Getting There
The parking lot is accessible from Hwy 84 just east of Troutdale. From I-84 eastbound, take Exit 18 and follow the Crown Point Highway north under the freeway. It changes to Thousand Acres Road. Follow that into the parking just past the off-on ramps.
You can use a Northwest Forest Pass or buy a day pass at the vending machine.
The Hike
Elev. gain: 62 ft
Moving time: 1:24:18
Avg pace: 18:25
Calories: 849
Total time: 1:26:08
I was planning to pick up some items from Costco near the airport but got there too early, before they opened. I took the opportunity to go for a quick hike around SRD.
I knew it would be warm but since it was still before 10am, it wasn't too bad. I had my favorite straw hat but I didn't anticipate the mosquitoes. 20 ft from my car, I paused to start the hike tracking on AllTrails and got bit several times. Ack!
Not a welcome start to the day but I continued on. I've been paranoid about ticks as well and decided to stay out in the open despite the direct sun.
I followed the Confluence Trail towards the Bird Blind. Then, took the Meadow Road to the end, Thousand Acre Road. I didn't want to venture into trees because of the lack of bug spray on-hand so I doubled back toward the Confluence Trail.
I wandered over to Channel and watched the dogs play in the water for a minute.
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| Old Channel Trail |
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| The channel |
I wasn't ready to go back to the car just yet so I took the Meadow Road to the end for a 2nd time. I knew the trail to the river was wide so I decided to go as far as I could. I passed a woman and her two dogs. I pulled out my phone to check the route and was immediately swarmed by a dozen mosquitoes.
It wasn't my plan to double back to hastily but I had to get out of there. The woman must have been wary that I was following her but I didn't know what to do. If I could have said something about the bugs, I would have.
At the first opportunity, I veered off down the Meadow Road and brushed my arms and legs to demonstrate (possibly) why I'd turned around so quickly. I never looked back but kept a brisk pace.
It was time to go back to the car. I took the Confluence Trail back to the parking. When I got to where I'd been bitten earlier, I paused and hoped to avoid more bites as I'd already racked up a dozen or more, including on my cheek and earlobe which was swollen.
I rushed through the trees to my car and hastily hopped in. Whew, I made it without any more bites.
I've been extremely stressed and depressed about selling my house. This little outing helped a tiny bit.
