Wildwood Recreation Site — Attraction in Sandy

Didn't get any pictures this time because I was having too much fun!

This place is just under an hour away from Portland, it's a little hard to spot the sign from the road. We went on a Saturday and there were lots of staff to help facilitate directions and parking. My family went to join a large group that had reserved a sight. The parking does fill up, so if you are going with a large group it is best to carpool as much as possible.

The space we had was awesome! The picnic area was right next to the bathrooms and playground. There were basketball hoops and a nice large grassy field. The trees provided really nice shade and the bathrooms were really clean and nice for this kind of a park.

There are fees depending on the size of vehicle you drive. We bought our pass when we arrived and they were doing cards only, no cash. I believe you can purchase a pass online too.

I didn't get out of our area, but I believe there are hiking areas and scenic spots along the river. This is a great spot to get out of the city for a day or afternoon. It would be good for large groups or even just your family.

There are handicap parking spots, but like any place like this... Paths aren't paved and the ground won't always be smooth. The distance from the parking lots to the picnic areas depends on the specific sights. I thought it was a reasonable distance, but some with walkers might struggle.

I have lots of fond memories of this place and I'm just happy to say that it is really clean and has seen improvement and good upkeep since I was last there (maybe...

I feel like this place is an untapped gem of a spot!

Wildwoods is a BLM managed park just 50 east of Portland. It’s situated on the salmon river, with river access at multiple locations.

The grounds include a large field, baseball field, huge picnic shelters, ADA BBQ sites, playground, horseshoe pits, basketball courts, and volleyball! It’s group area is huge with plenty of parking!

A small drive away is the nature walk/stream watch area. A quiet, meandering maze of paved trails, hidden picnic spots, river access, and a boardwalk over a wetland habitat with an educational vibe to it. The trails are all mostly flat, paved, and easily accessible for anyone, including those that have mobility issues. The picnic shelters are scattered in between wooded grounds so they feel incredibly intimate. There are a plethora of bathrooms, water fountains, and trash cans. I’ve never seen this place graffitied, dirty, in poor repair, or anything but peaceful!

I think that makes the $5 parking fee per car well worth it for the upkeep.

If you want to get away from Portland for the day but not be too far away, you will like it here.

If you love nature hikes, picnics, playing in the river, homeschool field trips, or just a forest day, COME HERE!

If you play POKÉMON GO, this place is a stop and gym hot spot.

And did I mention the Stream Viewing Window?!?

Also, it’s often 10 degrees cooler up here than...

I've been coming here for decades and enjoy it every time. It's a quiet place to hike just off HWY 26. During the peak hours/weekend around the summer time can be crowded. However, there's plenty of parking to go around. There's a $5 entry fee (Card only) at the front entrance of the park. Be sure to display it on your windshield after payment.

The trails themselves are paved and well-maintained. Some trails that lead to the Salmon Creek river are not paved. They're relatively easy to get to, but use caution.

Dogs are welcome but must be on leash the whole visit. Additionally, there are on-site bathrooms throughout the area. The main bathroom is located at the parking lot.

If you're interested in having a gathering or picnic, there are dozens of picnic areas with a charcoal grill and picnic benches. Throughout the park, there are trash bins for your convenience. Be sure to leave the park cleaner.

There's an additional trail called the Wetlands which is also paved and has a boardwalk throughout the area. This displays the wetland nature of the PNW.

If you and the family want to escape the city, enjoy peace, come to Wildwood. Grab a snack/lunch and stay a while. You won't...