Category: Salem/Albany

Silver Falls State Park – 08/16/2025

Post author By derwoodynck
Post date August 18, 2025
5 Comments on Silver Falls State Park – 08/16/2025

A rare August atmospheric river was forecast to hit the NW with a potential to drop 1-3 inches of rain in the mountains and an inch or more in the northern Willamette Valley. By Sunday the system was projected to be moving on and giving way to sunny skies. We adjusted our plans accordingly and had decided to visit Silver Falls State Park on Sunday after the rains subsided to see how the waterfalls looked with the additional rainwater.

We got a little rain on Friday, and more overnight, but by early Saturday morning it became apparent that the river had stayed to the north and mostly missed the Salem area. Around 9am we decided that there was no reason to wait an additional day and quickly packed up and were on our way to Silver Fall by 10am.

We parked in the busy South Falls Day Use Area and hung our State Park Day Use Parking Permit. (Parking is $10.00 for one day.)

Our plan was to hike the Trail of Ten Falls in a clockwise direction starting with South Falls.

South Falls Lodge and Cafe

South Falls

For the loop you can either hike behind South Falls or continue to a footbridge over South Fork Silver Creek below the falls. The majority of people go behind the falls which is normally the route we take as well, but it looked pretty busy behind the falls so we headed for the bridge.

South Falls from the bridge.

After crossing the bridge we turned right to continue on the Canyon Trail along the creek.

Hedgenettle

Largeleaf avens

The next waterfall up was Lower South Falls, approximately a mile from South Falls.

Like South Falls the trail goes behind Lower South Falls.

Lower South Falls wound up being our favorite today.

We continued on the Canyon Trail past a junction with the Maple Ridge Trail which provides an option for a shorter loop back to the South Falls Day Use Area.

It was nearly another mile on the Canyon Trail to the third waterfall, Lower North Falls on the North Fork Silver Creek.

Self-heal

Footbridge over the North Fork Silver Creek.

The recent rain was most obvious with this waterfall. We’ve visited the waterfall twice in July when it typically looks like this.

Just after passing Lower North Falls we detoured left on the short spur to Double Falls.

Double Falls

Back on the Canyon Trail the next waterfall up was Drake Falls followed shortly by Middle North Falls.

Drake Falls

Middle North Falls

Middle North Falls is another waterfall that you can hike behind, but unlike South and Lower South Falls it is not part of the loop. We detoured on the spur trail that led downhill behind the falls.

We returned to the Canyon Trail and continued on to a junction with the Winter Trail. Winter Falls all but disappears in the Summer and even with the recent rain we didn’t expect that there would be enough flow to make the half mile roundtrip detour worth it.

The Winter Trail footbridge through the trees.

A third of a mile beyond the Winter Trail we passed Twin Falls which is the most difficult of the waterfalls to get a good view of.

After the leaves fall off the trees there is a decent view of Twin Falls from the trail as you are coming from the Winter Trail junction, but today this was the best view we had.

Near Twin Falls the Twin Falls Trail split off to the left which led uphill to the new North Canyon District (post). If you found the need for a restroom while you were on the loop the only one outside of the South Falls Day Use Area is located at this new trailhead.

We opted not to make the climb up to the new North Rim Trail and stuck to the Canyon Trail for another mile to North Falls.

Required picture of these large boulders in the creek.

North Falls

North Falls is the other waterfall that you can hike behind and we followed the Canyon Trail underneath.

Rainbow below North Falls.

Scouler’s corydalis

We climbed the steps on the far side of North Falls to the junction with the Rim Trail, but before continuing the loop we detoured to Upper North Falls. It’s approximately four tenths of a mile from the junction with the Rim Trail to Upper North Falls.

To reach Upper North Falls you pass under a footbridge coming from the North Falls Trailhead and Highway 214.

Bleeding Heart

Upper North Falls

After visiting Upper North Falls we returned to the Rim Trail and followed it nearly 2-miles back to the South Falls Day Use Area where we had another half miles back to our parked car.

North Falls from the Rim Trail.

Salal berries. These were the only ripe edible berries that we came across. They aren’t the best trail berries, but these were fairly juicy and sweet prompting me to have a couple.

Winter Creek at the top of Winter Falls. Our suspicion of low water flow was confirmed.

Given where we parked and various detours our GPS showed an 8-mile hike with approximately 600′ of elevation gain.

