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    Old Salmon River Trail

    5.0 (18 reviews)

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    Katelin K.

    Gorgeous hike for the whole family. Fairly easy but bring waterproof boots because there are some wet areas. Everything about this trail was beautiful!

    Mark N.

    A wonderful 13+ mile one-way trail around 1600-3400 feet at elevation. Great views of old growth forest and the Salmon River. Lots of birds, deer, and other wildlife. To reach the WEST end of the trail from Portland, travel 17.3 miles east of Sandy on US Hwy 26. Turn right (south) on Salmon River road and follow it for 5 miles to the parking area. The trailhead is on the left (east) side of the road just north of the bridge. That's where we started. Note there were no bathrooms there like there are at many trailheads. This trail climbs from the edge of Salmon River to a bluff with several view points and follows the north shoulder of the river. The climb is not steep and the overall hike is generally easy. However, everything is often wet due to rain and the river so prepare accordingly. Overall we really enjoyed this hike and it was easy to access the trailhead via car.

    Quinn A.

    We took the trail a little further up the road and hiked to the top of salmon butte. It's a difficult 12.8 mile up and back, steady incline the whole way. There were low clouds, a bit of snow still at the top. Chilly, about 50 degrees, but no wind. Great hike, soft cushiony PNW pine needles and moss. Lots of slugs and bugs, flowers, birds. Loved it.

    Old Salmon River Trail.
    Miguelito C.

    My girlfriend and I just recently hiked a small portion of this trail as we got there later in the day . Let me say just the 2 miles that we hiked you can't get much better interns of beauty and a awesome natural setting! It's an easy hike, child friendly along side the rushing river water! So much can be had here, just have to go and be!

    Don B.

    This is an excellent hike that starts down along a roadside just south of Welches and ends deep in the Huckleberry Salmon Wilderness. The hike is split into three sections - Lower (Old) Salmon River, Central Salmon River, and Upper Salmon River. Take Hwy 26 to Salmon River Rd (at the Subway in Welches) and go south about 4-5 miles. For the Lower trail, park at the where you see a trailhead on the right. I haven't hiked this section of the trail but you can see it from the road as it follows the river paralleling the road for about 2.6-2.9 miles. Then it crosses the road right before the bridge over the river. This is where you park for the Central and Upper Salmon river hikes. The Central hike starts out at the bridge over the Salmon River and follows up the North side of the river on a gently rolling trail for about two miles. This section of the trail is easy, with bridges over the side streams, lots of old growth forest and lush green moss, plenty of poison oak (watch out for it) and a ton of great river access spots. This section is worth it for the old growth alone. So pretty. Half way in you enter the federal wilderness area and need to fill out a permit (May-Oct). You can't miss the sign. Soon after this spot there is a campsite just off the trail near the river. At two miles in you hit Rolling Riffle campsites, about two or three, for backpackers. At this point the trail ascends about 700-1000 feet over the course of one mile to a pretty epic viewpoint over the Salmon River Valley. The terrain is tall trees, with a few meadow viewpoints. From here you can keep going another mile or so to Goat Creek, which has another campground with enough space for a few sites.On the way you'll have to cross a few creeks with no bridges. Be good at rock-hopping or tree balancing, or you'll get wet. Goat Creek is as far as I've gone, however the trail continues on up many more miles to Upper Salmon River, and eventually ends at another road (so if you have transport, you can through hike). The 5.5 miles or so to Goat Creek is a good moderate day hike for backpacking, with ample water sources and not too much elevation. Along the way between the first meadow viewpoint and Goat Creek, there are a couple of cut-downs from the trail to other view points. The bluffs have pretty sketchy spots. Be careful. Our stay at Goat Creek was great. Early spring brought a lot of solitude (only saw one hiker on the way in), but not so great weather. A lot of rain turning to a surprise inch+ of snow. Even in mid-April. Come prepared for wetness. No viable firewood (shouldn't really be having big fires in wilderness anyway). Didn't see much in the way of wildlife. The roar of the creek provides a great source of white noise to help compensate for the air traffic coming across overhead (which I didn't expect). That aside, I can't say anything bad about this spot. Seclusion, fresh cold water, ample camp space (I hear it gets crowded in summer), moderate hike in, great views, old growth... just what I want from a PacNW camping trip.

    F H.

    The Old Salmon River Trail was beautiful. The river kept the warm day feeling really cool. The tree coverage was very pretty. The hiking trail itself is pretty flat and easy going. If you keep walking past the bridge you come upon Salmon River Trail which is a little steeper but gets you to larger areas of the river. We were able to capture shits of large salmon, which was a nice treat. Overall, our hike was probably 5 miles round trip and took about 3 hours walking leisurely.

    April J.

