• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Good Hearted Woman logo
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers, Small Bites & Snacks
    • Beverages
    • Bread
    • Comfort Food
    • Ingredients & Techniques
    • Condiments
    • German Recipes
    • Main Dishes
    • Salads
    • Seafood Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
    • Sourdough
    • Desserts & Sweets
    • 30-Minute Meals
  • Cozy Living
    • Arts & Crafts
    • For Music Lovers
  • US Travel
    • Rocky Mountains
    • Southwest
    • The South
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Cozy Living
  • Food Holidays
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • Cozy Living
    • Food Holidays
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Travel » Pacific Northwest

    Orenco Woods Nature Park (Hillsboro, Oregon)

    Published: Mar 15, 2018 · Modified: Jul 28, 2021 · by Renée B. · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Rock Creek Trail - Orenco Woods Nature Park {Hillsboro, Oregon} | The Good Hearted Woman

    Visitors to Orenco Woods Nature Park can choose from wide variety of activities, including hiking, bicycling, geocaching, picnicking, and enjoying the native wildlife. (Oh, and hangin' out with giant Twig People. Don't about forget them.)

    Orenco Woods Nature Park Twig people

    Early spring can be Bea-u-tiful here in the Pacific Northwest, so on a particularly sunny, dry day, Mr B and I took the opportunity to go and explore Orenco Woods Nature Park, a westside neighborhood park that gets a lot of attention.

    Here's just one reason for all the buzz...

    Woven Willow and Red Twig Dogwood Branch Sculptures

    But I'll get back to Hungry Twig Guy later. First, let me take you on a tour around the park.

    Sun through the trees casting shadows.

    Orenco Woods Nature Park is a large neighborhood park located in Hillsboro, Oregon, about 30 minutes west of Portland. The 42-acre park is situated on the site of a former nine-hole golf course, between Orchard Park upstream and Noble Woods Park downstream. Rock Creek flows through the park, and Rock Creek Trail snakes through it.

    Kids playing at the park.

    There is a big, open playground near the entrance to the park, with restrooms and drinking fountains for visitors, as well as a large covered picnic area.

    This concrete stream channel was one of my favorite features of the playground - it runs downhill alongside one long side of the playground, with strategically placed water pumps set along the "stream bed" that allow kids to feed into the stream with running water during warm weather months, with the water pouring back into Rock Creek after it runs its course. The playground also features sand areas, logs, a large net climber and swings.

    Interesting rock and runoff scultures; child running in the background.

    The "real" Orenco Apple is a high-quality dessert apple that was introduce to the world c.1840 by the Oregon Nursery Company. The apple is prized for its tender, crisp and juicy flesh, and sweet, piquant flavor.

    Metal seating area in the form of half an apple.
    "The Orenco Apple"

    Malcolm McDonald House (Est. 1910)

    The McDonald House, which sets inside Orenco Woods Nature Park near the park entrance, was built by Oregon Nursery Company Co-founder Malcolm McDonald. Mr. McDonald erected the sprawling Craftsman-style home in 1912, and his business then sold smaller lots to its employees, who built their own houses nearby.

    Malcolm McDonald House {Est. 1910}

    I had some brief contact with the McDonald house back in the early 2000's when one of my Girl Scout Troops (I had four) did some volunteer work there. At that time, the house was being used as a shelter and home for young, single mothers. The shelter closed in 2012 when the organization that ran it moved to another location.

    Front of Malcolm McDonald House

    Despite the fences, I was glad to see that Hillsboro is taking steps to restore it to its former glory. Planners have proposed exhibiting Orenco's history in the house and renting it out for private events such as weddings.

    Shot throw chain-link fencing to McDonald House

    In 2015, the McDonald House was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

    Malcolm McDonald House with sunshine on shingled sides.

    Walking the Rock Creek Nature Trail

    A segment of the paved, ADA-accessible Rock Creek Trail runs through the park, connecting to Orchard Park and to the Rock Creek Trailhead at Rock Creek Boulevard just north of Highway 26. You can also walk the much shorter loop around the Orenco Woods Nature Park using the park's graveled Habitat Trail. Bicycles and on-leash dogs are allowed on the paved trails, but not on the wood chip and gravel habitat trails.

    People walking on an arched bridge.
    Children riding bikes across arched bridge.

