Wilderness Landscape & Natural Heritage
Oxbow Eco-Center is located near Sandy, Oregon, along the lower Sandy River corridor, encompassing a 150-acre natural preserve combining riparian forests, wetlands, and river shoreline. The center was established to protect critical wildlife habitat and provide hands-on environmental education to the local community and visitors. The site features mixed hardwood and conifer forest, including species such as cottonwoods, bigleaf maples, and Douglas firs, supporting a wide range of songbirds, mammals, amphibians, and aquatic life. Established in 2003, Oxbow Eco-Center serves as an outdoor classroom for school groups, families, and nature enthusiasts, with guided tours, interpretive signage, and workshops focusing on ecology, watershed health, and conservation practices. Recreational opportunities include easy hiking trails along the Sandy River floodplain, birdwatching platforms, and picnic areas. The river itself is known for salmon runs and other native fish species, making it important for regional biodiversity. Oxbow fosters community engagement with nature through volunteer programs and seasonal events that highlight local environmental issues and foster stewardship. Visitors appreciate the peaceful setting and the opportunity to observe wildlife in a relatively undisturbed habitat close to the Portland metropolitan area. The center's commitment to habitat restoration and sustainable land management continues to enhance the ecological quality of this section of the Sandy River, balancing recreation and conservation.
