What it has to offer: Everything. Hiking, swimming, fishing, fish viewing (more on this later), sandy beaches, picnic tables, bathrooms complete with warm running water, foot bridges and wetland viewing platforms, oh, and a playground. The Wildwood Recreation site is totally worth the short drive from Portland. The park is clean and remarkably well laid out. With paved, boardwalk and gravel “hiking” trails that my 3 year old loved, you can’t go wrong. There are numerable picnic tables along the way as the trail follows the wild and scenic Salmon River. In the fall be sure to catch the salmon spawning, but if you miss that don’t worry there is an underground viewing station where you can see the baby fish and snails and crawdads. It is heaven for a nature loving family, truly.
The NLR breakdown: For BodyBeings (0-7) you have the basically flat walking trails, sandy beaches where they can wade into the water and throw rocks, high wooden bridges crossing the river, and the underwater viewing station, sensations galore. It is the perfect place to spend hours and hours in a safe, fun and rich natural environment.
For FeelingBeings (8-12) this place has any number of lessons in nature just waiting for exploration. There is a whole series of wetland trails where you can observe from different viewing platforms and walk on raised boardwalk trails. Go in the spring or fall and catch the migrating Salmon as they head up or down the beautiful Salmon River. There is much to learn about the cycles of life at this place not to mention the feelings of awe just to be near the beautiful river.
For IdealBeing (13-18) there is a much more serious hike up to a nearby ridge that offers a good challenge and I even saw something about over night hikers, so perhaps there are backpacking opportunities. With a little planning this could be a jump off place for some serious adventuring.
Details: Open 3/15 – 11/30; $5 per car
Location: about 45 minutes drive; 40 miles east of Portland, off US Highway 26, just past the 39 mile marker.
Website: http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/site_info.php?siteid=221
Brochure: In PDF http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/files/brochures/Wildwood_brochure07.pdf
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