Length of Hike: 2.2 Mile Loop

Difficulty: Easy

Hours: The park is open year-round from 7am to 7pm.

What to Wear: In the Summer, wear shorts and sneakers or hikers. The trail is pretty clear, but I have read warnings about poison oak in the area. Be aware.

What to Pack:

• Water
• Camera with a telephoto lens for bird watching
• Binoculars
• Cliff Bars, Justin's Almond Butter or Erin's Kick-Ass Granola for snacktime
• Water for the dog
• Sunscreen
• Bug repellant

Wapato Greenway Loop is a Magical Place!

We were looking for a short hike to take on a pretty warm afternoon with our dog, Rocky. He is getting older and doesn't do well in the open sun for too long these days. I've been wanting to explore more of Sauvie Island for a long time, so we decided on checking out the Wapato Greenway Loop. We were NOT disappointed!

This dog-friendly hike was not crowded at all, and much of the trail is under tree cover and shaded. We were lucky that we even had a bit of a breeze on the day we went. It was nothing short of perfect.

Parking at the Wapato Greenway Loop

This park does require a Sauvie Island Parking Permit. We hiked this flat, dog-friendly trail on a May afternoon and only about half of the parking lot was being used. I would assume that in the Summer and depending on the time of day, it could easily fill up quickly. The cramped little lot holds about 20 cars at the most. The trailhead leads right from the parking lot. Lock up your belongings!

The Trails at Wapato Greenway Loop

The trail is about 1/2 in the open sun and 1/2 in the shade. There are two landing areas where you can stop and spend some time listening to the frogs and birds echoing across the Virginia Lake North Pond. We read that there is a vibrant population of beaver at this lake, but we didn't happen to see any.

The double-wide well-maintained trail loops around Virginia Lake North Pond, alongside blackberry vines, under super tall Cottonwood Trees, and in and out of flowery meadows. For Rocky, it was an endless succession of smells and sounds and he had a BALL.

Picnicking at Wapato Greenway Loop

About 1/4 of the way into the loop there is a covered picnic area and a perfect spot to stop for lunch. During the right season, you can even pick some blackberries for a snack.

All in all, we had an amazing time on this easygoing hike and look forward to going back. It'll make you jealous of the people who get to live on Sauvie Island year-round.

Have You Been To Wapato Greenway Loop? We Want To Hear From You!

Leave us some comments below about your adventures at Wapato Greenway Loop on Sauvie Island!