Sandy River Crossing
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Hikes including this location:
- Ramona Falls Loop Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Muddy Fork Loop Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Yocum Ridge Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Paradise Park via the Sandy River Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Weather forecast: NWS/NOAA
- Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps
- Latitude, Longitude: 45.39082, -121.81222
- Elevation: 2700 feet
Description
The crossing off the Sandy River via the Sandy River Trail #770 has seen a series of "permanent" as well as temporary footbridges over the years, each one destroyed by the river on one of its flash flood rampages. The Forest Service has now declared that it will make the effort no more, and hikers into this area, part of the Mt. Hood Wilderness since 2009, will have to pick their own way. Because the river undermines its banks on a regular basis, there are usually toppled trees that offer an assist if you are game for a balancing act. (In 2016, for example, there were at least three such log bridges in the crossing area.) If you are not so inclined, then a ford may be in order (see Tips for Crossing Streams).
Bear in mind that there have been some fatalities at this location, the last in 2014, when a hiker was swept off the last footbridge and drowned. Do not cross if the water looks dangerously high: glacial silt will conceal the actual bottom and also the rolling rocks that are pushed downstream may cause you to stumble into the spate.
More Links
- "Police identify hiker who was swept to his death on the Sandy River" (Oregon Live)
- Mt Hood solo hiker drowned while crossing swollen Sandy River (Traditional Mountaineering)
Contributors
- User:retiredjerry (creator)