Oxbow Regional Park - Portland, Oregon

Oxbow Regional Park is a 1,000 acre metro park located near Gresham, Oregon in the Sandy River Gorge Scenic area.  The park offers many activities ranging from fishing to camping and has something for just about everyone.  When you arrive at the park it is hard to believe you are just a short drive from the bustling streets of Portland thanks to the old growth forests and wold beauty of the Sandy River.  Oxbow park has many hiking trails as well as open fields and day use structures perfect for the family or large group picnics.  There is a boat ramp in the park and the shores of the nearby Sandy River are popular with anglers, boaters and swimmers.

Oxbow Campground can be found at the far end of the park away from the busy entrance and day use areas.  Campsites are spread out nicely across three loops and most sites have a good amount of privacy thanks to the large trees and shrubs surrounding them.  There is a mix of flushing toilets and vault toilets and water is plumbed throughout the campground.  Some of the campsites at Oxbow Park have metal lantern holders which is an added bonus.

Overall this is a surprisingly nice campground considering its proximity to the metro area.  Keep in mind no pets of any kind including well behaved dogs are allowed in the park.  Perhaps that is why there is an abundance of wildlife here even with the heavy human presence.  Oxbow Regional Park Campground is a great spot to take the kids for the weekend if you are looking for a quick getaway.

From a Muddy Camper User: “This a small, beautiful campground not too far out of the Portland, Oregon city limits. Be warned though, that as soon as you drive down the dirt road to camp, none of the moms in our group’s cell phones worked anymore. It was like a cell free bubble, which ended up being really nice! But since it was a bunch of moms with kids camping we were worried. We shouldn’t have been, the ranger drove by frequently to check on us! (There were 4 moms with 11 kids.) We went June of 2013 and I’m scheduled to go back to this camp Sept 2014!“