Whipple Creek Regional Park — Attraction in Fairgrounds

Update (9/7/23): I had to go back here today and venture out further. I hiked many new awesome unspoiled trails of exceptional beauty, but still have more to go. With it starting to get dark sooner, I had to head back to the parking lot, even though I wanted to keep going. Like last time, I enjoyed every second of my time here.

Here is my original review from June:

Wow!! What fun I had hiking today! I had no idea that these beautiful hiking trails were so close!

Being my first time here; completely unfamiliar with the territory, I kept it simple, and just did a 3 mile hike this time, but even with that, it felt like I was miles into a dense wooded forest! All I could hear was the wind rustling through the trees, and a creek flowing through a nearby ravine.

The trails are very clean and extremely well maintained. They are horse and dog friendly as well. There is a map showing 'you are here' often, so you don't have to worry about getting lost as long as you stay on the actual trails. It was not crowded at all, considering it was a sunny Sunday afternoon, making for a peaceful and pleasant experience. I will add more photos as I continue to explore this park; I have a feeling it is breathtakingly beautiful year round with the change of seasons. I would highly recommend this park to anyone who has not been here. If being outdoors in nature is your thing, as it is for most Pacific Northwest folk, you'll love this place! Happy hiking, my fellow...

Go with your gut. I arrived at 10:00 on a Sunday and was anxious to unload my bike and go for a ride. Check out the 4 Mile loop. After I got my bike unloaded and started to get dressed, I started observing all the cars around me. I noticed that three out of the five cars that were next to me all had steering wheel locks and we're all putting their personal belongings in their trunk. Still not thinking anything of it. Then I noticed two lowrider cars with some interesting drivers circling the parking lot. That's when it dawned on me that they're on the phone talking to each other and pointing stuff out and then they see me and they both drive out of the park about 200 ft away and they just sit there and idle since I keep most of the stuff in the back of my truck. Even though it's locked, I'm still on a big vacation, mountain biking and Hot springs hunting. I chose not to have all my stuff stolen and went with my gut packed everything up and left.

So I don't have a review of the park, but I can guarantee you that it's too close to Portland for me to consider coming back to the next time I'm in this region.

Next stop grants pass and the Medford area to hit some trails down there where I know it's a little bit too country for questionable individuals to be skirting the parks. Looking...

Truly a gem of a park. I've been hiking, running and hauling around a backpack for (what else) backpack trip training there for about six years. I've been fortunate to see coyotes both close and far away, woodpeckers up close, and many other animals. It's a multi-use park, so give the horses room. Most horse riders appreciate it. Keep your dogs on a leash. Maybe you know old Bowzer is gentle, but I don't when he runs at me aggressively. I told one lady who had an unleashed dog that there were coyotes in the park in the hope she would put it on a leash for its safety and she replied that her dog liked to chase them. WTH? Also very unfortunate is the uptick in (for now) petty crime. I used to go early enough that I would be one of the first people there, but no longer since my car window was smashed and some things stolen several weeks ago. I hope the thief stays warm with the jacket and enjoys using the partial tube of toothpaste he or she took. Now I only go there when it is busier don't leave...