This nature park is somehow both beautifully maintained and not adequately maintained at the same…read moretime. Important to note that it is a 'nature park' and not a 'city park' which means fewer amenities (no playgrounds and only one restroom in the main parking lot at the Mather Road entrance) and most importantly, no pets or bikes. There are rules for a reason. There are multiple trails that connect to various neighborhoods and loop up to a Summit Trail, however we didn't get any views from the summit. I've started a hike from the Mather Road entrance and it is all up hill for the first stretch. Our most recent experience was better when we parked part way up the hill and started our hike off of SE Talbert Street to connect to the Park Loop Trail. Unfortunately, the posted signs about poison oak were accurate and the trails were covered in poison oak. And while the trails were easy to navigate, the plants are overgrown and crossing the path, so it is hard to avoid contact. I recommend a change of clothes and/or wet wipes to avoid getting poison oak from your stroll. The area is a nice option on hot or rainy days due to the canopy of trees, but not recommended for young children or those with mobility issues. It is a beautiful short hike and you feel away from it all, even though you are close to the city. The restroom was clean and there is shelter that can be rented for events.

Gorgeous neighborhood park!…read more Beautiful hiking trail with a nice large free parking lot!!! The trails are well marked and I got cell phone service while I was on the trail. There are many trails to choose from. I choose to do the park loop, west ridge, and summit and it was a nice little loop that took about an hour or so. It had snowed the morning of, so the trails were muddy so I would definitely recommend hiking boots. I would definitely come back!

We're here for a picnic, we're having independence day!…read more Parking is $3 for cars. Not enough space for parking, you just passed the spot, but you'd expect to get closer to the covered area, and you ended up parking way back from where you started. Picnic are, concrete and covered, with tables & benches & grilling area. Structure is adequate and protected from the weather. Nice view of the river, and there are boats! Restroom? Go back to the first building, where you could have parked. There are no toilet paper where the stall I picked. When I flushed the toilet, it went on forever! I have to hop to the next stall to find toilet paper. Luckily, I was the only one there! I'd give this one a one star! :(

Only $3 entry per car. 30-35 mins from the city. There's a good amount of parking but they fill up…read morefast. Open Volleyball and playground area but limited shaded spots! Get here early and Score a shady spot by a tree and enjoy lounging on the sandy beach or float in the river on a hot Sunday afternoon. Bring umbrellas, water, sunblock, Sanitizer, and trash bags.

Fun place in SE PDX to bring your dog and let them roam off leash since NO ONE knows this place…read moreexists. Missing 1 star because occasionally you may stumble upon a bum camp but just keep moving, they don't want to see you either. Excellent assortment of wild game birds everywhere that my English Springers love to flush out!

Awesome place to find rare white oaks. Entrance is by the Clackamas Aquatic Park- NOTE- do not…read morefollow Yelp's directions. I agree with the earlier reviewer. The small homeless camp set up under a canopy of trees near one of the three creeks concerned my kids- and me. I am so grateful that they preserved this area from development.

Everytime I'm in Portland in the summertime, I come here to go swimming…read more I was super lucky, I was actually staying way over in the NW part of town and found out that the #77 crosstown busswhich was literally a block away from me would bring me straight here. So I gathered all my stuff for a day at the river, towels, sunscreen, plenty of water, snacks, hopped on the bus and spent a fantastic day here. Go early because there really isn' a lot of shade by the river and all the best spots get taken up early. There's also the woods to walk through filled with wild blackberry bushes everywhere. I guess my Canadianness comes out because I went straight into the water and swam about like it was nothing while everyone else was freaking out over how cold the water is and stayed close to the sandy shore. It's not. Especially on a scotching hot day, it really isn't a big deal. Also I have no idea how there can be drowning in a river which you can literally walk across, and never gets very deep. The current isn't all that strong if you go further away from the bridge, in fact the water is downright meandering at that point. If you have an umbrella, some reading material, lots of water, snacks, and you don't easily burn or get sunstroke, you can easily pass an entire, serene day here.

Great trails leading to the Sandy River. A nice park to stroll through on a day trip to Troutdale.read more

Lacamas lake and the surrounding trails are awesome! There is a small parking lot or an overflow…read moreparking lot available and both make it easy to access the lake and trail. We did the round lake loop trail that is about 1.5 miles round trip. It is relatively flat with a few inclines and declines. We saw families using strollers on parts of the trail. The trail is shaded for almost the entire route. The trail is well maintained and clean. The trails are clearly marked and the signs are easy to see. There's bathrooms and a playground for kids. We saw a lot of people using kayaks in the lake. There's also picnic tables and benches to use. This is a great option for any age and ability. It's beautiful and green. I highly recommend Lacamas Lake for those who want to enjoy the greenery and beauty of Washington.

