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A slow river curving through wetlands, a lake with a fountain at its center and a mastodon in the public library: Tualatin offers more surprises than most Portland suburbs. The city of about 28,000 lies along the Tualatin River roughly 12 miles south of downtown Portland, where Interstate 5 meets Oregon 217 and the I-205 loop.
The Atfalati, a band of the Kalapuya people, lived along the river long before settlers arrived. The farming hamlet once called Bridgeport and Galbreath was incorporated as Tualatin in 1913. In 1962 students uncovered a nearly complete mastodon skeleton nearby, and the Ice Age floods that shaped the land are now traced by the Tonquin trail.
Today visitors find the Tualatin Commons with its lake and restaurants, riverside parks with canoe launches, and the Bridgeport Village shopping center. Each October giant pumpkins become boats in a popular regatta. The Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Willamette Valley wine country and the city of Portland are all within a short drive.
A walkable plaza built around a small man-made lake with a fountain, lined with restaurants, a hotel and a path for strolling. In summer kids splash in the interactive fountain and concerts and movies fill the lawn. Grab a meal on a lakeside patio, and come back in October for the pumpkin regatta.
The skeleton of a mastodon dug up in 1962 by local students in a Tualatin wetland, now displayed inside the Tualatin Public Library. Panels explain the animal and the Ice Age floods that shaped the region. Viewing is free during library hours, and children's programs often feature the city's favorite fossil.
A small history center run by the Tualatin Historical Society in a former church building, with exhibits on Atfalati life, pioneer farms, the old river ferry and Tualatin's mastodon. It hosts talks and community events through the year. Opening hours are limited, so check before visiting.
A riverside park on the site of a historic ferry crossing, with a canoe and kayak launch, wetland trails, picnic tables and a community garden nearby. It is one of the easiest places to get onto the gentle Tualatin River. Bring binoculars for herons and ducks, and launch early on summer days.
The city's main riverside park, with a boat ramp, sports fields, a skate park, play areas and shaded picnic spots along the Tualatin River. Trails connect east along the river greenway. It is a good base for walks, and the Ki-a-Kuts Bridge leads straight across the river to more trails and parkland.
A graceful pedestrian and bike bridge over the Tualatin River linking Tualatin Community Park with Cook Park in Tigard. It is named for an Atfalati leader and forms part of the Tualatin River Greenway trail. Walk out to the middle for calm river views, especially in autumn when the trees turn color.
A mapped paddling route along one of Oregon's gentlest rivers, with launches in Tualatin's parks and quiet stretches past wetlands and oak groves. Beginners find the current easy in summer. Rent or bring a kayak, check water levels before you go, and watch for beavers, herons and turtles near the banks.
A national wildlife refuge just west of Tualatin on the edge of Sherwood, protecting floodplain wetlands that host thousands of waterfowl in winter. A visitor center, viewing decks and a year-round trail loop make it easy to explore. Some trails close seasonally for wildlife; bring binoculars and dress for rain.
A regional trail through the Tonquin Geologic Area between Tualatin, Sherwood and Wilsonville, crossing scablands and kolk ponds carved by the Missoula Floods at the end of the last Ice Age. Interpretive signs explain the geology. Several segments are open; start from a trailhead in Tualatin for an easy walk.
An outdoor shopping and dining center at the eastern edge of Tualatin, with brand-name stores, restaurants, a cinema and landscaped walkways. Oregon's lack of sales tax makes it popular with visitors. It gets busy on weekends and during the holidays; parking garages are free.
A quirky October festival on the lake at Tualatin Commons, where costumed paddlers race in hollowed-out giant pumpkins weighing hundreds of pounds. The day includes weigh-offs, food stalls and family activities. Arrive early for a spot along the lake edge, as crowds gather quickly for the races.
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Log in to add photosPhoto: M.O. Stevens, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: FlowerCrow, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Steve Morgan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Steve Morgan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Loren Kerns, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: OregonDOT, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: M.O. Stevens, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Han Zheng, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Photo: Han Zheng, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: M.O. Stevens, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: M.O. Stevens, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: M.O. Stevens, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: M.O. Stevens, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: M.O. Stevens, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: M.O. Stevens, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: M.O. Stevens, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: M.O. Stevens, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: M.O. Stevens, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: M.O. Stevens, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: M.O. Stevens, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: M.O. Stevens, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: M.O. Stevens, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Steve Morgan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Steve Morgan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Steve Morgan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
