Oxbow Regional Park Campground sits in a wooded bend of the Sandy River, 25 miles east of Portland near Gresham. The park offers 86 sites (74 drive-up, 12 pull-through) beneath dense conifers, with free hot showers, heated restrooms, and 12 miles of riverside trails. Sites run $25–200 per night and fill quickly in summer; reservations open one day to nine months ahead.
Drive-up campground with individual sites, a separate group camp area, and RV-designated pull-through sites (no hookups).
Weather and SeasonsSummer offers the warm, sun-dappled river days that make Oxbow shine. Expect daytime highs around 70–85°F and cool nights in the 50s, ideal for swimming, boating, and lounging on sandy river beaches. Trail hiking and wildlife viewing are at their best with dry, firm trails and long daylight hours, though weekends can be busy; weekdays and early or late summer are noticeably quieter. Keep an eye on Oregon wildfire smoke during hot, dry stretches and plan for full campsites from late June through August. Spring and fall bring fewer crowds, good hiking conditions, and active wildlife, but also rain and muddy trails. The campground stays open year-round for visitors who don't mind the wet, cold solitude of a Pacific Northwest winter.
Natural Features and SceneryThe Sandy River carves through thick riparian forest here, creating pockets of sandy beaches and pooled eddies that draw swimmers and anglers. Douglas fir and western red cedar crowd the understory, screening campsites from each other and filtering the light into shifting green shade. Trails wind along the riverbank and through the floodplain, past moss-covered nurse logs and seasonal wildflowers. Deer walk through camp regularly. During fall spawning runs, salmon push upstream in the shallows. The setting feels remote despite the proximity to Gresham. No river views from most campsites, but the sound of moving water reaches most loops.
Geological RegionSandy River floodplain / riparian corridor
Scenic ViewsWooded, riverside scenery with views along the Sandy River and sandy river beaches from trails and day-use areas; campsites are set within forested vegetation and screening.