7 Fun Things to Do at Wildwood Recreation Site
Wildwood Recreation Site feels like a wilderness sampler platter with a healthy dose of fish-related education thrown in. Its hiking trails explore the forests and wetlands of the Mount Hood National Forest, with options ranging from peaceful universal access trails less than a mile long to the strenuous Boulder Ridge Trail up Huckleberry Mountain. After hiking a little or a lot, dip your feet in the cool waters of the Salmon River, watch some baby fish swim in the underwater viewing window, stay for a picnic, and then perhaps a volleyball game. Here is everything you need to know about the best things to do at Wildwood Recreation Site.
The Wetlands Trail at Wildwood Recreation Site
Know before you go
It costs $5/day to visit Wildwood Recreation Site. You can purchase a day pass on-site with a credit card. The park also accepts the America Beautiful Pass and the BLM Northwest Oregon District Pass but NOT the NW Forest Pass.
The road to the parking lot is paved and easy to reach with a low-clearance vehicle.
Leashed dogs are welcome in the park.
Bicycles are allowed on paved trails.
There are restrooms next to the parking lot and in several other places in the park.
Both the Cascade Streamwatch Trail and the Wetlands Trail are excellent barrier-free trails that provide access to hikers of all abilities. Expect even surfaces and minimal grade. Restrooms are accessible. Learn more at Access Trails here.
Wildwood Recreation Site has three short hiking trails in the park, each about 0.75 miles long. There are also several opportunities to connect to longer trails like the Salmon River Trail or the Boulder Ridge Trail.
Wildwood Recreation Site is open from mid-March through Thanksgiving weekend from 8 AM - sunset. If the gate is closed during winter, look for the alternate trailhead parking area off Highway 26 and hike an extra 0.5 miles into the park.
Although close to Mount Hood, Wildwood Recreation Site is still at a fairly low elevation and is snow-free for most of the year.
You can fish at Wildwood Recreation Site. Check specific angling regulations before heading out.
1. Look for wildlife on the Wetlands Trail
Redwing blackbirds love the wetlands at Wildwood Recreation Site
Distance: 0.75-mile lollipop loop
Elevation gain: Minimal
Difficulty: Easy
Trail surfaces: Boardwalk and crushed gravel. The trails are wide and don’t have steep grades or big steps.
Salmon River Bridge
The Wetlands Trail is a great introduction to Wildwood Recreation Site and one of the best places in the park to spot wildlife. Begin the hike by crossing the elegant wooden bridge over the Salmon River and take in the views of the rushing water below. On the other side, you’ll see a set of stairs branching off to the left. Although not part of the wetland loop, you can take the stairs down to an optional spur trail that follows the river for about a half mile before running into private property. Unless you’re taking the spur, continue right to reach the wetlands.
The overlook on the Wetlands Trail is a great place to see rough-skinned newts
Shortly after the bridge, you’ll reach a trail junction that begins the loop portion of the trail. Head left and follow the boardwalk through the marsh of Sixes Swamp. Several short spurs along the way lead out to observation decks perfect for spotting birds, beavers, and muskrats. Although you might see animals at any time of day, early morning and late afternoon are the best bets. At the end of the first observation deck, a booklet has information about the wildlife that visit here.
Look for herons, mallards, wood ducks, mergansers, and sandhill cranes in the marsh. You may also see redwing blackbirds, cedar waxwings, woodpeckers, and sparrows perched nearby on the cattails. If you peer over the sides of the observation decks into the water, you’ll have a good chance of spotting rough-skinned newts swimming in the water. When you reach the third observation deck, look for the ghost forest, where the large trunks of fallen trees remain after flooding from a beaver dam.
At the far end of the Wetlands loop, you’ll find the trailhead for the Boulder Ridge Trail. Unless you’re planning on tackling this ambitious 11-mile hike up Huckleberry Mountain, keep right at the fork and take the gravel trail to finish the loop. Then, head back over the bridge.
2. Hike the Cascade Streamwatch Trail
Bridge along the Streamwatch Trail
Distance: 0.75-mile lollipop loop
Elevation gain: Minimal
Difficulty: Easy
Trail surfaces: Pavement and crushed gravel without steep grades or big steps. There are frequent opportunities to sit along the way.
The Cascade Streamwatch Trail is one part hiking trail and one part crash course in ichthyology. Get all your burning fish biology questions answered here. A large steel sculpture of swimming salmon at the trailhead marks the beginning of the hike, which has regular interpretative information along the way. The first display is a 3D model of the Salmon River and Sandy River watersheds. Next to the model, look for the short spur trail that leads down to the Salmon River. You might see a glimpse of Mt Hood behind the trees.
The trail junction near the watershed model also begins the loop portion of the trail. Take the fork to the left to continue along the river. You’ll cross a small stream where might see salmon or steelhead swimming. A few access points on the trail allow you to reach the banks of the Salmon River and more potential fish sightings.
