PNW Hike: Camassia Nature Preserve

Managed by the Nature Conservancy, this preserve features an explosion of camas, fawn lilies, and sea blush each spring.

BY LAURA J. COLE | April 19, 2024

Things to know about hiking Camassia Natural Area.

The Camassia Preserve Loop trail is part of a public, 27-acre preserve managed by The Nature Conservancy.
Volunteers work at the park to remove invasive species, such as scotch broom, and to limit the growth of Douglas fir, so Oregon white oaks and camas flowers have the best chance to grow as they once did in this area. As a result, visitors are asked to stay on the trails to allow the plants to flourish—and to avoid the poison oak.
Parking is located at the end of a residential street and extremely limited.
Dogs are prohibited from being in the preserve and on the trail, so leave your furry friends behind.
The Nature Conservancy asks visitors to walk the loop counterclockwise, as the path is narrow. There are several meadows throughout, forks you can follow, and a viewpoint where you can see Mt. Hood on a clear day.
The word camas comes from the Nez Perce qémʼes, as the plant was an important food source for the tribe—and indigenous peoples across the Pacific Northwest—who would cook, dry, and grind its nutritious bulbs into a meal to use for bread and other meals.
The preserve is home to more than 300 plants, including the rare white larkspur, found at only six other places in the world, according to a sign at the beginning of the trail.

Camassia Natural Area

Location: West Linn, Oregon (about .5 hours from Portland)

Length: 0.6 miles

Elevation gain: 36 feet

Trail type: Loop

Dog friendly: No

Best time for wildflowers: April through May

Land Acknowledgement: This trail is on land that was used by the Atfalati, Kalapuya, and Ahantchuyuk peoples