By PIP SWINGER | Staff Reporter
Ever heard of the Orange Loop trail? Of the 6 miles of labeled trails near WSU Vancouver, the most beautiful is perhaps the Orange Loop, a short 1.3 mile path that begins just down the hill from campus and winds around Mill Creek. e Orange Loop bobs and weaves its way through sunny, grasshopper-filled fields and cool sun-speckled woods on the WSU property, a reminder of why WSU Vancouver holds the title of a natural wildlife reserve.
A representative segment of the Orange Loop Trail. (Pip Swinger/The VanCougar)
To access this trail from campus, simply follow the path nestled between the Clark College building and the Life Sciences building. Cross the street once you’ve reached the bottom of the hill. Head straight down the sidewalk (along NE 159th Street) and there will be a Cougar trails map station. ese maps are notmarked with your location, but stick to this guide and you should be able to find yourself on the map every time. is marks the beginning of the journey down the Orange Loop.
Continue down the sidewalk, which is separated from the road by 20 feet of lawn. As you walk you may notice a number of trails cutting through the dense undergrowth to lead down into the heart of the woods – these interpretive paths are littered along the inner edge of the entire Orange Loop, most of them accompanying you down to the waterbank of Mill Creek. For curious individuals, it would be easy to stray, but try to keep on course. To stay on the path, walk along the sidewalk until you pass another trail map overlooking Salmon Creek. The first turn is near, at which point you should keep right and follow the bark chips. Another fork emerges; keep right and soon you’ll be led into the forest. Trees loom overhead, and behind them lies a small field blocked by blackberry bushes .
Coming out of the woods, you’ll come out into a flat grassy clearing with the WSU barn, indicating that the journey is almost halfway done. To continue along the Orange Loop, keep taking the trail to the right side of the gate and away from the barn. Just around the bend lies plenty of plants and trees with various name plaques, making it a great learning opportunity in plant identification.
After the rest stop, cross a wooden bridge that hangs over Mill Creek to appreciate its refreshing, quiet beauty. The section of Mill Creek that runs across WSU property is only maintained as necessary to keep the forest healthy without tampering with the native biogeography. is part of the creek is shallow enough that you can walk across the tops of stones that peek out of the water, and fallen logs create natural dams and waterfalls throughout the water.
Almost immediately after the bridge ends, the path lifts onto a wooden plank walking platform to escort you through the areas of the woods that are naturally swamp-like, especially in our rainy state. It is for this reason that the planks are coated in a slip-resistant substance to make them safe to walk on even in the rain, and overall easier for those who prefer to hike or jog in their everyday tennis shoes. Though the trail is often walked and maintained by the community and generally safe at all times of day, it is advised not to take this trail during times of low-visibility such as at night or during ice and snow conditions due to the roots and branches that have crept onto the pathway.
Not too long after the land bridge ends, you will see the final trail map. But before then, you’ll get an amazing view of the main section of the creek as the trail rises in elevation. Looking over the cliff the path is on, you’ll see beautiful, clear water. To get to the end of the loop and back onto campus take the left trail from the final map and find an old rope gate. Just keep to the right of the trail from here to another meadow at the bottom of the hill the campus sits on. After winding along the threshold where meadow meets forest, you’ll come back to the trail map where the hike began.
TIME REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE LOOP: 45-60 MINUTES.
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: EASY, ROLLING TERRAIN WITH SOME HILLS.