Camassia Natural Area

Area	Portland
Best time to visit	Mid-April through early June
Blooming Now	YES
Elevation	270-300 feet
Trail Info	Less than one mile loop, no significant elevation change
	PLANT LIST AVAILABLE
	WILDFLOWER SEARCH
	ADDITIONAL PHOTOS
	Hike information - Oregon Hikers Field Guide
Dogs	PROHIBITED. Please respect this location by leaving your dog at home.

NOTE: The blue marker indicates the trailhead.

Description

Located on a rocky plateau above West Linn, the Camassia Natural Area was The Nature Conservancy's first preserve in the state of Oregon. Sculpted by prehistoric floods, this nature preserve is home to over 300 plant species, including several rare Willamette Valley species particularly White Rock Larkspur (Delphinium leucophaeum). Its namesake wildflowers -- Common Camas (Camassia quamash) and Great Camas (Camassia leichtlinii)* -- bloom profusely during April. Other species include Rosy Plectritis (Plectritis congesta), Large-flowered Blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia grandiflora), Western Trillium (Trillium ovatum), Western Saxifrage (Saxifraga occidentalis), and Oregon Fawn Lily (Erythronium oregonum).

The preserve's shallow soils support wet meadows, Oregon white oak-madrone woodlands, vernal and permanent ponds, and even a stand of quaking aspen.

The trail utilizes boardwalks, which can be slippery during the spring. There are also some sections which can be quite muddy earlier in the season, so I recommend hiking (or rubber) boots. Also, PLEASE stay on the trail and (as always) do not pick any wildflowers!

*Common Camas (C. quamash) and Great Camas (C. leichtlinii) can look very similar, so here are are some tips for distinguishing them:

Common Camas is generally between six inches and two feet tall, whereas Great Camas can reach heights of four feet or more.

As Great Camas' petals (tepals) dry and wither, they twist to cover and protect the seeds during the maturation process.

Directions

Take Interstate 205 to West Linn Exit #8. If you are driving westbound, turn left at the end of the exit ramp onto Highway 43 and go under the interstate. If you are driving eastbound, turn right at the end of the exit ramp onto Highway 43. If you are coming from SW Portland, drive south on Highway 43 (Macadam Avenue) through Lake Oswego to West Linn.

Turn uphill onto Willamette Falls Drive just before the gas station. If you cross the bridge over the Willamette River, you have gone too far!

In one block, Willamette Falls Road makes a 90 degree turn to the left... follow the sign for "Willamette Area". Continue on Willamette Falls Road for another quarter mile, then follow the sign for "Sunset/Rosemont" and veer right uphill onto Sunset Avenue. Immediately after crossing I-205, turn right onto Walnut Street. This street dead-ends at the Nature Preserve entrance and parking area. There is room for 4-5 cars. Please do not block any driveways if the small parking area is full.

NOTE: Dogs are not allowed anywhere within Camassia Natural Area!

Trip Reports

Date	Submitted by
04/29/2024	Greg Lief
04/13/2024	Greg Lief
04/10/2024	Greg Lief
Reports from previous years
05/02/2023	Greg Lief
04/30/2023	Greg Lief
04/26/2023	Greg Lief
04/15/2023	Greg Lief
03/10/2020	Greg Lief
04/21/2019	Greg Lief
04/13/2019	Greg Lief
04/04/2019	Greg Lief
04/28/2018	Greg Lief
04/23/2018	Greg Lief
04/01/2018	Greg Lief
05/08/2017	Karen Amann Talerico
04/29/2017	Greg Lief
04/20/2017	Greg Lief
04/08/2017	Katie
05/12/2016	Greg Lief
04/26/2016	Greg Lief
04/12/2016	Greg Lief
04/22/2015	Greg Lief
04/15/2015	Greg Lief
04/08/2015	Greg Lief
04/01/2015	Marianne Nelson
05/22/2014	Greg Lief
04/23/2014	Greg Lief
05/23/2013	Greg Lief
05/09/2012	Greg Lief
05/18/2011	Greg Lief
05/04/2011	Greg Lief
04/13/2011	Greg Lief
05/24/2010	Greg Lief
04/12/2010	Greg Lief
05/11/2009	Greg Lief
04/19/2009	Rory Nichols
05/16/2008	Greg Lief
06/06/2007	Greg Lief
05/14/2007	Greg Lief
04/28/2007	Greg Lief
04/17/2007	Greg Lief
04/10/2007	Greg Lief

Switch to historical view of wildflower reports

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Photo Gallery

Rosy Plectritis and Camas at Camassia Natural Area	Rosy Plectritis at Camassia Natural Area	Wildflower meadow at Camassia Natural Area	Large-Flowered Blue-Eyed Mary at Camassia Natural Area
Camas at Camassia Natural Area	White Rock Larkspur	White Rock Larkspur

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'Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.' -- Henry David Thoreau