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Geographic region: Willamette Valley farmland, Sauvie Island
Municipality/route: Portland
Route configuration: out-and-back
Distance: 13.1 miles
Min/max elevation: 17’/36’
Total ascent: 99’
Max grade: <1% up/<1% down
Surface: ~7 miles paved road, ~ 6 miles gravel/dirt path/road
Bikes allowed: yes (gravel or mountain bike recommended)
Obstacles: none
Best months: The roads/paths beyond the paved section (Sauvie Island Wildlife Area) are open to the public from April 16-September 30 (closed from October 1 to April 15, for the protection of migratory birds and for waterfowl hunting). Some paths/roads are covered in water or are quite muddy during the spring. July-September are best months to ensure passable roads/paths.
Permits: Parking permits required for all wildlife areas ($10 daily/$30 annually). These can be purchased online (https://odfw.huntfishoregon.com/customer/catalog), the Linnton, OR 7-11, The Cracker Barrel Store on Sauvie Island, or the Reeder Beach RV Country Store on Sauvie Island.
Traffic: light on the paved portion of NW Sauvie Island Rd; otherwise occasional vehicles from people sight-seeing, fishing, or training birding dogs
Feels safe to go alone (my personal comfort level): yes
Driving distance from downtown Portland: 16 miles
[Click on buttons above to get route links on Gaia GPS or Ride with GPS]
To get to the start: Locate Sauvie Island Wildlife Viewing Area (eastside viewing platform). From Portland, head north on Hwy 30 toward Sauvie Island. Turn R on NW Sauvie Island Rd and continue north – go 5.3 mi. Turn R on NW Lucy Reeder Rd and park on the side.
Head north on NW Sauvie Island Rd – go 5.8 mi
(paved road changes to gravel at 3.6 mi)
@5.8 mi: R to stay on NW Sauvie Island Rd – go 0.8 mi
@6.6 mi: turn around at the Gilbert River and head back on NW Sauvie Island Rd – go 0.8 mi
@7.3 mi: L to stay on NW Sauvie Island Rd – go 5.8 mi
End @13.1 mi
Being the flattest route of this entire guide, this route on Sauvie Island is a nice break for the hill-climbing muscles but certainly does not lack for gorgeous scenery. It’s an out-and-back that runs along the edge of the Multnomah Channel before heading into the wildlife area on dirt roads and trails to the Gilbert River, a small tributary of the Multnomah Channel.
The road along the channel exposes you to the placid Multnomah Channel with houseboats of varying
architecture, with a backdrop of lush green hills. On the opposite side of the road are expansive crop fields.
At 3.6 miles, pavement ends as the road enters the wildlife area, which is open to the public from April 16th to September 30th. The road becomes gravel and dirt, and winds through patches of deciduous trees mixed with open fields. Cattle are free range in much of this area, and they are fun to see. They are a bit too shy to take an offering of fresh grass or apple, but they do stay close enough for some good entertainment for all involved.
The route turns around at the Gilbert River, a tranquil little waterway. As you head back, see if you can spy some more cattle in the woods. I grew up seeing cattle in fields all the time, and I find it particularly fun to see them interspersed within the trees as if they are jungle animals.
Geographic region: Willamette Valley farmland, Sauvie Island
Municipality/town: Portland
Route configuration: out-and-back and loops
Distance: 12.6 miles
Min/max elevation: 11’/29’
Total ascent: 146'
Max grade: <1% up/<1% down
Surface: gravel/dirt path/road
Bikes allowed: yes, on all but the Oak Island loop (gravel or mountain bike recommended)
Obstacles: gate between Mud Lake and Oak Island; trail on the south side of this gate is quite rough/overgrown for about 0.2 mile
Best months: Sauvie Island Wildlife Area is open to the public from May 1-September 30 (closed from October 1 to April 15, for the protection of migratory birds and for waterfowl hunting). Some paths/roads are covered in water or are quite muddy during the spring. July-September are best months to ensure passable roads/paths.
Permits: Parking permits required for all wildlife areas ($10 daily/$30 annually). These can be purchased online (https://odfw.huntfishoregon.com/customer/catalog), the Linnton, OR 7-11, The Cracker Barrel Store on Sauvie Island, or Reeder Beach RV Country Store on Sauvie Island.