    This was an amazing hike and was only about 45 minutes to drive to from Portland. The first two miles of the hike are gentle and easy going through old growth forest along the Salmon River. You sort of feel like you're walking through one of the scenes in the movie the Hobbit. It's really magical. After about two miles the trail starts going up and continues up for another two miles. This is a more moderate hike but you end up on the top of the world with truly gorgeous vistas. I included a couple of pictures of it on my profile. Directions: Just head up hwy 26 toward Zigzag. Turn Right at the Subway Sandwich restaurant on Salmon River Road. Drive about 5 miles and park at the bridge. The Salmon River Trail is on the east side of the road and is different from the Old Salmon River Trail on the opposite side of the road.

    Ethan D.

    Im an avid oregon hiker and this is by far my favorite hike so far. It's easy enough that you can focus on scenery and not how out of shape you are. It's the perfect length. It showcases some of the most beautiful forest in Oregon, it's like walking through a scene in the Lord of the Rings, the audible river you hike beside provides a wonderful sound, and it's usually not too crowded. It's also conveniently located close to a few great Zigzag spots to grab a drink and some food after your hike. I recommend Wrapitude, Skyway BBQ, and the Zigzag Inn if you seek breakfast food.

    Salmon river
    Kelly K.

    This is a small hike downhill to get to the trail by the river. At that point, there is some small incline and decline hiking but it's easy enough. You do have to keep your eyes out for rocks and roots sticking up from the ground as the path is very rocky and uneven with many trip hazzards. There is also a step incline about two thirds of a mile in so this is all around not good for those with limited mobility. There are some massive, old growth trees along this trail. If you can walk the length of it, to the end (2.2 miles) there is a small waterfall. We walked on a freezing cold day so we didn't make it that far, but the mild rapids and path we did walk was all beautiful. It's worth the drive from the Portland area to walk this hike. There is free parking for about ten created pull-in spaces beside the narrow road, as well as some areas just past there where you can easily pull off the road enough to park in the dirt. If you go down further, you can pay to park from what I've been told.

    Cheryl P.

    This is an awesome trail along a river in the mt. Hood forest with beautiful views, walking through the forest is so serene and peaceful here. Very popular trail amongst the locals!

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    11 years ago

    Beautiful old growth forest and great views of the river. Friendly hikers, too! :) I'll post

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    Ask the Community - Old Salmon River Trail

    Review Highlights - Old Salmon River Trail

    Turn right (south) on Salmon River road and follow it for 5 miles to the parking area.

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    Maddax Woods Park - Arbor in full bloom

    Maddax Woods Park

    4.5(8 reviews)
    33.1 mi

    On a sunny day this not so hidden gem is a refuge from the bustling city although it's in the…read moremiddle of an upscale neighborhood in west Linn you can't tell it's quiet secluded and a pleasant experience to indulge in nature or read a book. I've seen lots of wildlife here from eagles to deer and much more

    'Tis the season to enjoy Maddax Woods Park…read more Like many parks in West Linn, a group of volunteers aid the city with seasonal displays and activities to make each public park a little unique. At Maddox Woods that means this is the 10th year of the Lighting of Maddax Woods, a seasonal light display and a wildlife scavenger hunt for the kids. There are 36 animals (woodcuts) throughout this 7 acre park along the Willamette River to try to find during your visit. This is a natural park and nature trail that is part of the Willamette Greenway Trail and when you head up the hill and cross the bridge that trail connects you to Burnside Park. Thanks to land donations to the city by early West Linn families there is a lot of open space along the river to enjoy with your human and canine companions. This location is also a prime spot for birders to view one of the largest heron rookeries in our area, that is across the river on Goat Island. This park is pretty hidden and I only discovered it a couple of years ago when you head downhill from the West Linn Public Library. It is more of a nature preserve and walking park without a playground or other amenities. There is a handicapped accessible porta-potty near the entrance. The volunteers sell Christmas trees for $20 to help fund their activities throughout the year. They also have a monthly work party to help maintain the space. You can contact the Friends of Maddax Woods here: http://westlinnoregon.gov/parksrec/friends-maddax-woods. ---- The Lighting of Maddax Woods - 4-9 pm November 16 - December 31, 2013.

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    Maddax Woods Park
    Maddax Woods Park - Beautiful

    Beautiful

    Maddax Woods Park

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    Camassia Nature Preserve - Sea blush

