Oxbow - Sandy River 12/10/2015 - Don't Overlook this Jewel!
Posted: December 10th, 2015, 6:16 pm
Hello Hikers!
Well, with tornadoes, flooding and road closures (Lions, Tigers and Bears...) occurring all over the place - I didn't want to drive on Hwy 26, I-84 (or really anywhere else for that matter) - but did want to go for a walk in the woods!! And then I remembered one of my favorite childhood areas - Oxbow Park!! Even though there had been a minor slide on Oxbow Parkway a few days ago - that had been cleared up, and the road was open without standing water or debris this morning!
I also wanted to see the Sandy River in the midst of all the excess water finding it's way to the Columbia!
Oxbow is a Regional Park (Oxbow Regional Park is it's full title) - managed by the Metro Council - along with other Metro facilities as varied as Glendoveer Golf Course and Fitness Trail to the Oregon Zoo.
You can find Oxbow at: Oxbow Regional Park, 3010 SE Oxbow Parkway, Gresham
Oxbow has an advertised 12 miles of hiking trails - I wasn't that ambitious, though, I just followed the Sandy River-side trail:
With a recreational area so close into residential areas - one might think it would be nothing more than a school playground - absolutely not the case!! I thought my little walk along the Sandy was as fulfilling as practically any other hike I've been on in the past few years - it was beautiful there this morning - and even managed to find a non-rain two hour period to boot!
Started my jaunt alongside a canyon waterfall: If you didn't know any differently, you could easily believe you were deep in some unpopulated river valley!
There were multiple side streams making their way down to the Sandy - but none of them flowed across the road, or the trail! And, yes, the Sandy is flowing HIGH! The river-side trail is in great shape! Although, on the trail headed up to Elk Meadow - I did see a closure sign, I'm sure there is some concern about slide potential on that particular trail - though if we get a few dry days the trail should re-open! As always - remember to look up and around: Water level is high - and you can clearly see the effects of erosion occurring in real-time: Oxbow is well signed - but not to the degree it detracts from the river/forest experience. So, if you, and the family, are looking for a nice hike - great river views and just an opportunity to feel a little secluded - even if current road and weather conditions don't allow you to safely get really secluded - Oxbow Regional Park may be just the place for you!
Happy hiking!!
Scott
Well, with tornadoes, flooding and road closures (Lions, Tigers and Bears...) occurring all over the place - I didn't want to drive on Hwy 26, I-84 (or really anywhere else for that matter) - but did want to go for a walk in the woods!! And then I remembered one of my favorite childhood areas - Oxbow Park!! Even though there had been a minor slide on Oxbow Parkway a few days ago - that had been cleared up, and the road was open without standing water or debris this morning!
I also wanted to see the Sandy River in the midst of all the excess water finding it's way to the Columbia!
Oxbow is a Regional Park (Oxbow Regional Park is it's full title) - managed by the Metro Council - along with other Metro facilities as varied as Glendoveer Golf Course and Fitness Trail to the Oregon Zoo.
You can find Oxbow at: Oxbow Regional Park, 3010 SE Oxbow Parkway, Gresham
Oxbow has an advertised 12 miles of hiking trails - I wasn't that ambitious, though, I just followed the Sandy River-side trail:
With a recreational area so close into residential areas - one might think it would be nothing more than a school playground - absolutely not the case!! I thought my little walk along the Sandy was as fulfilling as practically any other hike I've been on in the past few years - it was beautiful there this morning - and even managed to find a non-rain two hour period to boot!
Started my jaunt alongside a canyon waterfall: If you didn't know any differently, you could easily believe you were deep in some unpopulated river valley!
There were multiple side streams making their way down to the Sandy - but none of them flowed across the road, or the trail! And, yes, the Sandy is flowing HIGH! The river-side trail is in great shape! Although, on the trail headed up to Elk Meadow - I did see a closure sign, I'm sure there is some concern about slide potential on that particular trail - though if we get a few dry days the trail should re-open! As always - remember to look up and around: Water level is high - and you can clearly see the effects of erosion occurring in real-time: Oxbow is well signed - but not to the degree it detracts from the river/forest experience. So, if you, and the family, are looking for a nice hike - great river views and just an opportunity to feel a little secluded - even if current road and weather conditions don't allow you to safely get really secluded - Oxbow Regional Park may be just the place for you!
Happy hiking!!
Scott