Madrone Wall is considered to be the best year-round climbing site in the Portland metro area. The southwest facing cliff scarp of the Madrone Wall provides excellent sunny rock climbing opportunities throughout all seasons.
Access to the Madrone Wall site is presently CLOSED to all use. The Madrone Wall Preservation Committee and the Portland chapter of the Access Fund have helped to increase public awareness through political action concerning the long term viability of the Madrone Wall rock climbing site. How can YOU help to increase awareness? Your involvement and input at these Clackamas County meetings is very important. Be a partner in the process.
Contingent on Planning Activities and Funding (from Provisional schedule published by Clackamas County):
On October 22nd 2009, a hearings officer approved Clackamas County to move forward and allow for a conditional use (recreation) on a zoned timber site.
This is a positive move forward for the County before the Madrone site could become a park.
See Casefile No. Z0522-09-C Hardscrabble Quarry / Madrone Wall Park
The applicant (Clackamas County Parks) requests approval of a conditional use permit to establish a new County park referred to as Hardscrabble Quarry-Madrone Wall Park on 44 acres in the Timber zone.
Park operational hours will be from approximately 6am-9pm (April-October) and from approximately 6am-6 pm (November-March).
The park will be open and accessible from Hwy 224 for day use only.
Clackamas County Parks initiated a public concept planning process for the Hardscrabble Quarry site in spring of 2008 that gave the citizens an opportunity to comment on the plan.
The process and plan was completed / approved during the year 2009 by Clackamas County.
Aspects of the 'Concept Site Plan for Madrone Wall' park will include the following:
- A 20-foot wide gravel driveway along existing roadbed.
- Eight-foot wide gravel path to connect pedestrians to the Eastbound TriMet bus stop
- New entrance gate
- Gravel parking for 20 vehicles in the existing clearing at the east end of the entry driveway
- Passenger drop-off at northeast portion of the parking lot
- One vault toilet building near the parking lot
- Loop trails will typically be 4-5' wide and will be provided for a variety of skill levels and experiences (beginners, intermediate, and advanced expert trails)
- South of the proposed park area, a new quarter-mile ADA accessible nature trail will be developed to teach site visitors about the unique ecosystem of the Madrone Wall site
- Three types of signs will be utilized in the park: educational signs, interpretive signs, and an entry monument. A trailhead kiosk will feature information about the park and Clackamas County Parks
- Bike parking
- Stairs that provide advanced access to the top of the wall
- An improved overlook above the wall.
- It is estimated that approximately 50-100 people will use the park over the course of a day
1.) Clackamas County Board of Commissioners:
2051 Kaen Road, Oregon City, Oregon 97045, 503-655-8581
2.) Dan Zinzer: Director, Department of Business and Community Services (Parks Dept.)
Clackamas County, 9101 S.E. Sunnybrook Blvd., Clackamas, OR 97015, 503-353-4661
3.) Rob Smoot: Chair, Clackamas County Parks Advisory Board, c/o Dan Zinzer
FOR THE LATEST UPDATES:
Cascade Climbers website: http://www.cascadeclimbers.com
Access Fund RC Oregon website: http://www.accessfund.org
Madrone Wall Preservation Committee: http://www.savemadrone.org
Clackamas County: http://www.madronewall.com
Until the site is reopened, respect the Clackamas County 'No Trespassing' signs.