Tryon Creek State Park is a 670-acre forest located on the boundaries of Portland and Lake Oswego.

Although the canyon was first logged in the 1880's, the forest has naturally regrown into a lush stand of red alder, Douglas fir, big leaf maple, and western red cedar. Over 50 species of birds and many small mammals reside in the Park. Tryon Creek, home of crayfish, trout and other aquatic life, is one of the last unobstructed tributaries of the Willamette River in the Portland area and is located within a highly vulnerable watershed due to its urban location. The Park has 14 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails, as well as a Nature Center and open-air shelter that can hold up to 125 people.

In the 1960s, the forest was almost lost to the public and in 1969 plans were being made to develop part of this land for housing. Neighbors of the property came together and influenced Multnomah County to purchase 45 acres. At that time, the neighbors organized themselves into the Friends of Tryon Creek Park (the Friends) to help secure funds to save more land. Strategically, it seemed that the state park system was the best home for this complex property and in 1970, the state finally decided to incorporate the Tryon Creek canyon as a State Park. The State continued to buy more land until the original 645 acres were acquired.

At that time, the Friends agreed to develop and fund the Nature Center as a "thank you" for the support they received from the community. The then $180,000 Nature Center is still the focus of activities in the Park (it was remodeled to house our growing staff and programs in 2002). Due to the efforts of the Friends, the Park remains relatively pristine, with a third of the park free of invasive species with structures and trail signs held to a minimum. Tryon Creek State Natural Area (as it has been re-named) remains the only state park within a major metropolitan area, allowing the park to play a unique role in comparison to all other Oregon State Parks properties.