Trailhead: The end of Forest Lane off NW 53rd. This turns into Firelane 1.
What I listened to in the car: This American Life on the radio! They were playing a story from the new podcast
Invisibilia about
how expectations effect outcomes in our lives.
Companions: Just Tumalo!
Trails hiked on: Firelane 1, the Wildwood Trail and the Nature Trail
Miles hiked: 2.6 miles
Unique miles hiked: 2 miles
Total challenge miles: 8.7 miles
Weather: Very foggy and wet and muddy
Notes:
This is one of my favorite parts of the park and one I only found after a few years of exploring. I found the trail heads on SW 53rd quickly, but Forest Lane looks like the kind of road you shouldn't get to drive down if you don't have business there. Turns out, though, it's a trail head that gets you to some absolutely fantastic parts of Forest Park.
The day was very foggy and the trail very muddy, but it was still beautiful. After 6/10th of a mile along Firelane 1 you find yourself in a bit of an opening in the woods. There is one of those lovely maps where the Wildwood trail crosses Firelane 1. I turned left and walked down through the forest towards the Nature Trail. The trail descends gently and then drops down some switchbacks where you see the sign for the connector to the Nature Trail. If you continue down the Wildwood Trail a little bit further you can make a loop down the Chestnut trail and back up that is absolutely beautiful. I wasn't up for the down and up that canyon today, so I just made a smaller loop with the Nature Trail. The Nature Trail was muddy but busy today. There were lots of runners and families out enjoying the park. The trail winds its way up to the hill back to Firelane 1.
I plan to come back to this part of the park a number of times this year. In addition to doing the loop down the Chestnut Tail, I've never been down Firelane 1 all the way to Leif Ericson or the Wildwood back towards 53rd Ave. It's a gorgeous part of the park.
What I listened to in the car: Bruce Springsteen Rocky Ground
This is a bit of a hidden trail and not one I frequent. I noticed the sign for the trailhead one day when driving home from Lower Saltzman Road and have only hiked on it maybe two times since then. The path is the cleared right of way under a power line and it is steep and muddy in many parts. It also has some spectacular views of the mountains and Willamette River. 
Today I headed up the trail just a little bit before sunset. I only went a little ways up this time, but the views were spectacular. It was worth the slog in the mud - there were nettles! Spring has sprung!