Bald Hill Natural Area — Attraction in Philomath

Good place to take a walk with opportunity to ascend to the top of Bald Hill (highly recommended). There are three parking areas to access Bald Hill. The Benton County Fairgrounds to the East, the NW Oak St. access, and the SW Reservoir Ave access.

All 3 are connected by a paved walkway that leads to the base of Bald Hill. The walkway is multiuse; bicycles are frequently using the path, too. Keep your ears and eyes out for them. There are various trails that connect to the walkway which allows for a nice walk depending upon what you want to do. You can walk partly around the base, or even walk from SW Reservoir to NW Oak street and back. There is an old barn at the Northeast base of the hill. There is an off leash dog area hat is marked near the barn. A portable toilet is located there as well.

A trip to the summit is not difficult and doesn't take very long. The West side of the hill near the top has a bench with a great view of Mary's Peak and the Fitton Green Ridge. There is also a bench at the summit near the summit marker that gives a decent view to the Southeast.

An important note: Stay on the trails. Private property surrounds the entire area, and in a number of places, the trail crosses a portion of said property. The property owners granted an easement to the county for all to enjoy, so the rules are pretty simple...leave no trace and stay...

Honestly I've nothing bad to say about getting out into the Great Outdoors BUT make sure you're adequately prepared for the elements. I, of course, assuming I was prepared, was sadly mistaken. Always dress appropriately for all seasons. If it's cold and wet weather rain resistant/water proof garments to avoid the possibility of hypothermia. Speaking from experience hypothermia ain't no joke. The trail is rated moderate in difficulty but I'm going out on a limb here and adding when it's raining or snowing I'd rate it hard. There's a lot of muddy slippery trails that make hiking poles a serious necessity. Especially if on a downhill trajectory... Al in all I'll go back in the spring or summer and do some more hiking here because it's beautiful land with some pretty decent views. Did I mention they're very generous with their benches here which is a...

I like this area for short walks and for the mountain biking (ascents are not technical). It has terrain for all levels and can be short or long. While present in small amounts, poison oak isn't very prevalent here. Plan ahead. Bring food and water and go to the bathroom beforehand. Amenities could use to be more abundant. For PoGo, there are not many stops and a few gyms, but the nest is pretty good, and if you wanted to sit and lure a stop, there are places to sit at many of the stops. For Ingress, this is a good place for the Enlightened to hang out, but the Resistance won't enjoy this park nearly as much. There is a gentle path for those beginning rollerblading or rollerskiing, as is mostly flat and very...