    The picture below is one of my favorite of the day. The little two boys on the bridge were doing their darnest to beat their Dad racing across the bridge, and all three were having so much fun!

    Two boys racing their dad on the bridge.
    Colseup - Arched Bridge
    Shadows shot from bridge
    Rock Creek Trail across bridge

    Orenco Woods Nature Park offers visitors a variety of experiences: rolling hills, open meadows, riparian habitat, and forested areas that are home to a variety of birds and wildlife.

    Paved Rock Creek Trail - Orenco Woods Nature Park

    As we walked through the park, Mr B reminisced about the times he had golfed there in years past. "That course was always so wet. I remember that there was a par-three hole where you teed off from a box uphill to a mounded green below. When it was rainy, the green would be entirely surrounded by water." No wonder the golf course didn't last too long!

    Rock Creek Trail
    Rock Creek Trail - Orenco Woods Nature Park

    Now that we've made it around the park, let's circle back to that giant face made out of twigs...

    Woven Willow and Red Twig Dogwood Sculptures

    This guy is just one of seven 18-foot tall faces that guard a line of old growth Doug firs along the stretch of main path that runs from the park entrance to the large arched bridge.

    Woven Willow and Red Twig Dogwood Branch Sculptures

    Created by artist Patrick Dougherty (along with a battalion of volunteers), the interactive art installation is constructed entirely from locally obtained twigs and branches.

    Woven Willow and Red Twig Dogwood Branch Sculptures

    The piece was initially inspired by masks and totems of Northwest indigenous peoples; however, inspirations changed along the way.

    Says Dougherty, "they morphed during the building process into caricatures of human surprise. The arrangement of elements corrals the trees and creates among them a room of ancient tree trunks, thick and luxurious. Perhaps this invitation to rub shoulders with the craggy bark of such oldsters is the best part of the work. At the last minute, a hint of the heads of Easter Island statuary emerged as we fitted each head with a suitable hat.”

    Inside the Woven Willow and Red Twig Dogwood Branch Sculptures
    Woven Willow and Red Twig Dogwood Branch Sculptures from a distance

    More than 150 volunteers contributed over 1000 hours to create this monumental, interactive sculpture. (Click here to watch the Stickwork Project Time Lapse Video.)

    Woven Willow and Red Twig Dogwood Branch Sculptures from another angle.

    In addition to hiking the Rock Creek Trail and hanging out with giant Twig People, visitors can choose from wide variety of activities at the park, including hiking, bicycling, geocaching, and picnicking. Or kick back and enjoy the native wildlife: great blue heron, beavers, red-tail hawks, black-tailed deer, and more all make their homes along Rock Creek and in the adjacent wetlands.

    Visitor Information

    Orenco Woods Nature Park - 7100 NE Birch Street, Hillsboro, Oregon

    • Orenco Woods Nature Park is open from sunrise to sunset seven days a week.
    • The park has restrooms and a large picnic area, as well as a number of smaller, more informal gathering spots.
    • Significant portions of the park are wheelchair accessible, including the Rock Creek Trail.
    • Pets are allowed on the Rock Creek Trail portions of the park, but must be on-leash at all times and are not allowed anywhere else at the park.
    • Don't bring drones, model planes, model boats and other remote-controlled vehicles - they are not allowed. (Neither is hunting, but do I really need to tell you not to hunt in a park filled with dogs and people?) However, you are welcome to do all the geocaching your little heart desires!

    Want More Free Recipes?

    Subscribe to our newsletter to get family-friendly recipes and cozy living ideas in your inbox each week!
    Find us on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook, too.

    Thank you for visiting the Good Hearted Woman. Remember to bookmark this site, and come back soon!

    More Pacific Northwest Travel, Hikes, Food & Events

    • Metal sculpture of a mermaid, resting on a bed of river rocks and holding a bottle of wine.
      Westport Winery Garden Resort & Mermaid Museum (Aberdeen, WA)
    • Newport Seafood & Wine Festival: 11 Tips to Know Before Your Go
    • Short, easy, family-friendly wildflower hike - Camassia Nature Preserve {West Linn, Oregon} | The Good Hearted Woman
      Camassia Nature Preserve: Wildflowers & Family-friendly Hiking
    • Front of Angus Bowmer Theater, Ashland: Empty stage, ready for 'Beauty and the Beast.'
      The Best Things to Do in Ashland, Oregon
    312 shares
    • Share
    • Flipboard

    About Renée B.

