Tickle Creek Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Tickle Creek West Trailhead
- End Point: Tickle Creek East Trailhead
- Hike Type: In and out
- Distance: 3.6 miles
- Elevation gain: 150 feet
- High Point: 885 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Seasons: All year
- Family Friendly: Yes
- Backpackable: No
- Crowded: No
Contents |
Description
Sandy’s Tickle Creek Trail, opened to the public in 2011, runs south of the main part of town in a lovely cedar bottomland. While the area was logged over 100 years go, there are some large cedars and Douglas-firs shading the trail at its western end, which was acquired at a discount from the Iseli Nursery Family Trust. The trail roughly parallels Dubarko Road and uses its sidewalk for a short section. Six bridges cross the creek as the trail winds back and forth. The east end of the trail runs through a more recently logged forest with large nurse stumps sprouting western hemlocks. The account below describes the trail from west to east, but note that the eastern trailhead has better parking at a pullout off Dubarko Road.
There’s an obvious trail post opposite Yocum Loop that marks a wide gravel path which leads between yards across a wide footbridge over Tickle Creek. Tall western red-cedars distinguish this forest, with some large Douglas-firs and western hemlocks mixed in. Sword fern and wood fern dominate a lush understory although traffic noise from 362nd Avenue reminds you that you’re in suburbia. Cross the creek on the second big footbridge. Pass an old cedar stump protected by a notched rail fence. A second cedar stump has been split by a 100-year-old Douglas-fir that grew out of it. A side trail on the left leads back to Dubarko Road. Cross two more bridges over Tickle Creek before you reach Dubarko.
Make a right on the sidewalk, and cross Sandy Heights Street. Pass a few houses, and come to the play area at little Knollwood Park. A lumpy paved trail leads behind the park to reenter creekside woods. Cross a bridge over Tickle Creek, after which the trail becomes gravel again. Cottonwoods and alders begin to dominate. The trail crosses Dubarko Road, and braids around an alder-shaded pond. Follow the sidewalk on Dubarko for 25 yards before crossing the street to resume the trail in a blackberry thicket. Switchback, and hike a forested slope with numerous nurse stumps. Cross a sixth bridge (Bridge #5 – only the big ones are numbered) to reach the Tickle Creek East Trailhead. From here, return the way you came or wander through the neighborhoods.
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- Dogs on leash
- Park open: dawn to dusk
- Share trail with bicycles
- Stay on the trail: respect private property
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Tickle Creek Hike
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Tickle Creek Hike
- Tickle Creek Trail – First link in future PDX-Sandy network?
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- none
More Links
- Tickle Creek Park & Trail (City of Sandy)
- Tickle Creek Trail (Hiking Project)
- Tickle Creek Trail (Hike It Baby)
- Tickle Creek Trail (Team Kaufman)
- “Tickle Creek Trail in Sandy is first of what city hopes will be many trails” (Oregon Live)
- “Have you tried out the new Tickle Creek Trail in nearby Sandy?” (KATU)
Page Contributors
- bobcat (creator)