Walk Clark County; Spring is just nine days away
By The Columbian Editorial Writers
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Portlanders can preen all they want about being named Best Walking City in America in this month's Prevention Magazine, but that doesn't change our unscientific opinion that the Best Walking County in America is Clark.
The fitness magazine used a complicated system of criteria for its rankings, including percentage of residents who walk regularly to work or for health reasons, popularity of mass transit (which keeps folks out of cars), low crime rates, mild year-round temperatures and recreational opportunities.
Our system, admittedly, is more basic and biased. We love Clark County, and with the first day of spring only nine days away (March 20), we can recommend Five Fabulous Walks. Try these glorious local strolls, and take along a Portlander:
Salmon Creek About 23/4 miles, from Northwest 36th Avenue east to Salmon Creek Park near Interstate 5. Wildlife galore!
Lower Burnt Bridge Creek About one mile, from Fruit Valley Road east to Alki Road near Hazel Dell Avenue. You won't believe you're in the middle of a city!
Columbia River About one mile, from the Red Lion at the Quay east to Beaches Restaurant. Save time to read historical signs.
Lacamas Heritage Trail About 31/2 miles, from Northeast Goodwin Road (northeast Camas) to Northwest Lake Road at state Highway 500 in Camas. Forest plus lake equals time well spent.
Lucia Falls to Moulton Falls Actually, this trail northeast of Battle Ground starts at the Hantwick Road trailhead near Lucia Falls Road and winds 21/2 miles to Moulton Falls Park, but stop at Lucia Falls before you begin.