Blazing a Trail

Local man helps make Barlow Wayside happen

By Garth Guibord

The Sandy Post, Oct 13, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Mitch Williams looks at a map of the Barlow Wayside before venturing into the forest to enjoy a hike.

Garth Guibord / Sandy Post

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Mitch Williams envisioned turning about 100 acres of Clackamas County-owned property into a public park with trails and more, so he did what came naturally — he sketched out his idea.

Now, as the Barlow Wayside in Welches nears completion, he can look back on that sketch and see it come to life in this new park.

“It’s almost identical to the initial pencil drawings,” he said.

Williams estimated the park, which sits on Barlow Trail Road approximately one-third of a mile east from Marmot Road, is about 70 percent done. But people who want to get out and enjoy hiking, biking and some beautiful forest can enjoy what is already there.

From Highway 26, turn north on Sleepy Hollow Drive and take a right turn on a bridge over the Sandy River to Barlow Trail Road. The wayside parking lot is on the left a short distance down the road (the restroom is an easy landmark to look for).

Williams reported the county purchased the land in 1947 for $1, and in 1956 the county parks board visited the property and realized it had potential as a public park. In the early 1990s, momentum toward that goal started through local letter writing, and in 2007, Williams applied for a special-use permit to develop the park.

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