Photo: Tideway Creative

Picture yourself on a forest trail, the air cool and fresh beneath towering evergreens. Just 10 miles away? A city skyline. Thanks to Trust for Public Land, 3,110 acres of Tualatin Mountain Forest in Oregon are now permanently protected and open to everyone. 

Once available only to paid visitors, this network of more than 40 miles of trails is now a public treasure for hikers, bikers, birders, and explorers of all ages. It’s where kids learn to care for the land, wildlife thrives, and clean water flows through miles of creeks and headwaters.

And thanks to a special partnership with Oregon State University, this forest will also serve as a living laboratory—advancing research in forest health, climate resilience, and habitat restoration that can benefit communities nationwide. 

Tualatin Mountain Forest isn’t just a local treasure—it’s a model for conservation across the country. Protecting it safeguards wildlife corridors, keeps water clean, and gives more people access to nature close to home.  

That’s what National Public Lands Day is all about: ensuring that special places stay wild, welcoming, and protected for generations.

See you on the trail, 

Your friends at Trust for Public Land 

How important is it to you to protect nature close to home?