Barlow Wayside Park is a majestic hidden gem located in the forest outside of Sandy near the popular Sandy Ridge mountain bike area. 

This wonderful park has 1.5 miles of kid-friendly trails that wander through the green mossy trees, over many bridges, and past a waterfall. It also has a little trail known as Hobbit Hill. This is one of the first trails I took my kids when they were tiny. It was quiet, serene, empty, easy to walk, and felt safe. We have been visiting this park ever since and even met the groundskeeper, who keeps us updated on any fun sightings or new developments within the park. It's now our go-to trail to take friends and visitors. 

The park receives almost twice as much rainfall throughout the year as Portland, so it remains lush and green year-round. Seasonally there will be salmon that pass through Little Joe Creek in the park, which is super fun for the kiddos to watch and learn about. A kiosk past the first bridge has a self-guided tour map; the park has numbered kiosks throughout the trails that correspond to the map. 

There is a pit toilet in the parking lot that is open year-round. The parking area has about a dozen spots, but it is rarely busy here and a great spot to visit, especially on the weekdays. It is dog-friendly if they are on leashes. There are a couple of stairs and some rocks laid out as a path, so I would not recommend a stroller on these trails. There is spotty reception for most of the park so keep that before you set out. 

If you venture across the main road, a connecting path parallels the Sandy River.