Best West Linn parks: Playgrounds, splash pads, hikes + more in Oregon

Some people ask, why move to West Linn? Here’s one reason why: When we were getting ready to move more than 5 years ago, we were looking for a welcoming neighborhood in a family-friendly city. So when we began exploring West Linn, Oregon, we knew we found home. It has an incredible school district, access to the outdoors, a small-town feel outside Portland, OR—and some of the best parks around. We love to spend time outdoors as a family, and as soon as we bought a home and moved, we began exploring the best West Linn parks.

There are so many great outdoor spots to play, we could hardly choose a favorite. It’s just as well, because mixing it up keeps my kids happy! When I get the girls packed up and tell them we’re going to the playground, they ask, “Which park, Mama?” Will it be the one with the dinosaur skeleton? Or the one with the giant rocks you can climb in the splash pad? Or the one with the two-story high slide built into the hill?

So many choices!!!

To help you decide where to head first, read on for my guide of the many parks in West Linn, OR. Whether you’re meeting up with a friend, want to take a short trip from Portland or are stopping on a road trip off Highway 205, these West Linn parks are guaranteed outdoor fun.

Quick note: As of this month, Governor Brown announced the re-opening of the state’s playgrounds, even in Phase 1 areas like Clackamas County. Science suggests that outdoor surfaces like play structures are unlikely to spread the coronavirus, as long as children maintain social distance. As always, please be responsible in giving people space. Thank you for helping keep our communities safe and healthy!

The best parks in West Linn, Oregon

I couldn’t decide how to rank these West Linn, Oregon parks, so I’m not listing them in any particular order. If you live in West Linn or the Portland area, try one out—or visit them all! Summer is the perfect time to explore and discover the best parks in West Linn.

That said, these kid-friendly destinations are wonderful year-round. As you can tell, we’ve been enjoying all these parks since my kiddos were super-little. We love West Linn parks in all seasons.

From the blooms of camas wildflowers in the spring to the dramatic colors of the rare white oak savanna in the fall, we love these spots. I’m pretty sure your family will, too.

Willamette Park

The highlight of Willamette Park in West Linn, right near the historic downtown area, is the giant splash pad. It is built on a slope, and kids love to run back and forth between the levels.

Willamette Park also has a ton of sheltered picnic areas and grills, which make it a choice spot for parties. (The volleyball courts, baseball field and horseshoe pits don’t hurt, either!)

You can also access the river, where you can launch your kayak or simply scope out the waterfowl. (Fair warning: The geese at this West Linn park are extremely used to people and are unafraid to approach, so watch young kids around them.)

We love going paddle boarding and kayaking here. The small boat launch is just so convenient! Wakes from bigger boats do make waves, but Max and Edie love this part. They’re always asking me to aim for the wake!

Willamette Park, 1100 12th St., West Linn, Oregon

Maddax Woods

Another one of our favorite kid-friendly hikes in West Linn: The trail at Maddax Woods. We typically park in the small parking area at the address below, which has access to the greenway trail.

The trail is about a half-mile. It leads through a beautiful forest of mostly Doug fir trees. Max and Edie like crossing the bridge over a stream and dropping in pine cones or sticks.

My personal favorite part of Maddax Woods is its river access. From the main parking area, hike to the opposite end of the trail and then turn right down a path. You’ll come to a sandy beach along the Willamette River.

The whole family—dogs, kids, adults—have fun running and digging here.

You can also access this river trail from Burnside Park, at 1375 Buck St, West Linn, OR. This isn’t actually a park, really, but a spot to leave your car in a residential neighborhood to access the Willamette River. This is where we park when we want to bring our paddle board to the river, as the walk is much shorter to the beach.

During the spring, Goat Island—which is visible from Maddax Woods—becomes a rookery for great blue herons. Up to roughly 100 mated pairs find each other, lay their eggs and raise their chicks on this small island every year. Look to the tops of the trees for their big nests!

During regular (aka non-COVID) years, look for heron watch events, when locals peep through telescopes to get a better look at the birds.

Maddax Woods, 5785 River St. West Linn, OR

Marylhurst Heights Park

I absolutely love how this tucked-away neighborhood park in West Linn has something for kids of all ages. Slides and climbing structures of various sizes can be conquered by littles and older kids; in fact, on a recent visit, some kids (and their mom!) created an obstacle course they had to navigate without touching the “lava”—aka the wood chips.

My girls love to play on the rope web and hammock, but the real highlight is the splash pad—complete with water that shoots out of sculptural dinosaur bones and a metal relief T-rex skull embedded in the pavement. No wonder my kids call this the Dinosaur Bone Park!

