By Danella Demary For The Mountain Times
On the way to Mt. Hood Recreation Area, along Route 26 eastbound, there is a sign for Sleepy Hollow Drive. Take a left hand turn here and cross over a bridge spanning the Sandy River. A quick left hand turn will put you at the eastern end of Marmot Drive. Here is where we have passed, time and time again, the sign that states Marmot Recreation Site is only seven miles away. It took us over three years to venture westbound on Marmot Drive and discover a few short and simple trails, fishing access spots, and the Marmot Bridge at the Marmot Recreation Site.
This area is frequently referred to as the Marmot Dam Area, but the dam was removed in 2007, allowing the Sandy River to flow freely from Mt. Hood to the Columbia River. When the dam was removed, it represented the greatest release of sediment from any U.S. Dam removal at that time (Forestry Sciences Laboratory, 2024). The removal of the dam also improved the water flow for rafting trips, which you can watch from the shores alongside the river, or from the bridge above during the spring and early summer seasons.
Marmot Recreation Site is a perfect park to have a spring picnic, a summer stroll, or to view migrating salmon in the fall. There are vault toilets available, ample parking, and views of the Marmot Bridge from several angles. We love sitting in the grassy area soaking up sunshine before walking along the river. Bring your furry friends for this stop: there is plenty of room for them to run (on leash) as well as options where they can find their way to the Sandy River for a refreshing drink or dunk.
A short out-and-back trail accompanies our afternoons off the beaten path, which starts at the Marmot Bridge and winds through the forest a half mile to its end. We love stopping to look at the sword ferns, beaked moss, or different mushrooms that grow along the trails. At the end of the path you can follow a 50 foot social trail down the hill to a small river access spot. Seeing the Sandy River rounding the bend here made us stop in our tracks and stare at the fast and furious flowing waters coming down from the mountain.
Marmot Recreation Site is part of the Bureau of Land Management and does require a day pass to visit. We have been several times since our first visit in 2023. As with so many people in the Mt. Hood area, we wonder why it took us so long to find this spot while also being thankful that we live somewhere that we are lucky enough to be able to access same. There are so many spots just around a corner or down a dirt road to explore. There are endless opportunities to get outside here, where nature welcomes us. The rowdy rivers run and the evergreen forests foster our sense of belonging and connection to ourselves, each other, and the world that surrounds us.