Trail 8, also the North Bottomlands Loop, is a loop walk that starts at the North Parking Lot and leads (counter clockwise) through a floodplain forest along the Coast Fork of the Willamette River, then to the open Parrish Meadow to Frank Parrish Road where you walk west for about 1/4-mile on the gravel road surface along the south edge of Thompson Slough, once the Coast Fork's course!
Then the trail turns northward off the road, drops slightly and takes you through the slough on a wood-chip surface to Thompson Meadow. The trail surface becomes grass and bare earth as the trail turns east / right along the southern edge of the meadow. Passing the park's property corner, the trail enters Seavey Orchard Meadow, historical site of the Seavey Family's orchard. The Friends harvest fruit from the few remaining trees and donate them to local makers of jam, cider and beer!
The Trail 8 Loop then connects to the old gravel Buford Access Road and returns to the North Parking Lot along the western edge of Spring Box Meadow.
Please note:
1) You will notice gates in the park's northern property fence near the trail. Please do not trespass on the private property adjacent to these gates.
2) Also, please note the interior trail connections that offer opportunities for shorter loop walks. These connections, or trail spurs, connect to the gravel portion of Frank Parrish Road and to the Friends' Native Plant Nursery, both short distances from the North Parking Lot.
3) Please respect other park users. The Lane County Sheriff's Mounted Posse maintains a horse arena and a portion of meadow adjacent to this trail. Extra space near the trail is periodically needed for horse trailer parking during events there.
