Field Trips
The Institute believes once people have experienced the diversity of natural areas and wildlife they support that they will become engaged in their protection, restoration, and management. Throughout the year we lead paddles, bicycle rides and nature walks to introduce the region’s residents to nature nearby, where they live, work, and play.
2018 Ride On The Wildside, Exploring The Intertwine By Bike!
Explore The Intertwine, the region’s system of parks, trails and natural areas by bicycle and get acquainted with the nature of nature in a rich array of natural area parks. This bicycle-natural history series is co-sponsored by the Urban Greenspaces Institute, Audubon Society of Portland, Portland Bureau of Transportation, and The Intertwine Alliance*, will take you to some familiar and some not so familiar natural areas in Portland and the metro region. All rides are free and open to anyone with a bicycle in good repair and helmet, which is required. Bicycle repair will not be provided so ensure you bike is in good repair! Pre-registration required at mikehouck@urbangreenspaces.org.
Upcoming Trips
September 29th, Saturday 9am-1pm, Ride on the Wildside: Willamette Greenway Ramble. In collaboration with Vive Northwest and Hispanicpros, UGI will lead a 12-mile easy and flat ride along both sides of the Willamette River to explore gems of the Willamette River Greenway, including Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge. Leader, Mike Houck, Executive Director of Urban Greenspaces Institute, who first became involved with efforts to protect Oaks Bottom almost fifty years ago. The ride will start downtown along the Eastbank Esplanade and proceed south on the Springwater on the Willamette Greenway path to Oaks Bottom where we’ll look for bald eagles, great blue herons, and fall waterfowl. Then it’s across the new bicycle-pedestrian path on the Sellwood Bridge and on to Waterfront Park and South Waterfront along the Willamette River Greenway trail. Mike will provide a spotting scope for close-up views of birds and other wildlife. You provide your own bicycle (in good repair!); a helmet (required), water and a snack. Pre-registration is required here. For more information, contact Mike at mikehouck@urbangreenspaces.org.
Recent Past Trips
July 14th, Saturday 9am-1pm, Ride on the Wildside: Fanno Creek Greenway. This 12 mile easy ride will start out on the old Red Electric rail right-of-way and travel along Beaverton’s Fanno Creek Greenway with stops at Creekside Marsh and restoration sites on Fanno Creek. Leader: Mike Houck. Meet at 9 am at Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation Garden Home Community Center promptly at 9 am. Bring your bicycle and helmet (mandatory), water and lunch, and binoculars. Pre-registration required at mikehouck@urbangreenspaces.org.
June 30th, Saturday 9am-1pm, Ride on the Wildside: Overlook Park to Smith and Bybee Lakes. This 16-mile loop will ride along the scenic Willamette Boulevard, along the North Peninsula Crossing Trail, Smith and Bybee Lake and back along the Columbia Slough. Leader: Mike Houck. Meet at 9 am at Overlook Park, N Overlook Boulevard and N Melrose, in Overlook Park. There is an Overlook MAX Lightrail Station on N Interstate Boulevard on the east side of the park. Bring your bicycle and helmet (mandatory), water and lunch, and binoculars. Pre-registration required at mikehouck@urbangreenspaces.org.
June 16th, Saturday 9am-1pm, Ride on the Wildside: Willamette Greenway Ramble. A 12 mile ride both sides of the Willamette River to explore gems along the Willamette River Greenway, including Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge. This will be one of the last times you will ride on the Springwater on the Willamette this summer as the City of Portland will launch a major restoration project which will close the path for the summer. Leader, Mike Houck, who first became involved with efforts to protect Oaks Bottom forty-eight years ago and will regale participants with stories about the characters involved in those efforts. Meet Mike at the Salmon Springs Fountain in Tom McCall Waterfront Park promptly at 9 am. Bring your bike, helmet (mandatory), and binoculars. Pre-registration required at mikehouck@urbangreenspaces.org.
June 2nd,Saturday 9am-1pm, Ride on the Wildside: Westmoreland Park to Leach Botanical Garden and Zenger Farm. This 15-mile ride will start and end at the newly restored stream corridor and wetland at Westmoreland Park and ride the Springwater Corridor trail to Foster Floodplain Wetlands, Zenger Farm Wetlands, and Leach Botanical Garden. A trip highlight will be learning bout Leach Garden’s forest canopy walk and garden re-design. Leaders: Mike Houck and Leach Garden board and staff. Meet at Westmoreland Park at the corner of SE 22nd and SE Rex Avenue, in the park. Bring your bicycle and helmet (mandatory), water and lunch, and binoculars. Pre-registration required at mikehouck@urbangreenspaces.org.