Feel like you've escaped to the wilderness, just off I-5! Okay, so there's no blacktop path in the wilderness, but this one will make a nice, mud-free walk even on a very rainy day. If you need a little breath of fresh air without leaving town, this is the place. Bring your walking shoes or your bike and cruise the meandering path through woods, meadow, creeks and beaver ponds. You may see beaver, neutria, deer, coyote, pileated wood peckers, bald eagles, short-tailed weasle, and other wild-life. The trail is wide enough to walk 4 abreast, but watch out for oncoming/over-taking bike/runner traffic. Bikes pass on the left, so be aware. There are several entrances. If you park at the western end of the trail on Lakeshore Boulevard, walk just about 1/4 mile to a stunning view of Mt. Hood, on a clear day. Restrooms are available at the eastern entrance at Klienline Park, and at the softball fields, and there is a well-maintained out house at the western end. Midway on the 3 mile one-way, 6 mile round trip trail, branch-off near the bridge onto a more woodsy dirt trail along Cougar Creek. Lots of walking variety, and enough other people to make a safe walk for a lone traveler any day or evening await.
We went in the evening for a late picnic dinner and Salmon Creek Park was absolutely filthy! What is wrong with people today? It seems as though people do not feel the need to pick up after themselves. There were abandoned items floating in the water...trash EVERYWHERE and no one spoke English. There is a fee to pay when entering (which we missed because of the time) however, I would have been outraged if I did have to pay...Such a disappointment...mostly in people.
The best part of Salmon Creek park for me is the greenway, a wonderful place to ride a bicycle, walk the dog or yourself, and check out nature. Bald eagles, hawks, geese, ducks, deer, beaver, salmon, coyotes and other critters are commonly spotted (or heard) so keep your eyes and ears open. The park near the ponds is a nice place to have a family or group picnic, and it worked great for our football team several years ago, under cover.
Gorgeous place to walk, run or bike. Back and forth is 6 miles. At the east end is Chuck's Produce (you have to cross Hwy 99) where they have a nice little cafe.
this is a great little place to visit its all free and a quaint spot to have a relax in, I suggest that you give this a bit of your holiday time
The part of Salmon Creek Park I'm describing is south of Salmon Creek Rd., east of WSUV's campus, and borders Pleasant Valley Middle School on NE 50th Ave. From the school parking lot that is mostly vacant on Sundays, but really full the other six days, an asphalt trail suitable for strollers meanders on the backsides of homes down to Salmon Creek. A large gazebo with large picnic tables sits on a hill and makes a nice spot for a family picnic although a bit of a trek with dogs, toddlers, and a stroller. It was also a bit breezy the day we went, but probably nicer on a more balmy day. As the trail gets steeper, the asphalt turns to decomposed granite. The trail continues down to the main creek but some narrower, dirt trails parallel the much wider, level trail that fans out into sort of a meadow. Just know that the narrow trails that go through some much slower moving water had some hungry mosquitoes. A warning or two: probably better to walk with someone and not alone. Also someone seems to have a dog walking gig sometimes with eight or so unleashed dogs that seem well-behaved.
The pond sits next to Salmon Creek off the 5 freeway in Vancouver. There is fishing, swimming, bike trails (about 6 miles) and plenty of wild life to view. There are picnic tables and snack bar. They have a new water feature for the kids to play in during the warmer months. It is fun for the whole family.
Nice park on a nice lake. Nice place to have a picnic with the kids or family.
This park has it all! Swimming for the kids, water play, playground, bathrooms, grassy areas, picnic areas, parking. There is a paved trail great for walks or biking. The trail is a bit dry in the summer, but there is a shaded area further in with blackberries for picking. Best of all, it is FREE!
I have went swimming ay Salmon creek before and it seemed to be fine, but this last time I took my children , my daughter was swimming and when she got out of the water she had 35 huge red bumps with BLACK in the middle! I took her to the ER and FOUR DOCTORS couldnt figure out what the hell it is. :(