Sandy River Delta
When Meriwether Lewis and William Clark stepped foot on this delta, it was wild. Centuries later, the landscape changed dramatically.
A wide network of trails winds through this park sandwiched between two rivers, the Columbia River and Sandy River. Dogs are welcome to explore the park on a leash. Click here for more info.
Getting There
Located on the western end of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Sandy River Delta Park is an ideal destination for dogs (there are several off-leash areas) and mountain biking. It also boasts plenty of back trails to keep you feeling secluded and adventurous even on busy days.
This park grew from the efforts of local residents to preserve and restore the wetlands, forests, and streams in this region. The Forest Service has also worked to maintain cattle grazing, preserve sloughs, and restore the native habitat that existed here centuries ago when Meriwether Lewis and William Clark first encountered this place.
The 1889 topographic map detail, from Robert A Habersham’s “Multnomah County” shows the two mouths of the Sandy River and the Hunters Campsite of April 1, 1806. Today’s paved trail that passes through the area follows the approximate route of the old Wagon Bridge across the Sandy River, aligning with today’s Stark Street bridge crossing.
Hiking Trails
The wide, graveled paths at Sandy River Delta offer easy trails for walkers and dog owners. Wildlife, such as birds and rabbits, is abundant here. You can also see native trees like cottonwood, birch, and willow as well as grasses and shrubbery including reed canarygrass and blackberry.
The trails also appeal to mountain bikers who enjoy the park’s flat, smooth terrain. If you visit on a weekday, you’ll have a better chance of finding parking spaces than on weekends.
Some of the more active campers here are part of a volunteer program called HOPE, whose members clean up garbage and talk to people living at the Delta to learn about their needs. Caswell says the organization doesn’t support the idea of removing people from the Delta but she does support hosting tiny homes on the site that could act as transitional housing. Currently, the city is considering a plan to build a few of these houses on a plot of land that’s being used as an emergency homeless shelter. Discover More about Portland here.
Fishing
Located within quick driving distance of Troutdale, Gresham, and Portland this area is a great place to get out and enjoy nature. The trails, bird blind, and the river delta are all great destinations for hiking or mountain biking, but it also offers some excellent fishing opportunities. The salmon runs here can be good, especially in low-run years, and spring Chinook fishing can stretch later into the year than on some other rivers.
The delta consists of wooded wetlands with ponds, sloughs, bottomlands, woodlands, and prairies located around the two mouths of the Sandy River. There is a paved parking lot and a bird blind on site. Confluence staff and volunteers worked to create a beautiful trail through the area, including long stretches of low plantings that create a viewing corridor. Volunteers also worked to create a new and improved 1.1-mile gravel trail to the bird blind from the parking lot. Ongoing stewardship is important to make sure the site remains accessible and continues to thrive for years to come.
Hunting
The delta was a traditional hunting ground for generations of Native people. Today, the park is also home to an elliptical bird blind where the Sandy River meets the Columbia River near Troutdale OR.
A mile-long trail leads to the blind, where visitors can immerse themselves in a rich natural history. The Sandy River Delta Park is part of the Confluence Project, a National Forest Service riparian reforestation program that’s restoring wetlands and native species.
Fishing is popular on the river, where spring chinook and coho salmon can be found. Summer steelhead also runs up the river, and there are sloughs where trout can be found.
Waterfowl hunting is allowed in parts of the park, north, and east of the Bonneville Power Administration power lines. However, you’ll need to be properly licensed and follow state regulations. Browse the next article.
Driving directions from Rise and Shine Cleaning Service to Sandy River Delta
Driving directions from Sandy River Delta to Lewis and Clark State Recreation Site