Love this lake! There are three parking lots available, two on the smaller side. There are…read morerestrooms available during summer months. This park is very lush with picnic tables and grills spread out for privacy. The view of the lake is gorgeous! There are over 6 miles of trails, some of which intertwine. If you're new to these trails, a map is a good idea; one could easily get lost if not familiar as the trails aren't all marked. I just took a picture of the trail map by the parking area to have as reference in case I needed it. The trails are lush and mainly dirt and rocks. If you walk down to lower falls the trail can be a little more treacherous. Some of the hills are steep and some rocks loose. Make sure you wear the proper footwear. There are a few falls to see, many creeks, a dam and a couple lakes (Lacamas and Round). Overall a wonderful place to get outside for fresh air and beautiful scenery. Highly recommend.

Absolutely Beautiful! Even though it was windy , cold and wet. A must see if you ever visit…read moreWashougal, WA. I was just just looking at maps trying to find places to explore and was pleasantly surprised! Apparently you can swim in the lake and it's great for dogs!

Peaceful and beautiful spot on the river. A good family friendly spot. I plan on coming back here…read moreon a hot day to swim with the kiddos. Took my dog this time and let her off at the end of the beach which was pretty secluded. Some horses even showed up!

Lovely little place to sit at the end of a neighborhood in Sellwood and enjoy nature was a lovely…read moresurprise There is a playground area, a few park benches and a foot bridge to cross over the waterway.

Fun little hidden park. Ample parking and a bathroom! Lots of places to sit and eat. The river is a…read morehuge plus. A nice relaxing park.

This is a long, meandering river offering you a ton of recreationally minded activities. Much to…read moresee, much you can do and enjoy - worth your time to top in at one of the points you have access to stop in at along the river. The water is typically a perfect temp in the summer and the current is ideal for tubing - especially in the Clackamas area. Safe enough for the family, pretty enough you want to go alone and soak it in....

The Confession: I'm a masochist. Despite being clumsy and lacking any visual depth perception…read more(seriously, it's clinically proven), I can't really use those excuses when it comes to my persistent ability to get injured. If you see me, chances are I have band-aids on. So, I'm pretty sure it's just that I actually LIKE getting hurt. This is a case in point: The Prelude: Since I was about 3 years old, I have enjoyed exploring the depths of the woods, especially near some giant, rushing body of water that drowns out all the mundane commotion in my head. I like being surrounded by towering trees, waist-high ferns, and little, precious wildflowers. I've run into grizzly bears while huckleberry picking, yet never, ever have I been afraid in the woods. Not even at night when I have to go pee. I actually want to get lost and find my way home. This is my idea of fun, especially if I have a cold beer in hand. Problem is, I usually get hurt while I'm out there. In fact, I judge my excursions as such: the more I get hurt, the more fun I had. The Rub: This is where the Clackamas River is GOD to me. Yeah, I love to come here to swim, hike, camp, float down the river, picnic, etc. But I always leave with excessive scrapes, bruises, scratches, and bloodied body parts. Could be I just play hard. But I think it's more than that. It's as though the river gives me so much pleasure, it demands a little sacrifice from me. Not all rivers have this affect on me, mind you. Yesterday, it took a few pieces of skin from my arm when I fell down a hill, clambering to get to the water on a hot day. Last weekend, it took a chunk out of my leg when I foolishly attempted to mount a log in the river. Painful, yes. But these are battle scars of love, people. This is my idea of heaven. No other river has loved me this much and, I must say, vice versa. The 411: If you want to kayak, raft, camp, hike, lay on the rocks, float in an inner tube, or whatever...check out the Clackamas. Drive straight through Estacada and follow Hwy 224. Or take the fork at the Ranger Station and head down Forest Road 46. There are tons of campsites, both official and just off the road. The water is cold, but refreshing on a hot day. Or, you can head south on 46 to it up Bagby Hot Springs. But please be careful out there, kiddos. People do die on this river every year (in fact, a young woman just drowned 2 weeks ago), so treat it with respect and be aware of the dangers. And if you like getting (safely) beat up by nature, like me, take your neosporin and head out. You're going to get your ass kicked and you'll keep coming back for more.