Sandy River Delta — Attraction in Troutdale

Our family goes to 1,000 Acres Dog Park in the Sandy River delta at least once a month, especially during the warmer months. It's a spectacular space for both families and dogs, allowing for a broad range of activities and experiences, depending on your preference and the time of year. My family of four plays in the river during the summer, we bike there in all seasons, and take the dogs for runs in all seasons as well. A few things to know: Parking is VERY scarce. People used to be able to park along Crown Point Highway right before the parking lot entrance, but guardrails have since been installed, forcing people into the lot, or up the highway to the parking lots at I-84 and at Lewis & Clark. There's now a $5 day use fee that you can pay right from your smartphone. There are also spaces in the center that are labeled as "RV/Trailer Only," but of late I have not seen anyone getting ticketed for parking passenger cars there. The demand is so high, I can't imagine Friends of the Sandy River Delta giving up on the revenue. Just watch out that you don't get parked in! It being open and somewhat wild, with access from walking and biking paths, there is the potential for interaction with sketchy folks. I have heard anecdotes about run-ins with people who are less than friendly, but I have never had any bad interactions with anyone. The best practice is probably to stay on the highly-traveled paths and not wander off through the woods at the margins of the park. It being an off-leash dog area, you'll encounter dogs. Some of them will get up in your business and beg for snacks, others will be wet and dirty and stand on your picnic blanket. Plenty will shake that wet dirt all over you. If dog interactions aren't your idea of fun, maybe consider hiking...

BE CAREFUL if you take the .35 trail to the Sandy River!! This park is a great place to enjoy a beautiful riparian area and to take the dogs if you are prepared for the mosquitos in the warmer months. However, MAKE SURE YOU BRING YOUR FULLY CHARGED PHONE so you can refer to your google map to get out of there on the actual park trails.There is a maze of paths around the river and it is very easy to take the wrong one and end up in an acres-large, and frankly scary, homeless camping area! If you end up seeing tents, it can be quite confusing to get back to the parking lot. There are a lot of dead end trails and paths that lead to more and more homeless sites. If you start to see Forest Service "No Camping and No Fires" signs TURN AROUND!!!

I inadvertently took the wrong trail from the Sandy River where I and others were playing with our dogs (it was well trodden just like the main path). I ended up in the homeless area. It took me over 45 minutes to get out of there and back on the main trail after going down numerous dead ends that ended up in dirty awful places! This could be a very easy place to get mugged with no one to hear or see you! Consider pepper spray if you walk alone.

While trying to get out of this gauntlet maze I ran into another two people who had done the same thing. We walked together for safety. While trying to get back to the park we then encountered a mom and her kids who were walking into this area by mistake.

I contacted the park to suggest they put up some signs or markers to help guide visitors in how to get back. They were receptive to...

I want so badly to give this park a great review. I love the park itself, but a number of the dog owners can act pretty entitled. Even though there are signs clearly posted saying dogs must be leashed within 100 ft of the Confluence trail, no one abides by it. On two of my last three trips there, a large dog has jumped up on me, paws on my shoulders. The first time the owner got mad at ME and told me “oh, relax, he’s just a puppy!” for asking her to please keep her dog off of me. Also, waterfowl hunting is permitted within certain areas of the park, but many of the dog owners are not aware of this. I was out duck hunting last week and a woman called out to get my attention then proceeded to chastise me for hunting in a park where people have dogs. I explained under what parameters hunting was permitted, while she threatened to call the sheriff. The real irony of the whole thing is that the reason she saw me and got my attention in the first place, was because her dog (within 100 feet of the trail where leashes are required) was running down toward where I was situated, and the dog was off leash. So not only was she chastising me for what she, falsely, believed was against the rules, but she herself was not following a rule that is clearly posted throughout the park. Basically, there are a number of dog owners that frequent this park that seem to think the entire park is a place for their dog to go wherever, and do whatever, they please, ignoring the fact that the off leash dog park is part of a larger park intended for mixed uses, hunting, hiking, cycling,...