One Particular Greenway

Crocuses blooming on the banks
of the Creek -S.K. Photo

Twins: a creek and a trail

     I call it "Church Creek," because of the church located nearby. The actual name of the creek remains a mystery despite a fair amount of digging on my part, but one map of the Fanno Creek Watershed describes a brook in the area named "Hiteon Creek." The small greenway that follows it cuts a diagonal across South Beaverton following the creek for just shy of a mile through a series of nicely wooded neighborhoods. What strikes me as odd, is that so few people seem to know about it. I mean, it's obvious that people do know it exists: I always meet locals on the path whenever I visit, but while at church one Sunday less than a mile away, I suggested we take a walk on the path, and no one know which path I was referring to.

The creek passes under city streets
in vintage-looking stone culverts
like this one. -S.K., Photo

     The path starts in a quiet neighborhood, near the underground spring where USGS maps claim the creek begins, somewhere under 135th Ave. The path and creek emerge next to each other in a small, ivy-covered ravine, and both begin to drift downgrade. As the progresses, the tree cover gets thicker, until the trail and its travelers are engulfed an a shady glen with branches overhanging the trail entirely. The black asphalt stretches out like a ribbon, and the creek burbles on to the side, visible in places through the tall grass that lines its banks, filled in places with water plants, and water striders navigate its surface.The pathway follows the creek to a T, cutting like a knife through neighborhoods, intersecting with streets, and cutting across cul-de-sacs when needed, forming trailheads at the larger intersections. Midway along its route, the maples and oaks shading the trail give way to towering cottonwoods, then conifers, and then, just as quickly as it began, the trail dead ends ten blocks west of where it began. The creek flows onward toward its mouth in Greenway Park, like the winner in some endless race. It's possible to follow the creek to the end, but it requires leaving the creek and pathway behind.

The path backs up to private yards
resulting in a fence lining the path
for much of its length. Note the
various fence styles. -S.K., Photo

So of all the greenways in Southwest Portland...

     ...what makes this one stand out? Everyone looks for something different when they leave the house for a walk. I have walked this trail so many times since I discovered it, that I consider it a sort of friend. It changes with the seasons. Winter brings heavy rain, the creek swells, culverts backup and the creek forms ponds. The leaves disappear and the creek is clearly visible from most parts of the trail. Spring brings new life, buds on every tree, mallards and wood ducks scoot along the small ponds formed by seasonal debris dams. Summer brings the tree cover, the creek disappears behind a wall of buttercups, grasses and blackberries. Neighborhoods and parklands become shady glens.Then autumn comes along, the leaves fall and form mats of color on what was crisp green grass. The rain begins to fall and soon we begin again.

The Creek flows past stands of alder
and throguh thick stands of tall grass.
The tree cover completely shades the
trail in places, resulting in a cool and
quiet walk. -S.K. Photo

     It's these scenes that make the trail stand out, despite its short length, and this is how to appreciate this small greenway's largely unknown beauty. Sit on a rock beside the creek, and watch as the creek flows out of vintage stone culverts and into its tiny canyon to continue its endless downhill run. Stop for a moment, and see bluebells or tulips bloom on muddy banks. Gaze across the creek at the shady parklands, abandoned flowerbeds and squirrels going about their day to day lives, oblivious of you. Stop, close your eyes, and listen to the quiet: the creek, wind in the trees, distant white noise that comes from city life. 

But that's just me.

     I think this tranquility is what draws me to it, and keeps me coming back. Church Creek is tranquil, but not lonely. If you have walked this path, perhaps you know what I mean. Or perhaps you feel I am overreacting? To each their own. Like I said, no two people see the same place the same way. However, if you haven't been there, don't take my word for it. Take a trip out to where Singletree meets New Forest, and crosses 135th. Walk the path all the way to the end, keep your eyes and ears open, and enjoy! Perhaps you will see nothing but an asphalt path, a few plants and a creek, and then depart having visited once. Or perhaps, like me, you will keep coming back to see what tomorrow brings. -KP

The S-curve near 130th Ave. -S.K., Photo