At the far end of the loop, you’ll reach a trail junction marked with a sign. Keep right to continue around the loop. Going left will take you 1.5 miles on a trail that connects to the Salmon River Trail, which is a great option if you’re looking for a longer hike by the river through an old-growth forest. Continuing around the loop trail, make sure to stop at the underwater viewing window on your way.
3. Watch the fish at the underwater viewing window
Fingerling salmon in the viewing window
One of the most unique features at Wildwood Recreation Site is the underwater viewing window that reveals the world beneath the river’s surface. Fish swim here year-round although what you see depends on the season. Look for juvenile salmon and steelhead trout throughout the year and possible adult salmon sightings in the fall. Besides these fish, you might see insect larvae, snails, and bottom-feeding sculpins. Signs near the viewing window have fun facts about the fish, which is where I learned that salmon can swim up to 15 mph, while trout only get up to a measly 4 mph. Even more surprising, salmon appear to navigate back to their birth river primarily by their sense of smell.
4. See the Salmon River
River access along the Cascade Streamwatch Trail
There are several opportunities to head down to the Salmon River from the Cascade Streamwatch Trail. On a hot day, the clear, icy water feels wonderful when wading. Expect water levels to be lowest in summer when the pace of the river becomes sedate. You may see fish swimming in the river depending on the season. Look for Chinook salmon in the late summer and early fall, coho salmon later in the fall, and winter steelhead in late winter and spring. For the best river views from above, head to the Salmon River Bridge at the beginning of the Wetlands Trail.
Salmon River
5. Have a picnic
Look for shady picnic sites on the Streamwatch Trail
Wildwood Recreation Site is generous with its picnic spots. Look for many individual first come, first serve tables scattered along the Streamwatch Trail, each with a fire pit and barbecue. While most tables are set back in the woods, you can find a few overlooking the river if you’re lucky enough to come when they’re free.
If you’re hosting an event, Wildwood has several large covered picnic shelters available to rent. The shelters vary in size and can accommodate groups of 50-200 people. You can find amenities like fireplaces, sinks, and hot plates. Find more information about rentals here at recreation.gov.
6. Find the ruins on the Old Mill Nature Trail
The Old Mill Ruins
Distance: 0.8-mile lollipop loop
Elevation gain: Minimal
Difficulty: Easy
Trail surfaces: Unpaved with some narrow places and possible mud.
Wildwood was the site of active logging in the early part of the 20th century. A logging company built a sawmill here in 1930, complete with bunkhouses, a machine shop, and a cookhouse. The sawmill operated throughout most of the 1930s and you can still find remnants of it along the Old Mill Trail. Although the machinery and most of the buildings are gone, part of a stone frame remains, being slowly reclaimed by encroaching moss, vines, and ferns.
To find the ruins, take the Old Mill Trail. Look for the trailhead to the northeast of the main parking lot. It will seem for a second like you are taking the road out of the park before the trailhead is visible. Although still a fairly flat and easy hike, this trail does not have the same accessibility as the Wetlands or Streamwatch trails. There are some uneven surfaces here and it can get muddy. Along the trail, look for giant sword ferns beneath a canopy of pines and alders. The far end of the Old Mill Trail connects to a field with several ball courts and a playground.
7. Try out the games
Playground at Wildwood Recreation Site
Wildwood Recreation Site has a huge grassy field with a variety of things to do besides hiking. Here you’ll find a playground and swingset, volleyball court, baseball diamond, softball field, and horseshoe pit. You can reserve the athletic courts, which will give you priority in using them. Even if you don’t have a reservation, feel free to use any open court.
To reach the field and its games, you can follow the Old Mill Trail from the main parking lot or use a separate parking lot that is directly next to it. When you enter Wildwood from Highway 26, make a right turn to find the parking area closest to the field rather than continuing to the main day-use parking lot.
Getting there
Address: Wildwood Recreation Site, 65670 US-26, Welches, OR 97067
To reach Wildwood Recreation Site from Portland, take US-26 East to the town of Welches, Oregon. Look for the sign showing the right turn into Wildwood, which will be directly off Highway 26. The drive from Portland takes about 1 hour.
Wetland Trail
In summary, the best things to do at Wildwood Recreation Site are:
Look for wildlife on the Wetlands Trail
Hike the Cascade Streamwatch Trail
Watch the fish in the underwater viewing window
See the Salmon River
Have a picnic
Find the ruins of the Old Mill
Try out the games
Enjoy your day at Wildwood Recreation Site!
With love,
Emma
Explore nearby
The Salmon River Trail is just down the road from Wildwood Recreation Site and one of the best winter hikes near Portland.
Or find many more hiking suggestions near Portland:
