- Located in close proximity to both Portland and Mt. Hood.
- Day-use forest park Wildwood Recreation Site, open March-November, provides easy river access and nature trails.
- Camping, hiking, fishing, and skiing are popular along the Salmon.
Overview
Oregon’s Salmon River is one of the few rivers in the country designated a National Wild and Scenic River for its entire length. This clear, wild river flows in an arc from Mt. Hood through the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness to empty into the Sandy River near Brightwood. Diverse scenery viewed from the river includes Mt. Hood, deep river canyons, and six waterfalls along one three-mile segment of the waterway. Although just 33.5 miles long, the Salmon is a popular destination for outdoor adventure.
Location & Information
The Salmon River heads on Mt. Hood and courses on a south, west, and northwestern arc to meet the Sandy River near Brightwood in the Mt. Hood Villages.
To reach the Wildwood Recreation Site for easy day-use access to the Salmon River, take U.S. Highway 26 east from Portland to the 39-mile marker and follow the signs. Wildwood is open from mid-March through Thanksgiving weekend; obtain more information at (503) 622-3696.
Activities
- Wildwood Recreation Site is a 550-acre day-use forest park, offering the Cascade Streamwatch and Wetland Boardwalk interpretive trails, picknicking, and an underwater fish viewing chamber.
- Fishing—summer steelhead fishery on the river, plus trout, Chinook and Coho salmon.
- Hiking trails.
- Camping—several campgrounds lie along the Salmon almost to its source, some only accessible via hiking trails.
Nordic and alpine skiing.