    Renée is self-taught home chef with a penchant for creating healthy(ish) comfort food recipes, and adapting vintage recipes for the 21st century cook. In her spare time, she writes unfinished novels and songs about cowboys.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating





      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Pauline Stephens says

      March 16, 2018 at 8:55 pm

      I can just picture myself on my bike exploring the trails and this entire area. I enjoy the outdoors!

      Reply
    2. emman damian says

      March 16, 2018 at 12:31 pm

      Orenco Woods Nature Park seems like a nice place to visit. I should bring my niece and nephew when we travel soon to US.

      Reply
    3. Sarah Bailey says

      March 16, 2018 at 10:36 am

      Oh wow what an amazing looking place this is to explore! I am loving the different things they have to spot as you wander around.

      Reply
    4. Annreeba says

      March 15, 2018 at 9:23 pm

      I love those twig people. Those are so cute and the park looks great.

      Reply
    5. Shannon E says

      March 15, 2018 at 9:06 pm

      So cool!! I'm an outdoors person so this place is right up my alley. I'm making my 1st trip to Oregon this year, hopefully I'll be able to make ti to this nature park!

      Reply
    6. Bobbi Hass-Burleson says

      March 15, 2018 at 8:22 pm

      Looks like a brand new park, My kids would love to go there someday, Its so nice to see the mcdonald house that is fully maintained.

      Reply
    7. Dee at My Dee Dees Diary says

      March 15, 2018 at 5:33 pm

      The hairy twig guy is so cool. I would love to visit this place some day

      Reply
    8. Erin @ Platings and Pairngs says

      March 15, 2018 at 4:10 pm

      The McDonald House looks like a really beautiful place. I'd love to see it restored!

      Reply
    9. Patricia-Ann Que says

      March 15, 2018 at 2:34 pm

      what a cool place to visit! i can easily spot a lot of location that would be great for photoshoots! how i wish i can easily visit!

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Renée!

    Welcome to The Good Hearted Woman — a cozy corner of the internet where comfort food meets modern life. From heirloom recipes and easy weeknight dinners to seasonal dishes, homemade breads, and potluck favorites, we share the kind of food that brings people together.

    When we’re not in the kitchen, you’ll find us hosting guests at Parkside Acoustic Bed & Breakfast, our music-themed B&B in Ashland, Oregon — where good food and warm hospitality go hand in hand.

    More about Me & Mr B →
    • A chilled slice of no-bake chocolate éclair cake resting on a blue plate beside a dessert fork, highlighting the creamy vanilla and chocolate layers.
      No-Bake Chocolate Eclair Cake (Old-Fashioned Icebox Dessert)

    • Breakfast casserole muffin on a plate with arugula and chopped avocado.
      Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole Muffins

    • A bowl of pecan granola in a small bowl, setting on an outdoor bistro table.
      Healthy Maple Pecan Granola

    • Two German Beef Rouladen rolls sliced on plate to show layered pinwheel, with sour cream and spätzle on the side.
      Authentic German Beef Rouladen (Rinderrouladen)

    • Small glass jar filled with habanero syrup, with one small habanero pepper sitting to the side.
      Habanero Simple Syrup

    • Two pink cocktails in martini glasses, with five raspberries and a habanero pepper at the base of one glass.
      Sparkling Raspberry Habanero Cosmo

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Statement
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Statement

    Follow

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • Twitter

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Meet Me & Mr B

    Content on this website may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we earn from qualifying purchases. Please check out our privacy Policy for more details.

    Copyright © 2025 The Good Hearted Woman. All rights reserved.

    312 shares
    312 shares
    We Value Your Privacy
    We use cookies to make this website a better place. Cookies help to provide a more personalized experience and relevant advertising for you, and web analytics for us. To learn more about the different cookies we use, check out our Cookie Policy.
    Functional Always active
    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
    Preferences
    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
    Statistics
    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
    Marketing
    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
    Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
    View preferences
    {title} {title} {title}
    We Value Your Privacy
    We use cookies to make this website a better place. Cookies help to provide a more personalized experience and relevant advertising for you, and web analytics for us. To learn more about the different cookies we use, check out our Cookie Policy.
    Functional Always active
    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
    Preferences
    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
    Statistics
    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
    Marketing
    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
    Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
    View preferences
    {title} {title} {title}