Growing up riding horses, biking and camping, Raines understands what people come here for, and how to help them find it faster.
“I get to combine all of those into one area right here and really expand and share these opportunities with other people in the area, which is great.”
Since joining the team in 2020, he has helped rebuild staff and restart programs, restoring the kind of on-the-ground knowledge that shapes a better visitor experience. “And it’s been really fun to get all that back started again,” he says.
One program that has been a popular draw for stargazers are the OMSI Star Parties. The parties are held once a month, June through September, in partnership with Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Rose City Astronomers and Oregon Parks and Recreation.
Ranger Jeremy Williams sees that experience from a different angle. Most visitors head straight for the campground, but he’ll tell you to go the other direction first. “I came out here for the unique opportunities that it provided,” he says.
Williams arrived three years ago from Milo McIver State Park, drawn by what makes Stub Stewart distinct.
Why Stub Stewart Stands Out
Visitors quickly realize the park offers more than they expected.
“There’s something here for everybody with the different recreational and camping areas,” Raines says. “They can catch it all here, and they get a little glimpse of different things, and they get to experience the park.”
That range, from mountain biking and hiking to camping, disc golf and wildlife watching, makes it especially appealing for an easy overnight, close to the Portland metro area but far enough to feel like an escape.
“We’re really close to the urban communities,” he says. “This is that interface for a lot of folks that get to experience camping and recreating for the first time outside of the city experience.”
For Raines, the reward is simple: watching that shift from urban to rural happen in real time, when visitors arrive unsure and leave with a story they didn’t expect to have.
Ranger Tip: Head for the Trail System
If you ask Ranger Jeremy Williams where to start, he won’t hesitate.
“There’s a historic railroad trestle that’s over 200 feet long and 80 feet off the ground. You can hike or bike across it, and it just offers stunning views of the surrounding trees.”
It’s one of the features that drew him to the park, and one that consistently stands out for visitors experiencing it for the first time.
Stay Awhile
Stub Stewart remains Tualatin Valley’s only full amenity campground, making it an easy place to turn a day trip into an overnight stay. Set at the base of the Coast Range, it offers cabins, tent sites and RV camping, along with miles of trails and access to the surrounding forest.
Raines encourages first-time visitors to slow down and explore. “Find a great spot, enjoy…meet the rangers, talk to the volunteers and staff that work here and try and find a trail or a section that you can just get out and hike and explore.”
Picnic and enjoy the wildlife and the forest in a park-like setting and enjoy, refresh and recharge.
It’s that combination of access, variety and a sense of discovery that keeps people coming back.
