Clackamas: Discover Parks, Rivers and Culture

When planning a trip to Clackamas, you can consider nature, activities on the water and history as distinct areas of interest. Clackamas County includes urban, suburban, rural and wilderness communities; regional attractions range from wetlands and riverbanks to historical exhibits.

Parks and Landscapes in Clackamas County

The Clackamas County parks system includes 15 parks and four undeveloped properties, with nearly 1,000 acres of public land in total. It also includes 242 campsites, 11 picnic shelters and seven water access points. The system’s figures may change as facilities are developed. Barton Park has 112 campsites, 103 of which have water and electrical hookups; their configuration may also change.

The Springwater Corridor offers a different way to experience the landscape: this paved trail is 21 miles long and runs from downtown Portland to Boring. Along the way are wetlands, buttes, farmland and pastureland. Open landscapes are therefore as much a part of the route as its waterways and wetlands. Wilhoit Springs Park continues to offer public access to mineral springs and the surrounding old-growth forest.

Individual nature destinations also have distinctive features. Little Joe Creek flows through Barlow Wayside Park, where coho salmon and steelhead spawn in fall and winter. At Madrone Wall, a 120-foot-high basalt wall is the defining feature. It offers expansive views of the nearby Clackamas River. Eagle Fern Park, meanwhile, is surrounded by old-growth forest.

River and Outdoor Activities

Molalla River State Park has grassy areas for picnics and games. A boat launch provides access to the river. The Canby Ferry is a quarter-mile downstream from the park and is one of three ferries still operating on the Willamette River. This part of the regional selection thus features both river access and a ferry as distinct points of interest.

Rafting, canoeing and kayaking are possible on the Clackamas River at Milo McIver State Park. Those interested in fish and their development can take self-guided tours at the Clackamas Fish Hatchery in McIver Park to learn about the life cycles of Chinook salmon and steelhead. A 27-hole disc golf course at the Riverbend Day-use Area in the same state park adds another activity. Options range from time on the water and nature education to playing on the course.

Stone Creek Golf Club offers another distinctive landscape: its 120 acres include old-growth Douglas firs, lakes, four wetlands and 43 bunkers. If you’re including golf in your trip plans, you can take in these features of the course as well as the game itself.

History and Regional Insights

At the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, interpretive signs tell the story of the Oregon Trail, the Tumwater Chinook and the Clackamas Indians, as well as the settlement of the Willamette Valley. Interactive exhibits and the opportunity to play historical games from bygone eras add engaging activities to these topics. The center combines historical content with opportunities to take part.

The history of Barlow Wayside Park can also be explored: the park is near a former section of the Barlow Road on the Oregon Trail. A self-guided Natural History Tour Guide adds natural history to this historical connection. If you’d rather combine landscape and history in your trip planning, you can explore both themes here; the Interpretive Center, by contrast, focuses on stories and exhibits about the Oregon Trail and the Willamette Valley.

Regional destinations offer different highlights: paved trails and open landscapes, river activities, historical interpretation or a specific natural feature such as the basalt wall at Madrone Wall. When choosing where to stay, consider which of these themes you’d like to include in your trip plans.

Explore More Destinations

Explore more destinations: Canby, Lake Oswego, Which, Sandy, Clackamas, Milwaukie, Wilsonville, Oregon City, Gladstone, Government Camp, Molalla, West Linn, Oak Grove, Rhododendron.

For the broader travel overview: Oregon.