The Lewis and Clark Expedition passed through the area twice, in November 1805 and spring of 1806, noting abundant wildlife and stopping to hunt and gather food.

[1] During most of the 20th century the land was owned privately as part of a cattle ranch, until the 1950s when a portion was acquired for the construction of Interstate 84, which now forms the southern boundary of the area.

[3] The area's management use plan has focused on low impact, non-motorized recreational use at the gateway to the Gorge, in addition to habitat restoration for native plants and wildlife.

[4] A 1930s dike was removed in 2013 by the Corps of Engineers to restore the free flow of the river,[5] and efforts have been made to reduce the prevalence of invasive species like Himalayan blackberry and reed canarygrass.

As the farthest northwestern edge of the Columbia Gorge scenic area, Sandy River Delta is a popular location for hiking, dog walking, horseback riding, and waterfowl hunting.