Marylhurst Heights Park, 1800 Valley View Dr., West Linn, OR.

Mary S. Young Park

We visit Mary S. Young on the regular partly because it feels as if we disappear into its 128 acres as soon as we hit the trail. And as you can see, we’ve been coming to this great West Linn park for years, even since before Maxine was born.

(Squee, isn’t peanut Maxine the cutest?! Look at those cheeks!)

You can wander in the deep forest, hike down to the Willamette River, let your dog play in one of several off-leash areas, watch local kid’s lacrosse and soccer games or relax with a picnic.

We love to walk down to a sandy beach along the river, partly because it changes every time depending on the water levels. (Side note: We chose Mary S. Young to do our maternity photos because it’s one of the best parks in West Linn.)

With so many trails, it’s easy to find a new hike every time you go to Mary S. Young.

Mary S. Young Park, 19900 Willamette St., West Linn, OR.

Swift Shore Park

I’m kicking myself because we only recently discovered Swift Shore Park in West Linn, OR. We’re making up for lost time by visiting as often as we can!

This park is tucked away among a residential neighborhood. As such, there is no parking lot; you just leave your car along a sidewalk and walk down to the river.

The Tualatin River runs through this park. People ride tubes and floats down the little rapid here, and more adventurous folks jump off a cliff and rope swing into a deep pool below.

My kids and I are tamer. We walk upriver, splash around in a knee-deep wading area and play on little waterfalls.

Maxine in particular loves swimming at a deep swimming hole here. (Once she was shivering so hard that her teeth were clacking. When I asked if she needed to warm up, she replied, “Only my teeth are cold!”)

A few sandy beach spots fill up quickly, but folks tend to be easygoing about making room for others.

I recommend wearing water shoes at Swift Shore Park. Stepping on rocks and little underwater critters can hurt!

Swift Shore Park, 25461 Swiftshore Drive, West Linn, OR

Tanner Creek Park

I love the proximity of this West Linn park’s playground to the splash pad—my kids love to play in the water, then go swing or goof off on the teeter totter, then head back in the splash pad. The proximity makes my life so much easier because I can keep an eye on both kids, even if they sprint in opposite directions.

Shaded benches line the splash pad, and families set up blankets and picnics in the shady grass. There are also basketball courts, tennis courts and a skate park just a short walk from the playground.

The covered shelter is a popular spot for birthday parties, and during regular (aka non-COVID) summers, the city runs day camps here.

West Linn also recently installed an outdoor exercise area just outside the park. It has spots for pull-ups and other strength-building exercise.

Tanner Creek Park, 3456 Parker Rd., West Linn, OR.

Camassia Nature Preserve

We adore this park, which is actually owned by the Nature Conservancy, not West Linn. This is one of our favorite spots for hiking with kids near Portland.

The half-mile loop trail takes you through grasslands which bloom with native flowers in the spring, white oak woodlandss and spots that offer a beautiful view of Mt. Hood. My kids particularly love the boardwalks that make for easy crossing of a seasonal stream.

Although spring is definitely the most popular time to visit Camassia, we love this trail year-round. Sure, you might get rained on a bit, but the short distance means you don’t have far to go if it pours.

If you want a longer walk, the Camassia Nature Preserve loop connects to a hike through nearby Wilderness Park (see below).

Remember that dogs aren’t allowed to protect wildlife and the ecosystem as a whole. Importantly, stay on the trail to protect fragile native plants. And if you want to help preserve this beautiful spot, work parties regularly meet to clear out invasive species such as English ivy.

Note: Camassia Nature Preserve is currently closed to comply with social distancing guidance. Trails here are fairly narrow, which makes it impossible to pass others while maintaining a distance of 6 feet.

Camassia Nature Preserve, 4800 Walnut St., West Linn, OR.

Wilderness Park

Tucked amid a West Linn residential neighborhood, 50 acres of woods have been preserved as Wilderness Park. We hike here with the kids weekly—sometimes even daily—because we can make our hike as long or as short as we want, depending on the girls’ energy and our time limits.

It’s also fairly sheltered from the trees during rain, which makes it a great wet weather hike near Portland (just bring boots—the trail can get muddy).

Max and Edie have nicknamed Wilderness the Wood Chip Park. It used to have a mountain of wood chips in the middle of a clearing; now it’s home to enormous felled logs. The kids (and even Finn!) climb the logs and take turns jumping down. Luna, our Great Pyrenee rescue, is more interested in sniffing all the forest smells than climbing.

