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JULY 1, 2020
7
Everything’s canceled this summer? Take a hike!
By Danielle Frost
Smoke Signals staff writer
The coronavirus outbreak has
meant the cancellation of the Mar-
cellus Norwest Memorial Veterans
Powwow in July, Contest Powwow
in August, summer youth activities,
Canoe Journey, visiting Chachalu
Museum & Cultural Center and
various family-themed events on the
Tribal campus.
So what’s left to do when you’d
like the kids to stop playing on their
electronics for a while, don’t feel
like driving all the way to the beach
and want to do something within 20
minutes of Grand Ronde?
Take a hike. Literally.
There are several trails on the
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
Reservation, which range from easy to
challenging. Although several of them
are difficult to access at this point due
to adjoining roads being closed, there
are some that are available.
All are free to visit as there are no
parking fees. Smoke Signals staff
visited four of these trails and have
included a map, photos and videos
to help in planning your hiking ad-
venture.
As with any hike, make sure to
wear sturdy, closed-toes shoes,
dress appropriately, carry water
and insect repellent, and bring your
phone or camera to take photos and
document your adventures.
3.1 mile walking loop: This is
an easy, mostly flat route which
includes pavement, gravel roads
and concrete sidewalks. It is fami-
ly-friendly.
Begin at the Tribal Health & Well-
ness Center. Walk along A Ackerson
Road. When the road ends, take a
right and walk by the Veterans Me-
morial and Tribal Governance Center.
Take a left when you see the Adult
Education Building and continue
past the Tribal gym. Take another
left and walk by the softball fields
before continuing right on a gravel
road that will lead you past the
Tribal cultural area, rodeo grounds
and to the day use park.
Walk the loop at the park and ex-
Map created by Samuel Briggs III
plore Agency Creek, or stop and have
a picnic lunch at one of the shaded
table areas. Continue left up a gravel
road just past the bathrooms and
follow until it turns into Blacktail
Drive. There, you will see the Elders
Activity Center on your left and
Elders Housing straight ahead. At
Grand Ronde Road, take a right and
then a left at Tyee Road, which will
put you in Tribal Housing. Walk
the perimeter of housing, then back
down Tyee Road and a left at Grand
Ronde Road. When you arrive back
at the Health & Wellness Center,
you will have completed your 5K.
Natural Resources Depart-
ment half-mile trail: This is a sin-
Ad by Samuel Briggs III
gle track, mostly flat dirt trail with
wood planks in some areas where it
becomes muddy. Long pants/shirts
with sleeves are recommended due
to thick foliage along some parts of
the trail, along with hiking shoes
or boots if you have them. It is a
relatively easy trail to walk, but it
is not stroller-friendly.
Park at the Natural Resources
Department, 47010 S.W. Hebo Road.
Walk behind the Natural Resources
office and you will see an entrance.
It is unmarked, but clearly visible.
The trail is shaded, so it’s a nice
place to visit when it gets hot. You’ll
be treated to views of wildflowers,
as well as the sights and sounds of
various wildlife.
Turn around when you come to tall
grass and barbed wire fence. A “Y”
in the road leads to two paths, both
of which take you back to Natural
Resources.
Tillamook West six-mile trail:
This trail is overgrown with foliage
in areas, and long pants and long-
sleeved shirts are advised, along
with a tool to cut brush.
To reach the trail, head north on
Grand Ronde Road past Highway
22 and continue for approximately
two miles until you see a stop sign.
Make a right onto Southwest Agency
Creek Road. Continue on this paved,
winding road for approximately 5.5
miles and follow signs for Big Buck
campground. There is a small sign
for the trailhead on your right-hand
side 100 meters past a large gravel
clearing on the left. The drive itself
is half the adventure, and features
forest and creek views.
A map of the area is available by
downloading the ESRI Collector
Application. For more informa-
tion about the ESRI Collector app,
contact Alex Drake at alex.drake@
grandronde.org. To download the
app, visit the Google Play icon on
Android-based phones and the App
Store icon for Apple phones, and
type in “ESRI Collector.”
Fort Yamhill State Heritage
Area Loop Hike: This .75-mile hike
is a family-friendly trail with inter-
pretive signage so visitors can learn
more about the area’s history. Parking
is free, and there are picnic tables and
toilets at the start of the trailhead.
Fort Yamhill was originally estab-
lished in 1856 to serve as a buffer
between Oregon settlers and the
Tribes and bands that would become
the Confederated Tribes of Grand
Ronde, and to keep Native people
under military control.
There is a sentry box midway
through the hike, near the old main
road leading from the Willamette
Valley to the coast, which marked
the official entrance to the fort. From
there, soldiers could observe anyone
who entered or left the Grand Ronde
Reservation. Near the Fort Yamhill
park entrance are the Tribal plank-
house and uxyat Powwow Grounds,
located en route to the hiking area.
Approximately the first quarter
mile of the hike is a wide, shaded
woodchip trail, followed by hard
packed dirt without shade for the
remaining portion.
Although none of the fort’s original
structures remain intact, except a
renovated officer’s quarters, inter-
pretive signage explains the purpose
of each area, along with excerpts
from soldiers’ journals.
For more information, visit www.
stateparks/oregon.gov and look for
Fort Yamhill Heritage Area.