By 1960, use of the rail line along Johnson Creek had declined and passenger service was discontinued.
By 1990 the City of Portland bought much of the corridor.
Working with Metro, it created the Springwater Corridor Trail, a 21-mile (34 km) bicycle and pedestrian rail trail that follows the creek and extends from the Willamette River to Boring.
It became part of the 40-Mile Loop, a hiking and biking trail that circles the Portland metropolitan area and intersects with similar trails.

Creekside parks include Johnson Creek Park, about 4.5 acres (18,000 m²) of natural areas and paths; the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, along Crystal Springs Creek; Tideman Johnson Natural Area, about 7.2 acres (29,000 m²) of natural areas and paths; Leach Botanical Garden, about 16 acres (65,000 m²), a public garden dedicated to the study of botany and horticulture with an emphasis on plants of the Pacific Northwest; Beggars Tick Wildlife Refuge, a wetland of 20 acres (81,000 m²); Powell Butte Nature Park, about 608 acres (2.46 km²) on an extinct cinder cone volcano, including natural areas and hiking, biking, and equestrian trails; and Gresham's Main City Park, about 18 acres (73,000 m²) including sports fields, picnic areas, and trails.

In 2007 Metro bought two parcels of land totaling 102 acres (410,000 m²) for preservation adjacent to Johnson Creek on Clatsop Butte, south of Foster Road near Powell Butte and Portland's Pleasant Valley neighborhood.
The purchases cost $10.9 million, drawing on bonds approved by a 2006 ballot measure.
They were praised by conservationists but questioned by others who thought Metro had paid too much.
By 1960, use of the rail line along Johnson Creek had declined and passenger service was discontinued. By 1990 the City of Portland bought much of the corridor. Working with Metro, it created the Springwater Corridor Trail, a 21-mile (34 km) bicycle and pedestrian rail trail that follows the creek and extends from the Willamette River to Boring. It became part of the 40-Mile Loop, a hiking and biking trail that circles the Portland metropolitan area and intersects with similar trails.
Creekside parks include Johnson Creek Park, about 4.5 acres (18,000 m²) of natural areas and paths; the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, along Crystal Springs Creek; Tideman Johnson Natural Area, about 7.2 acres (29,000 m²) of natural areas and paths; Leach Botanical Garden, about 16 acres (65,000 m²), a public garden dedicated to the study of botany and horticulture with an emphasis on plants of the Pacific Northwest; Beggars Tick Wildlife Refuge, a wetland of 20 acres (81,000 m²); Powell Butte Nature Park, about 608 acres (2.46 km²) on an extinct cinder cone volcano, including natural areas and hiking, biking, and equestrian trails; and Gresham's Main City Park, about 18 acres (73,000 m²) including sports fields, picnic areas, and trails.
In 2007 Metro bought two parcels of land totaling 102 acres (410,000 m²) for preservation adjacent to Johnson Creek on Clatsop Butte, south of Foster Road near Powell Butte and Portland's Pleasant Valley neighborhood. The purchases cost $10.9 million, drawing on bonds approved by a 2006 ballot measure. They were praised by conservationists but questioned by others who thought Metro had paid too much.
Johnson Creek (Willamette River tributary)