Just off the trail down a silty embankment, the Sandy River sat glassy in the bright morning light. Looking north, to its confluence with the Columbia River, I raised my camera to capture the scene.
Just as my finger pressed the shutter – THUMP THUMP SPLASH – in the corner of the frame a big white dog appeared, panting happily in the shallows of the river. A high-pitched whistle sounded from the trail. The dog raised its head and bounded off, gone as suddenly as it had arrived.
More than perhaps any other natural area in Oregon, Sandy River Delta really is for the dogs, seemingly as popular among canines as people. On Thursday morning, under a clear summer sky, dogs at the park outnumbered the humans, coming down the trail as many as six to a person.
It should be noted that Sandy River Delta, also known as Thousand Acres, is not explicitly a dog park. Managed by the U.S. Forest Service, it is promoted as a “key viewing area” near the mouth of the Columbia River Gorge, open to hiking, biking, fishing, wading and horseback riding. Dog owners visiting the park are asked to keep dogs under control, which includes not letting them dig holes and keeping them on leashes in the parking, bathroom and picnic areas, as well as on the Confluence Trail that runs through the middle of the park.
Sandy River Delta is a park at the confluence of the Sandy and Columbia rivers, at the west end of the Columbia River Gorge. While hikers can enjoy many winding trails, the delta is perhaps more popular as a natural playground for dogs, who are allowed off-leash in many parts of the park.Jamie Hale/The Oregonian
Sandy River Delta is a park at the confluence of the Sandy and Columbia rivers, at the west end of the Columbia River Gorge. While hikers can enjoy many winding trails, the delta is perhaps more popular as a natural playground for dogs, who are allowed off-leash in many parts of the park.Jamie Hale/The Oregonian
Sandy River Delta is a park at the confluence of the Sandy and Columbia rivers, at the west end of the Columbia River Gorge. While hikers can enjoy many winding trails, the delta is perhaps more popular as a natural playground for dogs, who are allowed off-leash in many parts of the park.Jamie Hale/The Oregonian
Located at the confluence of the Sandy and Columbia rivers, the park is home to an abundance of wildlife, including flocks of migratory birds and beavers. In recent years, the U.S. Forest Service has been working to restore the ecosystem at the delta, which makes its rules about controlling off-leash dogs all the more important. In 2013, the agency removed an old dike from the Sandy River, restoring its original flow and improving the habitat for salmon and steelhead.
In December, the forest service started charging a $5 parking fee at the park to help cover the cost of maintenance and operation at what in recent years has become an incredibly popular day-use area.
From the busy parking lot, a network of short trails wind through the park, running through a large, grassy meadow and deciduous forests to the banks of the Sandy River. With so many ways to go, the park offers a choose-your-own-adventure approach, though there are a few highlights to aim for.
Leaving from the south side of the parking lot will take you to the Confluence and Boundary trails, both of which lead to the confluence of the two rivers, where a short ramp leads up to a beautiful wooden bird blind created by artist Maya Lin. Small paths lead out to a viewpoint overlooking the confluence and down to the muddy riverbanks.
The Meadow Trail leaves the confluence along the edge the Columbia River, though there are no river views to speak of. Eventually, the narrow dirt trail leads back to the open meadow, crossing the Confluence and Boundary trails to a large portion of the park that that’s popular as an off-leash play area.
Two other trails, the Ranch Dike Trail and Old Channel Trail, lead through the woods beside the Sandy River, while a small side trail leads to the banks of the river on the far western side of the park.
A bird blind designed by artist Maya Lin sits in the woods at the Sandy River Delta, a park at the confluence of the Sandy and Columbia rivers, at the west end of the Columbia River Gorge.Jamie Hale/The Oregonian
Sandy River Delta is a park at the confluence of the Sandy and Columbia rivers, at the west end of the Columbia River Gorge. While hikers can enjoy many winding trails, the delta is perhaps more popular as a natural playground for dogs, who are allowed off-leash in many parts of the park.Jamie Hale/The Oregonian
Sandy River Delta is a park at the confluence of the Sandy and Columbia rivers, at the west end of the Columbia River Gorge. While hikers can enjoy many winding trails, the delta is perhaps more popular as a natural playground for dogs, who are allowed off-leash in many parts of the park.Jamie Hale/The Oregonian
Regardless of where you decide to hike, be prepared to run into dogs.
Sandy River Delta is a veritable playground for dogs, who can explore rivers, meadows and forests – amenities that don’t come with your run-of-the-mill dog park. Because of that, it’s become an extremely popular destination for dog owners, who may well make up the majority of visitors.
On pet travel website Bring Fido, the Sandy River Delta has a user rating of a perfect five bones, winning praise for its ample space, natural features and the number of trash cans dispersed throughout the park.
Those who want to avoid dogs should stick to the Confluence Trail, the one part of the park where leashes are required (aside from the parking lot).
Whether you’re there with your pups or not, Sandy River Delta is a beautiful outing on the edge of the Columbia Gorge. What it lacks in dramatic landscapes it makes up for with its peaceful riverside setting, perfect for a warm summer day.
--Jamie Hale; jhale@oregonian.com; 503-294-4077; @HaleJamesB
Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
"gorged" - Google News
August 29, 2020 at 09:30PM
https://ift.tt/2YIKnCs
Sandy River Delta is a park for people, playground for dogs near Columbia Gorge - OregonLive
"gorged" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2L9QNDn
https://ift.tt/2zlBS68
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Sandy River Delta is a park for people, playground for dogs near Columbia Gorge - OregonLive"
Post a Comment