| Bald Peak State Scenic Viewpoint | |
|---|---|
 Looking southeast from the park. | |
   | |
| Type | Public, state |
| Location | Yamhill County,Oregon |
| Nearest city | Newberg |
| Coordinates | 45°23′40″N123°03′18″W / 45.3945606°N 123.0551045°W /45.3945606; -123.0551045[1] |
| Area | 26 acres (11 ha) |
| Operated by | Oregon Parks and Recreation Department |
| Status | Day use only |
| Parking | Yes |
Bald Peak State Scenic Viewpoint is astate park located atopBald Peak located inYamhill County, in theUnited States. The day use only park offers picnic tables and a hiking trail for views of theWillamette Valley and theCascade Range. The state of Oregon acquired the 26 acres (11 ha) in 1931, after Yamhill and Washington counties requested a park from the state.
Bald Peak was acquired by the state in 1931 after county officials in Washington and Yamhill counties lobbied the state parks commission for a state park for the two counties.[2] The land was purchased from Samuel Otto on June 4, 1931, with the park originally named Bald Peak State Park.[2] During theGreat Depression, theCivilian Conservation Corps built picnic tables, restrooms, and a parking area at the site.[2] In the mid-1930s, an annual service onEaster began at the park, organized by local churches that continues to be held as of 2019.[3]
In 1939, the location was considered by the parks department as a memorial to the pioneer women of Oregon.[4] State officials decided against this location due to the lack of water and its isolated location away from major roads.[2] In 1996, the park was one of over 50 parks that theOregon Parks and Recreation Department proposed closing due to a state budget deficit that reduced funding for the department.[5] However, Bald Peak and the other parks remained open after political pressure forced the department to reconsider their plans.[6]
Bald Peak is on top of theChehalem Mountains at an elevation of 1,629 feet (497 m) above sea level, the highest point in the mountain range.[7] The closest community to the 26-acre (11 ha) park isLaurelwood, Oregon, with the park generally situated between the cities ofHillsboro to the north andNewberg to the south near the county boundary line between Yamhill andWashington counties.[8] At the park are restrooms, picnic tables, parking, a trail, a forest with Douglas fir trees, but no drinking water.[4][7] In clear weather, the park offers views ofMount Hood,Mount St. Helens,Mount Jefferson,Mount Adams, andMount Rainier.[7] The viewpoint also gives panoramas of theTualatin Valley to the north of the park and theYamhill Valley to the south, with both valleys being parts of the largerWillamette Valley.[4]
