Natural areas, parks and trails
Thanks to voters, Metro has preserved 11,000 acres of natural areas, protected 90 miles of rivers and streams, supported hundreds of community projects and opened three large nature parks. Learn more
Chehalem Ridge Natural Area
Planning and conservation › Natural areas, parks and trails › Planning parks and trails › Planning future parks › Chehalem Ridge Natural Area
Metro's Natural Areas Program makes its biggest acquisition yet, investing voters' money in a working forest with sweeping views. Welcome to Chehalem Ridge.
View more photos of the Chehalem Ridge Natural Area on Metro's GreenScene Facebook page. Go
Straddling the top of Chehalem Ridge, one of Metro's signature natural areas looks out over Tualatin Valley farmland and five Cascade Mountain peaks: Rainier, St. Helens, Adams, Hood and Jefferson.
You might spot deer tracks, or an uncommon oak-madrone woodland. Explore the starting point for a network of streams flowing to the Tualatin River and a landscape of young Douglas fir trees. With generations of careful management, they'll mature into old-growth forests that support diverse wildlife and clean water.
At 1,143 acres, Chehalem Ridge is the largest property ever purchased by the Portland region's voter-approved Natural Areas Program. Along with all that land, Metro took on a lot of opportunities. The science team is learning more about the land's forests, streams and habitats, and considering options for public access.
In the meantime, check back for new photos, video and schedules of guided tours.
Explore with the experts
Metro's next Chehalem Ridge tours will take place from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 2, with options for a nature walk or a brisk hike. Learn more and sign up
Read all about it
Metro's Natural Areas Program kicked off 2010 by acquiring Chehalem Ridge Natural Area - the biggest single acquisition in the program's history. Go to the news release
Lay of the land
See where Chehalem Ridge fits into the Portland metropolitan area, and experience the property first-hand with a video featuring Google Earth images and photos of the site.
Download a map (PDF 1.6MB)
Know your facts
Impress your family and friends with trivia about the history and habitat of Chehalem Ridge. Download the fact sheet
Take a closer look
View photos of Chehalem Ridge on Metro's GreenScene Facebook page. Become a fan while you are at it! Visit www.facebook.com/metrogreenscene
You ask, Metro answers
Metro's natural areas team has fielded lots of questions about Chehalem Ridge. Read answers to some of the most common inquiries
Stay in touch
Have questions about Chehalem Ridge Natural Area, or want to receive updates? Send e-mail to naturalareas@oregonmetro.gov or call Carrie Belding at 503-797-1545.
Related Documents
- Chehalem Ridge fact sheet 49K Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published January 7, 2010
- Chehalem Ridge map 1.6M Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published January 7, 2010
- Answers to common questions about Chehalem Ridge Natural Area 316K Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published March 2, 2010
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Related Links
Acquiring natural areas
Find out more about the 27 target areas where Metro is acquiring natural areas and trails to safeguard water quality, protect fish and wildlife habitat, and ensure access to nature for future generations.
Natural areas parks and trails
Metro works with partners to protect natural areas, restore sensitive habitat for fish and wildlife, and plan the region’s parks and trails.
Protected by voters
