As Winter sets in, Hoyt Arboretum takes on a more somber cast. The bare branches of deciduous trees jut harshly into grey skies, unadorned by soft leafiness. Clouds and mist often obscure the views, making even nearby trees nothing but ghostly outlines. Precipitation falls, trails get muddy, and the chill can nip at your nose.
But properly prepared, with the right layers of insulation and water-proofing, the Winter scene at Hoyt Arboretum still holds much wonder to discover and beauty to behold by the intrepid adventurer.
Lichens
Lichens cover almost everything in the Pacific Northwest. What appears to be moss on a tree is often actually lichen, a symbiotic organism involving fungus hosting photosynthetic algae and/or cyanobacteria. Lichens can add splashes of color to a dull and dreary day. Crustose lichens grow on rocks and tree trunks, and come in many colors. Look for frilly neon-green fruticose lichens on branches. Big, green, leafy Lobaria oregana goes by the names of lettuce lichen and Oregon lungwort. It is a foliose lichen that grows high in trees, but can often be found on the forest floor, especially after a windstorm.
Lichens come in many colors and can be useful indicators of forest health.
Skeletal Trees
If you want a green experience at Hoyt Arboretum, then take a stroll through the evergreens of our Conifer Collection (see the 1 hour and 30 minute loops).
But to see some of Winter’s starkness, then take in the trees that have lost their leaves in the Deciduous Collection. The drooping branches of the weeping beech trees make for some of the most interesting Winter viewing. Find them along the Beech Trail (marked dark grey on the trail map) down below the Visitor Center.
Just past the Beech Trees, the trail meets up with the Magnolia Trail. Some magnolias are deciduous, while some keep their leaves all winter. Many magnolias have cone-like seed pods on their branches, called follicles. When ripe, the follicles open and bright red or orange seeds appear.
The Winter Garden is always worth a visit this time of year. It can be found where the Beech Trail meets the Wildwood Trail. The Winter Garden is marked with a green 4 on our trail map.
Color Splashes
Heading up the hill from the Visitor Center parking lot, the Holly Collection presents both patterned leaves and bright colorful berries.
On the other side of the hill, where the Hawthorn connector trail skirts by the switchback of the Overlook Trail, there is a big planting of Cotoneasters. Cotoneasters are a genus of the rose family. Many of them have evergreen leaves and keep bright colorful berries all Winter long.
A bit further down the Hawthorn connector trail, you’ll find a clump of sumac with colorful cone-like red, hairy clusters of fruit called “drupes”. These may remind you of the magnolia follicles, but they developed differently. Just downhill from the sumac, more red berries are to be found on the mountain ashes and hawthorns.
Birds, including juncos, sparrows, chickadees, towhees, and robins are frequently found here feeding on berries through the winter months.
Snowberries
A native shrubby plant that loses its leaves but keeps its berries around into the winter is the Snowberry, Symphoricarpos albus, a member of the honeysuckle family. Its white berries are hard to miss along most of the trails of the arboretum. One particularly big specimen can be found on the Overlook Trail just above the Visitor Center parking lot.
Paved Trails
For those averse to getting shoes muddy, or prefer a more stable surface, there are several paved trails to choose from. The short paved loop around the Visitor Center allows for a quick preview of what the arboretum has to offer.
You can also explore the paved Overlook Trail or the Bristlecone Pine Trail.
Winter Hike Bingo
A fun way to see the Arboretum is to use our Winter Hike Bingo. Printed copies can also be picked up in the Visitor Center. You’ll be prompted to listen to a Douglas Squirrel, smell a winter-blooming flower, or pick up and examine a cone, among many other fun things.
A Safe Winter Visit
Winters are usually mild in the Pacific Northwest, which means that the trails are open and accessible most of the year. While there can be weather events that make things icy, a light rain and a little mud is most often the worst to contend with.
On those rare occasions that snow blankets the Arboretum, it can be a beautiful sight. But then, please exercise caution.
Here are some ways to prepare for a safe winter visit:
- Check the Recent Updates page on our website to find out the latest conditions.
- See if the Washington Park Free Shuttle is running.
- Visit Trimet’s Alerts page to see if buses and trains are running.
- Check the weather forecast so you know what to expect.
- Stop by the Visitor Center once you arrive to find out the latest (4000 SW Fairview Blvd). Plan Your Visit.
If it is icy, then be sure to dress in layers, wear traction devices on your boots, and bring poles for balance. Don’t head out if you are not prepared for the weather. And be especially careful crossing roads.
One of the joys of Portland is it’s mild winters. So long as you are prepared for some rain and and a bit of mud, then Hoyt Arboretum is a spectacular destination all year long.
About the Author
Greg Hill is a writer and naturalist with decades of visitor experience at Hoyt Arboretum. An avid hiker, he spent 10 years as a Northwest Mountaineer and Trail Guide. Greg volunteered for a year at the Visitor Center before becoming a Visitor Information Specialist for Hoyt Arboretum Friends.