The city recently renovated the main parking area of Wilderness Park, adding parking spots, but I also recommend parking on Oregon City Boulevard between Oregon City Loop and Prospect Street. About halfway between the two streets on the north side of the street, there are several (unmarked) trail entrances that lead you into the park.

(If you’re lucky, the house here will have at least a few dozen air-filled and 10-foot-high dragons on display! Max and Edie are obsessed.)

Keep an eye out for mountain bikers, who sometimes use this trail. Every time we encounter someone on bike they’re courteous. We simply step to the side of the trail to let them pass.

Make sure to keep your dogs on leash here—it’s a popular spot for dog owners (including us!). Our most recent addition to the family, a Great Pyrenee rescue named Luna, loves it here. Bonus: A dog poo bag dispenser at the base of the trail at the main parking lot will hook you up if you forgot your own bags.

Wilderness Park, 22101 Clark StreetWest Linn, OR

Robinwood Park

Robinwood is a hidden gem among the best parks in West Linn, OR. Nestled among the tall trees of this 15-acre park: a playground, stroller-friendly walking trails, a small skate park, a big field that just asks to be run through and a lovely splash pad.

Edie, forever my lemur, loves to climb the big stones in the splash pad, which shoot water in different directions. Plus, the splash pad is shaded in the morning. Just know that the playground structures aren’t great for kids under 2—they’re designed for older kids.

Very important: Don’t follow the Google Maps directions to Robinwood Park—they send you to the back end of the park where there’s no entrance or parking. Instead, off of Highway 43/Willamette St., turn east on Fairview Way (at the Italian restaurant Bugatti’s). Continue along Fairview and you’ll end up in the parking lot.

Robinwood Park, 3600 Fairview Way West Linn, OR

Sahallie Illahee Park

When we first arrived at Sahallie Illahee Park, I wasn’t terribly impressed. Yes, it had a cute play structure, tire swing and swing set the perfect size for my kids, but I didn’t see what made it special—at first.

Then we wandered down a hiking trail, across a bridge and out the other side—to a two-story high slide built into the side of a hill.

It. Is. Awesome.

This side of the park, which is designed for slightly older children, also has a bridge structure built between two pretend rocks built just for climbing.

Sahallie Illahee Park, 4300 Horton Rd., West Linn, Oregon.

Sunset Park

Sunset Park just got a major makeover. Although the coronavirus slowed down the complete redesign of this West Linn park, my kids can vouch that it’s super-fun!

Sunset Park now has an awesome play structure with a bridge and climbing features. There’s also a new zip line and even a water feature that flows into a sand pit. (There are still a few finishing touches left to be completed here. My kids don’t mind; they’ve already given the new Sunset Park a thumbs-up!)

Folks who have been to Sunset Park will notice big changes. The old swing set and slide are gone.

At the Sunset Fire Hall at the base of the park, play tennis or basketball on the public courts. This is also a great blackberry picking spot in the summer!

Sunset Park, 4665 Bittner Street West Linn, OR—between Sunset Primary and the Sunset Fire Hall

Hammerle Park

Just off Highway 43 is a beautiful park with multiple play structures, a jungle gym, swings, old-school metal slides and a splash pad. It’s shaded—ideal for the hot summer—and includes several fields that host baseball games, especially on the weekends.

During weekdays in the school year, avoid the time immediately after nearby Bolton Elementary gets out—the park becomes overrun with kiddos just finishing their school day. (This isn’t an issue at the moment, since all schools in West Linn are currently online-only.)

If you need a pick-me-up after fun outdoor play, head to Market of Choice just up the street. They have an excellent hot bar and cold bar. (Maxine recommends the macaroni and cheese.)

Hammerle Park, 1505 Lewis St., West Linn, OR.

White Oak Savanna

White Oak Savanna is one of the least known West Linn parks. This nature area preserves native oak woodlands, which were plentiful in this area before white settlers arrived and cleared the forests for agriculture.

Now trails wind through this restored habitat. This West Linn park is home to native plants and animals. (If you’re lucky, you might spot one of the neighborhood’s coyotes!)

Partly because of the White Oak Savanna’s wildlife and delicate ecology, dogs are not allowed in this nature preserve.

White Oak Savanna, 2425 Tannler Drive, West Linn, OR

Phew! Now can you see why I can’t choose the all-time best park in West Linn, Oregon? There’s too much competition! For more details, check out the West Linn Parks and Rec page.

Now get out there and have fun!

PS – If you’re looking for more to do in the area, check out my post on quirky and kid-friendly things to do in Portland.