Traffic: occasional vehicles from people sight-seeing, fishing, or training birding dogs; hikers on Oak Island
Feels safe to go alone (my personal comfort level): yes
Driving distance from downtown Portland: 19 miles
[Click on buttons above to get route links on Gaia GPS or Ride with GPS]
To get to the start: From Portland, head north on Hwy 30 toward Sauvie Island. Turn R on NW Sauvie Island Rd (cross the bridge) and continue north – go 8.7 mi. Continue straight on NW Sauvie Island Rd/Steelman Rd – go 0.2 mi. Park on the left side of the road (Sauvie Island Westside Unit parking lot). A permit is required to park in the wildlife areas (see route details for more information).
Head northeast on NW Sauvie Island Rd – go 2.2 mi
@2.2 mi: L on unnamed road – go 0.4 mi
@2.6 mi: L on unnamed road – go 0.9 mi to a gate
@3.5 mi: turn around and head back – go 0.9 mi
@4.4 mi: continue straight on unnamed road – go 0.6 mi
@5.0 mi: L on NW Sauvie Island Rd to see the Gilbert River – go 0.2 mi
@5.2 mi: turn around and head back on NW Sauvie Island Rd – go 0.2 mi
@5.3 mi: L to stay on NW Sauvie Island Rd – go 0.7 mi
@5.9 mi: L to stay on NW Sauvie Island Rd – go 0.7 mi
@6.6 mi: L on unnamed road – go 0.7 mi
@7.3 mi: turn around at the viewing platform on the Gilbert River – go 270’
@7.4 mi: L on faint unnamed road heading south – go 0.7 mi
@8.0 mi: stay straight . There is a gate to cross and the path is very overgrown for a short section – go 0.3 mi
@8.3 mi: L on Oak Island Nature Tr – go 1.1 mi
@9.4 mi: R to stay on Oak Island Nature Tr – go 1.0 mi
@10.4 mi: L to return on the rough section of the path (the gate will need to be crossed again) – go 0.2 mi
@10.6 mi: L on unnamed road – go 1.1 mi
@11.7 mi: L on NW Sauvie Island Rd – go 0.9 mi
End @ 12.6 mi
The entirety of this flat but scenic route takes place in the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area. It’s a rather convoluted route with multiple doglegs and loops, but it’s all worth seeing. The water level varies considerably throughout the year, and it can still be quite high in April which may make some sections of this route unpassable. To be on the safe side, aim for summer to try this course.
The route starts on NW Sauvie Island Road, paralleling Multnomah Channel for 2.2 miles and passing through patches of deciduous trees and open fields. At this point, you will continue north on an unnamed road to do a dogleg bordering Crane Lake, although the lake may be hidden by brush. You will turn around at a gate labeled with private property signs and head south, but just after four miles you will veer left on a slightly rougher path (rather than go back the way you came) to head toward the Gilbert River, a small tributary flanked by cottonwood trees.
At the 6.6-mile point, you will turn left on an unnamed road which will head back to another section of the Gilbert River. At 7.3 miles, you will come to a viewing platform on the Gilbert River, worth a look at this placid area. Don’t be surprised if you see cattle roaming freely around here. They will be as curious about you as you are about them, but they are a bit shy, and they will scatter into the woods if you try to get close.
From the Gilbert River viewing platform, you will head southeast just a few hundred feet, where you may have to strain your eyes to see a faint dirt road. Continue on this vague road toward the west part of Sturgeon Lake. Soon you will see a more distinct dirt road again which takes you on a narrow strip of land between Sturgeon Lake and Mud Lake. This area is so lovely with all the lakes, deciduous trees, and in the early summer, colorful flowers. On a clear day, you will be able to see Mt. Hood to the east.
At the 8.0-mile point, you will continue straight (avoiding the turn to the west for now). You will cross a short land bridge to Oak Island, coming upon a gate. On the other side of this gate, you will see it’s very bushy and overgrown (for a couple hundred yards)). But you can indeed cross this gate to join the Oak Island Nature Trail; however, bikes are not allowed on the Oak Island Nature Trail. This portion is a 2.1-mile loop on dirt and grass paths through patches of deciduous trees, including many white oaks, and open cattle pastures.
After completing the Oak Island Loop, you will return on the heavily overgrown trail to cross over the gate to exit Oak Island. Once you cross the small land bridge right after crossing the gate, you will head west along the southwest edge of Mud Lake. Stay on this unnamed road as it makes its way to NW Sauvie Island Road again. From that point, you will have less than a mile to go to the finish.
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