Forest Heights Trails - Sword Fern (N) Traditional Cache

The Forest Heights Trails series of caches celebrate the trail network and all of the wonderful nature you'll see exploring the neighborhood.

The Tualatin Valley, including Forest Heights, was once occupied by the Atfalati (or Tualatin) band of Kalapuya Indians, who moved throughout the valley during the spring, summer and fall, spending winters in permanent villages along the Tualatin River and its tributaries.

In 1850, the Oregon Donation Land Act opened up land to homesteaders who claimed most of the Tualatin Valley within five years. Mill Pond, which is now a private park in Forest Heights, was the original mill pond for the Jones Lumber Mill, who logged cedar & oak trees from the land that is now Forest Heights. The Jones family sold their mill in 1869, which changed hands several times before closing in 1892. Mill Pond now serves as part of the Forest Heights Master Drainage Plan and still flows into the tributaries where the Atfalati wintered over.

Wildfires burned the West Hills, including parts of Forest Heights, as recently as the 1950’s. The idea of Forest Park Estates was formulated in 1969 as the brain child of four men: Homer Williams, Rob Bissell, Roland Haertl and Neal Marlett. A group of locals fought the project but in 1983 the Oregon Court of Appeals cleared the way for construction of Forest Heights Estates (later named Forest Heights). Williams sold off 601 acres of his share of the property to a corporate entity from the island nation of Nauru and in 1989 the development began in Forest Heights.

In its current state, Forest Heights consists of 1126 single family homes, 676 town home & condo units, 160 apartments and a small retail center. The Forest Heights HOA manages 215 acres of common area, including a park, playground and six miles of trails.

The Sword Fern Trail connects Norfolk Court to two points on Miller Road in a loose "Y" shape and makes for a nice 30-45 minute loop if you want to do the entire trail. There are a fair number of locals that walk in here for the natural beauty and to exercise their pets, so don't look too obvious!

Please use stealth and rehide with care, as the locations are easy to muggle!