Oregon Hikers

Opening pic

We had high hopes of a trip up to Paradise Park today but the fickle Oregon weather dashed those hopes! In the end we decided on something local, we live only a mile from the "Back Door" officially called the Equestrian Trailhead into Oxbow Park. So setting off from home on foot we went to Oxbow Park.



The Equestrian Trailhead is at the end of Homan Rd. & drops quickly through the trees from 700'.



At junction I on the map above there is a trail that loops around Elk Meadow & rejoins the main trail down to the park at junction H. However of much more interest is a trail that they have taken off their maps it runs from Junction I downhill to intersect with the park road near B on the Map above. The trail is still perfectly passable, I don't know why they have taken it off the map as it makes a much better loop option & travels through some of the best woodland in the Park.


The Hidden Trail!


It be green in there....

Once we reached the Park road we crossed over & walked along the River Bank Trail.



We continued heading along the River bank trail to the boat Ramp & then on a little further to where you can see the Trees that were buried in sediment washed down by the 1781 Eruption of Mt. Hood. These tree snags started being unearthed a few years ago as the Sandy started to erode its bank next to the Park Campground.



We hiked past the Campsite's extensive Rule Board, one rule in particular would preclude me from camping here ...



We continued heading upstream towards the end of the riverbank trail just past junction J.



We then doubled back to Junction J & made our way to G through some lovely old forest.



Once we reached G it was up the main trail to Elk Meadow to complete the loop.



Once we reached Junction I again we came across what we think turned out to be just a well used game trail, we followed it for about half a mile or so to the boundary of the park through some lovely woodland before turning turning back.



On the way back up to the trail head we noticed some of the trail railings had date stamps, this one was dated 1952.



Once we got back to the house we noticed the Garmin had clocked 9.9 miles so we had to do a loop of the garden to push it over 10 ..



10 miles & home in time for lunch! A few more pics of the day here.

Guy,

That's pretty good distance and elevation gain for a nearby hike, I'll have to try that next rainy day as I'm not that far from there myself or at least with in biking distance. Nice photos and illustrative text, thx.

--Paul

I'll have to try that next rainy day as I'm not that far from there myself

I've lived within 2 miles of the Oxbow Park Equestrian Trail Head for the last 20 years Paul, this was my second visit ... It's so easy to ignore what's on your door step!

Guy wrote:We hiked past the Campsite's extensive Rule Board, one rule in particular would preclude me from camping here ...

Yes, camping without fireworks is worthless! I have only visited once, now I need to go back and look at the trees from 1781.

Yes, camping without fireworks is worthless!

Guy-san, it seems like it was very relaxing nice hike!
Very pretty there.
It seems like I won't be able to bring my boys but i'd love to try.

Thank you for sharing.

Chizuru

It seems like I won't be able to bring my boys but i'd love to try.

No dogs, no alcohol, no fireworks, it's a wonder that anyone goes there

10 miles and nearly 1700' EG recliner hike. That's quite a gem in your backyard! I've never been there myself.

Guy wrote:

It seems like I won't be able to bring my boys but i'd love to try.

No dogs, no alcohol, no fireworks no fun allowed, it's a wonder that anyone goes there

Guy,

Thanks for the delightful TR! Oxbow sure has changed since the first time I went there - We got $5/day for working there when the park was still being developed in the early 60's - (and glad to get it!)

Those trees from the 1781 eruption are very interesting and amazing what good shape they are in after so many years. Reminds me of the forest on the coast that ended up below sea level from land subsidence from a centuries old earthquake where the trees now appear and disappear in the surf with the shifting sand.

dn

I've got a question!

I've been looking into going to Oxbow to hike and camp for a night or two, but in my case, I would need to trek from the nearest tri-met stop to the park. Google Maps says it would be a 5 mile, 90 minute walk.

My question is, do they still make you pay the vehicle fee if you are walking in for just hiking or camping? The fee might just be forced on campers, but I don't know. Anyone happen to know?

Here's my blog entry on what I know so far: http://sociallyawkwardjellyfish.blogspo ... -from.html Any advice would really be great!