Oxbow feels like it is in the middle of nowhere but it's easy to get to and practically within the city limits of Portland. Accessibility and quiet is why I chose it for a weekday beginning of the season camping adventure to air out my gear and try out my new Lily Trotters.
Campground Review:
You can book sites online up to 24 hours in advance, or you can show up to camp one night at one of the few non-reservable first come sites. When I arrived the board read CAMPING FULL, but when I went to the campground I found it to be pretty empty. Check in time is 2pm and and sites are $22 (There are 67 sites). There are toilets in each loop and one block of showers for the whole campground. My site #31 was next to the toilets and therefore close to the water point and trash (good when the campground is empty, but may be a busy and loud location on the weekend). Each site has a table, fire ring, grill and hook to hang your food or trash. Most sites had good trees for hammocking! I also saw some sites designated for campers with disabilities.
Oxbow is well maintained with lots of picnic/day use areas, a beach and lots of nature trails (more for walking than hiking). Since it was the weekday I had most of the campground to myself--there were only a handful of other campers and some deer (when I left nearly all the sites had reserved signs for the upcoming weekend). On most weekend it seems to be the kind of place that would cater to families. There are strict no dogs and no alcohol policies (and lots of rules posted everywhere)
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**Product Review**:
As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get to test products. At Oxbow, I tested two pairs of compression socks from Lily Trotters: The Lily Trotters Om Denim and the Lily Trotters Candy Stripes Grey. (I give the compression socks 5 stars even though the campground only gets 4)
What I loved about camping with my Lily Trotters:
- The first thing I noticed when I put the socks on was that they were tight, but they didn't cut off my circulation as so many pairs of compression socks do. I followed the calf size measurement fitting chart on the site and was skeptical that I needed the size that was recommended, yet they fit perfectly. I wore them to sleep in and they kept my toes warm on a chilly night still without feeling too tight. They also fit well under other socks as sock liners (thankfully it wasn't that cold).
- I loved that the heels are padded. I've never seen this in a compression sock before, and it makes them all the more comfortable for hiking about.
- The color are really fun. I have both the Candy Stripes grey and the Denim Om. I personally think they looked fabulous in my hammock and I was the most stylish person bouncing around the campground. Both styles fit the same.
- I got one pair wet when I was walking too close to the river and they dried out pretty quickly (good for hand washing and drying on extended trips). When I went back to the river I put my dry pair on with my Xtratuf fishing boots to keep dry. (I won these last summer in a Dyrt camping contest!) I was surprised how comfortable and smoothly my socks fit in the boots. Because they are lightweight and snug I was able to get my boots off without pulling my socks off for the first time ever.
I will be definitely wearing my Lily Trotters for camping, hiking, traveling and under my fishing boots in the future!
