If you are looking for a quick getaway for the kids to get outdoors and explore then a visit to the Jackson Creek Wetlands is a must! In any weather you can explore this little hike in Jacksonville, Oregon.

You start out with the shortest trek through the forest with interpretive signs along the way. Learn about the local flora and fauna and stop at the beautiful pond that seems alive with water sprites and is a perfect place to let your kids' imaginations run wild. After you pass through the wetland area you can take a short switchback trail up to the top of the dam where you get a magnificent view of the wildlife and enjoy the Historic Jacksonville Reservoir. We've seen ducks swimming about as well as frogs and lizards, and we even saw a salamander once!

At this point you can take one of two routes. If you want to go on a mile long hike, cross over the newly built bridge that connects to the Rail Trail though, if you have really little ones I suggest going to your left onto the Norling Trail. It takes you to an unnamed trail and into a beautiful meadow that has boardwalk bridges and beautiful foliage and then loops back onto the Norling or onto the Rail trail. We usually save that for on the way back so that we can hang out a little and our snacks.

When  you continue on the Norling Trail you will cross over the Eagle bridge as well as the Norling bridge that takes you along the creek and to parking area two where you can visit the brand new “Okwa Umma” shelter built by two boy scouts for their Eagle Scout project.  From there you will have to double back to get back to your car making the hike a round trip of about one mile!

This is just one of the many trails in Forest Park and we are planning on exploring every trail this year.  Stay tuned for our next story coming about the Rail Trail a moderate 2 mile out and back!

See more hikes around southern Oregon on our page HERE.