Covering 1,463 acres of forest, ponds, and open meadows, Lord Hill offers some of the best navigation west of the Cascade Mountains. It features rolling hills, a wide-ranging trail network, and enough navigable land to have back-to-back events on a 1:10,000-scale map with little to no overlap.

Though Lord Hill has north and south entrances, the club routinely uses the southern entrance for its ample parking and closer access to “the bowl,” an open, grassy area ideal for the arena-style finishes used in larger events.

Since 2014, Lord Hill has been the preferred location for the annual Bog Slog during the winter, and is often used for another event during the year as well.

Note: Samples of the map are provided here for educational purposes only; the map shown here is not kept up-to-date. The course shown is a Beginner/Intermediate course, and actual controls do not exist in the terrain.

The purpose of providing these navigational and physical ratings below is to provide greater context for how challenging an orienteering course at this venue might be. For example, an advanced-level course at a local city park will be easier to complete than an advanced-level course in the mountains.

Navigational Challenge Rating: 8

Lord Hill Park is mainly comprised of trails, trees, and ferns. Other than trails, there are few man-made features here. Some pockets of the park are trail-less, allowing advanced course design in which the only route options are completely off-trail. As the vegetation is relatively uniform, pace-counting can be a useful tool, while contour reading and compass skills will also be paramount when off-trail.

Physical Challenge Rating: 9

Lord Hill is a really big hill. Several of them, actually. Getting to the top is like the beginning of a roller-coaster ride when your car slowly climbs until it’s above the treetops.

Lord Hill is a popular park, so the trails are well-maintained (except for new ones, of course), and offer good footing. Surfaces range from hard gravel roads to soft single track. Off-trail, there are many tall ferns to contend with. In the early spring, stinging nettle grows in clusters; brushing against them will leave you with a tingling sensation for the rest of the day. To avoid these tingly nuisances, Lord Hill is best in the winter.