She was right. Along the loop, we saw spectacular views of Mt. Hood and fields of purple camas flowers. This wildflower sanctuary is home to more than 300 plant species — but when the camas lilies are in bloom, they’re the undisputed stars. We loved it so much we went back the next day.

As we headed back to our lodge, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. We overnighted at Oregon Jade Lodging, a newly remodeled two-bedroom guest unit tucked in a beautiful, friendly neighborhood in West Linn. The space includes a private entrance, a covered deck overlooking a backyard with full-grown trees, and a separate outdoor sitting area — the perfect retreat to reflect on a day filled with discovery. From the nostalgic charm of the trolley to the lakeside beauty of Lake Oswego to the peaceful trails of Camassia Nature Preserve, the day was a wonderful mix of urban exploration and outdoor escape.

I smiled, thinking about all we had seen. I asked Houston his favorite part. He thought for a moment, then grinned:

“Peanut butter ice cream.”