    Camassia Nature Preserve

    4.4(11 reviews)
    33.2 mi

    Beautiful trail through nature anytime of the year, but absolutely stellar mid to late April and…read moreMay when the field's namesake, the blue camas, are in bloom and and along with other wildflowers, blanket the fields I'm soft shades of blue, pink, purple and yellow. It's spectacular! There are lots of other wildflowers, too, so keep your eyes out for the many tiny varieties. There's pink sea blush, western yellow buttercup, Oregon grape, pink purslane, trillium (even plum colored ones,) saxifrages and more. I even spotted a handful of white camas amongst the thousands of blue. It's a gorgeous walk, immersed in nature, with birds chirping, bees doing their pollinating thing, butterflies, squirrels, hummingbirds, and even turkey vultures flying above. There are also osprey. Its's an easy trail, .8 miles if you stay in the main loop. With just slight elevation in a few places and sometimes narrow areas, the vast majority of people, including kids, will find it an easy, pleasant walk. The trail itself is dirt and wood chips, and definitely some rocks and basalt in places, with wooden planks guiding you through the pastel wildflower prairies. However, if you require a cane or walker, this trail can be challenging in some parts. I'm using a cane due to labral tear, and the few places where there were slightly steep rocky paths, I waited until a passerby came by and asked for assistance. Fortunately fellow hikers were kind and happy to lend a hand or shoulder. There was a group of four with walkers and canes and they only made it a third of the way and had to turn back. In some parts the path is too narrow or too steep for a walker. The nature reserve is at the end of a neighborhood street so on a weekend in April or May when wildflowers are in bloom, parking is challenging. Definitely go on a weekday if your schedule permits. There is a porta potty on site. And a volunteer on the path should you have any questions about the wildlife and plants you encounter. Dogs are not allowed.

    I love this hidden gem of a nature park! My family has come here to see the spring camas and…read moreseablush show a few times now, and we have a great time. Need to know: One-way trail, loop but connects to the high school and wilderness trail too Steep incline at beginning Can be muddy fall to spring Great signage Lots of Oregon natives Sensitive habitat, so stay on trail! Great views Yakima basalt formations Parking is extremely limited, and the reason I removed one star

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    Camassia Nature Preserve - Camassia quamash

    Camassia quamash

    Camassia Nature Preserve - The pond

    The pond

    Camassia Nature Preserve

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    White Oak Savanna Park

    White Oak Savanna Park

    5.0(2 reviews)
    34.8 mi

    This is my favorite park as the native trees and grasses combined with the no dog policy makes it…read moreperfect for wildlife lovers. I've hiked plenty of state parks in the region that were much larger, but I have never seen or heard so many birds at a park in the Portland region. The park is located right above I-205 so it's not quiet like other state parks, but that's not the reason you would visit here. You're here to see what the Willamette Valley looked like a couple hundred years ago before people of European descent arrived. This region used to be filled with Oregon White Oaks. We've lost about 99% of this species in the region and the associated meadows that went with them. Once you see how many birds, butterflies, and other insects relied on this type of habitat, you'll realize how important native oak trees are to our region, which will hopefully cause you to plant Oregon White Oaks on your own property and help restore the Willamette Valley to its former condition. Thank you to all the people that saved this savanna from development and keep it pristine for the native wildlife of our region.

    This is a nice trail to walk through, there are white oak trees that have been on the land for 400…read moreyrs. And more then 100 different species of vertebrates have been identified in the area. 20 acers preserved as a natural sight. You can bring a picnic or sit and rest on one of the benches. Such a beautiful place to enjoy nature. Thanks Roberta & Ed for all your hard work and dedication.

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    White Oak Savanna Park
    White Oak Savanna Park
    White Oak Savanna Park - The only covered shelter

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    The only covered shelter

    Willamette Valley Tour - Coeur De Terre Vineyard

    Willamette Valley Tour

    5.0(8 reviews)
    38.5 miSouth Portland, Southwest Portland

    In preparation for our first trip to the Willamette Valley, I did a lot of research and reached out…read moreto A LOT of tour companies. Once I connected with Proprietor Paul Tsiorba at Willamette Valley Tours, I felt that I had found a real partner in planning. He was responsive, insightful, and so easy to work with. Before even leaving home, we felt we were in good hands. And when our vacation was over, we knew we had made the right choice. Our trip to WV, OR was unforgettably fun and completely relaxing all at the same time. Paul bills himself as "Director of Awesome Experiences" and you might think that is hyperbole...until you book and tour with him! Thank you Paul, and Lova, for taking us all of the places we were sure to enjoy, for knowing the answers to every question, for respecting our time and our money, and for your genuine hospitality. You two are real ones!

    Came up for a trip this past weekend with my girlfriends and decided to do a wine tour of…read moreWillamette Valley. Paul was recommended by our concierge at Dossier Hotel. We had a great experience with him on our tour. He was on time, friendly, knowledgeable, flexible and accommodating. Paul had a great line up of which wineries to take us to, and also had a great recommendation of where to pick up lunch and even pre-ordered for us. It was definitely a great experience and made our trip better. Thank you Paul!

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    Willamette Valley Tour - Stoller Family Estate

    Stoller Family Estate

    Willamette Valley Tour - A fun day of wine touring with this awesome group @ Elevee Wines

    A fun day of wine touring with this awesome group @ Elevee Wines

    Willamette Valley Tour - A vineyard picnic for a couple and a Husband and Wife to be! Congratulations and what a fund day!

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    A vineyard picnic for a couple and a Husband and Wife to be! Congratulations and what a fund day!

    Old Salmon River Trail - hiking - Updated May 2026

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