BEDH_Portland-23

15 Hagg Lake

The Hagg Lake Trail passes through open meadows and oak woodlands next to the shores of 1,113-acre Hagg Lake. Rewards along the way include prime blackberry picking, awesome swimming holes, and opportunities to view a variety of wildlife, including deer, coyotes, bobcats, osprey, hawks, bald eagles, songbirds, and a variety of waterfowl.

Distance: 14.1-mile loop

Hiking time: About 30 minutes to 5 hours (depending on the length of the hike)

Elevation gain: Varies depending on the trail selected

Trail surface: Dirt path, paved path, paved road

Best season: First weekend in Mar through mid-Nov

Other trail users: Joggers, mountain bikers, equestrians

Canine compatibility: Leashed dogs permitted

Fees and permits: Day-use fee Mar through Nov

Schedule: Park open dawn to dusk from the first weekend in Mar through mid-Nov

Maps: USGS: Gaston, Gales Creek; Maptech CD: Newport/Portland/Mount Hood/The Dalles

Trail contact: Washington County Parks, Facilities Management Division, Support Services Department, 155 N. First Ave., Ste. 270, Hillsboro; (503) 846-8715; www.co.washington.or.us/Support_Services/Facilities/Parks/Hagglake/index.cfm

Finding the trailhead: From Portland head 21.0 miles west on US 26 to the junction with OR 6. Turn left onto OR 6 (toward Banks, Forest Grove, and Tillamook) and go 2.5 miles to the intersection with OR 47. Turn south and proceed 12.5 miles to the junction with Scoggins Valley Road. Turn right (west) onto Scoggins Valley Road and head 3.1 miles to the Henry Hagg Lake/Scoggins Valley Park entrance. Go 0.3 mile past the entrance booth to the junction with West Shore Drive. Turn left onto West Shore Drive and travel 3.9 miles to the Sain Creek Picnic Area on the right. DeLorme: Oregon Atlas & Gazetteer: Page 59 A7 GPS: N45 29.11' / W123 14.11'

The Hike

The 14.1-mile Hagg Lake Trail is a wonderful hiking opportunity close to Portland. This singletrack trail parallels the contours of Henry Hagg Lake and has a variety of terrain: open meadows, forest, stream crossings, bridges, rolling hills, and scenic picnic areas.

Located about 40.0 miles from downtown Portland, Henry Hagg Lake and Scoggins Valley Park is a popular recreational spot for Tualatin Valley residents. The lake and park are maintained and operated by Washington County and owned by the US Bureau of Reclamation. With 1,113 acres of surface area, the lake was constructed in the mid-1970s to provide supplemental water and flood control for the Tualatin Valley. The lake was named for Henry Hagg, a local dairy farmer who was one of the first people to suggest the reservoir project to the Bureau of Reclamation in 1959. Hagg was a member of the Tualatin Valley Irrigation District, the Agricultural Committee of the Portland Chamber of Commerce, and the Oregon State University Research Committee. He passed away in 1979, four years before the completion of the lake project.

This route begins at Sain Creek Picnic Area, which is equipped with restrooms and a shady picnic area. From the picnic area you can hike in either direction on the lake trail that leads you through open meadows and shady forest, with many viewpoints of the lake. Be aware that sections of this trail may be closed during winter months due to muddy conditions.

Hikers aren’t the only persons enjoying this popular park. Boaters, water-skiers, and fishers also use the lake. The east end of the lake, where there is no wake limit, is used by motorboaters and water-skiers; the west end is reserved for canoeing, sailing, and kayaking.