Favorite local forest for walks/hikes (Brush Prairie, Ridgefield: home, park, area)

[texasdiver]

Originally Posted by 182pilot

Derek, I think Stealth was a just trying to illustrate that there are tall trees on the property not necessarily that any are actually 300' tall. Unless they are old growth redwoods/sequoias that would be world record holders, the trees on Stealth's property aren't 300' tall.

The tallest known Douglas Fir tree on the planet is 327 ft tall: https://www.oregonlive.com/terryrich..._feet_int.html I would be shocked if there are any trees in Clark County that are over 300 ft tall.

[TheOrca]

That's awesome to know that we have species of tree right in our city that can be over 300 feet tall!

Not that I'm in a tree measuring competition

[texasdiver]

Douglas Fir trees are the second tallest tree species in North America after the Western Redwood and ahead of the Giant Sequoia which are bigger volume around but not generally quite as tall.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_superlative_trees

The Douglas Fir is actually quite an amazing tree and old growth straight grain Douglas Fir is among the best lumber you can find anywhere. The big old trees had tight straight grain which is great for lumber. The secondary growth trees that are mostly logged today tended to be faster growing so looser grain and not so structurally strong and they have more knots and stuff. It's actually not technically a fir tree either but it's own category and more closely related to the hemlock I think.

You can find redwoods around town and they grow fine here but they aren't native to this area so there aren't hundreds of year old redwood trees around in wild groves like you see along the northern CA coast.

[TheOrca]

Wow and 4th largest in the world!

Now I am starting to look into tree species. Douglas fir is really a unique tree. Sure there are some taller, but I like the giant christmas tree look of the douglas fir.

I think I am going to start growing some bonsai douglas fir trees now

[elkotronics]

There is a Western Red Cedar tree in Elk River (population 100), Idaho, that is located in the Panhandle of Idaho. It is a special Western Red Cedar because its size makes it the largest tree in North America outside of the Cascade Mountain Range. It's tall but its not its size that earns it its notoreity - it's its age. It's over 3,000 years old. This tree was already 500 years old when the Egyptians were building the pyramids in Giza. This tree is over 18 feet wide and 177 feet tall.

Yes, it's no match for the height of the California Redwoods or China's 10,000 year old trees, but it is something to see. It is fed by its own stream - its own personal water source.

[Ttark]

I used to like Biddlewoods (talk about local!) in the Cascade Park side. I quit going when it started becoming a "safe haven" for the local underage potheads. I went back there last spring for the first time in several years and a lot of the trails further in (past the beautiful creek and ivy meadows) were pretty petered out from lack of maintenence and use.

I've rediscovered Hamilton Mountain (summited it 2 or 3 times as a kid) and have hiked the ~8mi loop four times so far this year. It gets awfully gnarly near the summit but I never get tired of the views.

[StealthRabbit]

My 'double trunk' Doug fir was 212', it is not my tallest, But I see the Gifford research Crane was only 250', so... nearby I am probably similar. . I prefer the Hemlocks 60' - 80' but they are not as hearty as the Doug Firs. My biggest cedar is only 80 - 100'. I helped the neighbors take out very large Cedars via sky crane, they were gigantic with 5'-6' trunks (Our 48" Chainsaw was not long enough.)
https://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/h...son-air-crane/

Skamania Lodge is a great place to enjoy hemlock veneer finished wood panels and beams. I can't wait to be on the list when they 'remodel' and scrap the woodwork.! I did all our trim and open beams in clear hemlock, but not my walls! or ceiling (yet)

[Landslide84]

Don't know if it's too far out to be considered local but one of my faves is Ape Canyon at the base of St. Helens.

[DanceswithBeagles]

We always enjoy visiting Lewisville Park.

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by DanceswithBeagles

We always enjoy visiting Lewisville Park.

We finally visited Lewisville Park a couple of weeks ago. Its a nice place for a hike along the river and up in forests above.

Derek