Walk + Hike Ratings

The Land Trust has established a simple rating system to help you choose your walks or hikes wisely. The ratings are indicated on each walk or hike and tell you a little more about the outing. Many hikes are rated more difficult than they seem simply because there are no trails and/or the hike includes steep descents/ascents. Keep in mind this a just a basic system: what is easy to you, may be challenging to others. We’ve tried to strike the middle ground! The ratings indicated if the outing is:

A birder surveys the meadow on an Indian Ford Meadow bird walk. Photo: Mary Crow.

Easy: Mostly flat terrain with maintained trails.

This type of trail can be found at: Camp Polk Meadow Preserve (upper meadow), Indian Ford Meadow Preserve, Metolius Preserve, and Whychus Canyon.

Moderate: Some inclines with good trails, or mostly flat with more difficult and/or longer trails.

This type of trail can be found at Camp Polk Meadow Preserve (lower meadow), the Metolius Preserve, Skyline Forest, and Whychus Canyon Preserve.

Challenging: Steep inclines with decent trails or uneven ground with little or no trail.

This type of trail can be found at Camp Polk Meadow Preserve (lower meadow with no trails), and Rimrock Ranch (steep ascent/descent).

Difficult: Steep routes, long hikes, and questionable or nonexistent trails with fearless hike leaders!

This type of trail can be found at Alder Springs, Skyline Forest, and Whychus Canyon Preserve.