I love this series already!  It’s been so fun to go back through my photos and decide which trails to share with you next!  Today, I’m sharing a trail that I absolutely LOVE in all seasons.  It’s one of the harder hikes we do, just because there is a lot of uphill, but it’s worth it because it’s beautiful at the top.  Schaad Park is nestled in The Greens neighborhood is southeast Newberg.  From Fernwood Road, turn north onto The Greens Ave, then take a right onto Hook Drive and follow it around the left hand curve as it turns into Eagle Street.  The park is on your right!

I like to park at the very south end of the park if I’m with my kids, so that we can take the stairs along the south end up into the park and directly into the trail, instead of having to walk past the playground.  Is it just us, or is it IMPOSSIBLE to walk past a playground?  Anyway, this trail gives you a choice: take the dirt path STRAIGHT UP, or use the paved switchback path to get up the hill.  It’s going to be tough, but at least it’s short!  And this is the hardest part of the trail, after this it’s all easy!  Power through!

At the top of the hill, you can choose to take the right hand turnoff and go through the small patch of forest, or continue slightly up the hill and go through the oak tree grove.  If it’s a hot day, we do the forest first for a shade break, but otherwise I like to go towards the oak tree at the left.  If you’re feeling adventurous, there’s a swing in the big oak tree at the top of the hill, off to the right of the path.

Then, the path is wide and downhill through the field.  I love this spot!  There’s a barbed wire fence along the east end of the park and a road right on the other side of the fence, so keep an eye on the kids, but the path turns south and follows along the fence here.

Oh, the wildflowers.

The path hooks again to circle the field and head back into the forest.  Head back down the switchback and then hit the park at the end!  Fair warning: this park has the tallest, FASTEST slide ever!  It’s 30 feet, stainless steel, and your kids WILL want to spend the rest of the day going down it if they’re anything like mine!  If you’re kid-free, head into downtown Newberg and enjoy one of the tasting rooms!  My favorite is Bravuro Cellars on College Street!

I love this trail for the view and the meadow, oak trees, and wildflowers at the top.  It’s strenuous at first but take the switchback and take it slow if you need to!  After that first bit, it’s an easy hike.  It’s only paved through the switchback, after that it’s packed gravel of varying widths.  It’s overall pretty safe for kids as long as they stay on the trail–no water or dropoffs or anything.

Have you done this trail too?  I want to hear about it!  Drop your experience in the comments!