June is Great Outdoors Month, and it's the perfect time to take a hike! Here in Oregon's Benton County, we have endless opportunities to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. 

Our real estate agents are excited to share our favorite easy hiking trails in the Corvallis and Albany areas. These trails offer incredible scenery and are ideal for hikers of all ages and fitness levels. 

• Bald Hill Nature Area - 6455 NW Oak Creek Dr, Corvallis, OR 97330
  About 5 miles of hiking trails wind their way through Bald Hill Nature Area, traversing prairie and oak savannas, mixed forests, and wetlands. The Mulkey Creek Trail, which stretches 2 miles between trailheads on Oak Creek Drive and Reservoir Avenue, can be hiked as a 4-mile out-and-back trail. Bald Hill Nature Area is located adjacent to the Benton County Fairgrounds, minutes from many Corvallis homes for sale. 
  
  
• Chip Ross Park - NW Lester Ave, Corvallis, OR 97330
  Spanning a little over 125 acres, Chip Ross Park is a beautiful area of restored oak forest and hilltop prairies. You can enjoy sweeping views from the park's 1.5-mile hiking trail, which is just north of Corvallis. The park was designed as an off-leash area for dogs, so it's a great place to bring your four-legged friends for a hike. 
  
  
• Beazell Memorial Forest - 37283 Kings Valley Hwy, Philomath, OR 97370
  The 586-acre Beazell Memorial Forest was donated to Benton County by Fred Beazell in 2000 and has become a favorite hiking destination for families with kids. Located in the temperate rainforest of the Central Oregon Coast Range about 10 miles west of Corvallis, the park includes an easy 3.9-mile loop trail that takes hikers through a diverse landscape of open meadowlands and lush forests.
  
  
• Talking Water Gardens - 577 Waverly Dr NE, Albany, OR 97321
  In Talking Water Gardens, innovative wetland science has been used to transform the landscape into a natural water treatment facility. Once cleaned wastewater leaves Albany's water treatment plant, it tumbles through a series of waterfalls and weirs in Talking Water Gardens, where it is cooled, oxygenated and naturally treated before being returned to the Willamette River. There are also several easy hiking trails that meander through the gardens around Albany homes for sale.
  
  
• Luckiamute Landing State Natural Area - NW Buena Vista Rd, Albany, OR 97321
  Made up of two parcels of land that total over 900 acres, Luckiamute Landing State Natural Area is a beautiful destination for both hiking and kayaking. The park is situated along the Luckiamute and Willamette rivers and features several easy hiking trails and paddling access. The 3-mile North Unit Loop, accessible via the North Trailhead, is a great place to start. 
  
  
• Takena Landing Park - 656 Albany Corvallis Hwy, Albany, OR 97321
  Takena Landing Park is just minutes from downtown Albany and encompasses a lovely forest of cottonwood trees, blackberry bushes, and ivy along the Willamette River. The Takena Landing Trail (sometimes referred to as the Eagle Trail) offers an easy 3.6-mile out-and-back hike alongside the river.  
  
  
• Simpson Park - 725 Waverly Dr NE, Albany, OR 97321
  With its shady, 3.2-mile out-and-back hiking trail, Simpson Park is a perfect place for an easy afternoon walk in a picturesque woodland setting. The park includes the ruins of a historic sawmill and is surrounded by mixed Douglas-fir and riparian woods that are home to a wide variety of bird species.

Contact us today to learn more about outdoor adventures in Benton County.