Despite the atmospheric river being more of a seasonal creek in our part of Oregon there had been enough rain to make a noticeable impact on the falls which was fun to see. It was another reminder that Silver Falls State Park is worthy of a visit anytime of the year. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Silver Falls 2025

Tags Canyon Trail, Double Falls, Drake Falls, hiking, Lower South Falls. South Falls, Middle North Falls, North Falls, Oregon, Rim Trail, Silver Falls State Park, South Falls Day Use Area, Twin Falls, Upper North Falls

Oregon Salem/Albany Trip report Willamette Valley

Enchanted Forest – 07/26/2025

Post author By derwoodynck
Post date July 28, 2025
3 Comments on Enchanted Forest – 07/26/2025

Instead of going out on a typical hike this week we had the chance to a join a small group of my co-workers at the Enchanted Forest theme park. The family-owned park opened in 1971 is located just south of Salem along Interstate 5. Enchanted Forest has been a part of countless Oregonians childhoods, and the nostalgia felt for the park makes it fun to revisit as adults.

The park is open seasonally, generally starting with Spring Break and running through the last weekend in September. At both the beginning of their season and in September the park is only open on weekends. An entrance fee allows guests to explore the park including several interactive attractions and shows. Other rides require tickets which can be purchased when entering or at booths around the park.

Upon entering Enchanted Forest the first attraction is Storybook Lane which begins at a castle to the left of the entrance.

To the right are restrooms, food options, and gift shops.

Storybook Lane is a series of fairy tale themed exhibits, many of which are interactive such as a rabbit hole based on Alice in Wonderland, a crooked house, and a slide based on the Old Lady Who Lived in The Shoe.

The rabbit hole exit.

Inside the dwarves mine.

Entrance to the slide which we all went down.

Outside of the Crooked House. Inside the floors are indeed crooked.

After winding up the through Storybook Lane the next area is the western themed Tofteville.

To the left (north) of Tofteville is the Haunted House which requires tickets.

Before we headed into the Haunted House we headed for the Comedy Theatre which is just a little past the Haunted House. Since 1973 Enchanted Forest has put on musical comedies which provide some good laughs and a good chance to rest tired feet.

This year’s performance is Jack and the Beanstalk.

There is an area of kiddy rides just beyond the theatre including a little train, bumper boats, a small Ferris wheel, and frog hopper. There is also a bumper car ride in that area with a 42″ height requirement. All of these rides require tickets.

We didn’t have any kiddos with us so after the performance we went through the Haunted House then back through Tofteville to the Old European Village area.

One of the displays inside the Haunted House.

The entrance to the Challange of Mondor, another ticket ride. This ride is similar to Buzz Lightyear in Disney Land where a car takes you through the ride while you try and hit targets with a laser gun. Heather and I were outdone by Elizabeth in our car while Mary Ann took top honors in the other car.

After making our way through the Old European Village we stopped into the Fantasy Fountains Water-light Show.

Inside Pinocchio’s Playhouse.

This free show repeats every 15 minutes inside the Jolly Roger Inn where guests can get pizza, popcorn, PB&J Sandwiches, other snacks, and drinks.

The water show is actually pretty relaxing, and another good excuse for a break from walking. After our break here we headed back uphill (the park is located on a forested hillside) to the Big Timber Log Ride. The log ride is the most thrilling ride in the park and there was about an hour wait time. (I didn’t actually check the time, but it seemed to go pretty quickly.)

Waiting in line. There are a number of warnings that riders will get wet on this ride. Ponchos are available for purchase at ticket booths and gift shops for those who want to avoid this.

The final drop.

This is the main source of soaking although there is a smaller drop before this where some water will likely hit you.

Heading up.

Members of our group in the flume below us.

I’m pretty sure I wound up the wettest of our group with Heather a close second. The good news was that we were wearing hiking clothes which are designed to dry quickly. After the log ride my coworkers headed out, but Heather and I stuck around for the Ice Mountain Bobsled Roller Coaster.

The Ice Mountain Bobsled is the runner up to the log ride for thrill factor. It was a 40-minute (or so) wait for the bobsleds.

I’m old enough to remember when the bobsleds were introduced in 1983 (I was 10). The ride is still fun as an adult however there are a couple of sudden stops/slowdowns that can be a bit jarring.

We had both gotten hungry standing in the bobsled line so after the ride we headed back down through the Old European Village to Gretel’s Grill and grabbed a bite to eat. After eating we debated on sticking around a little longer or heading home to our cats. The cats won out and home we went. We’d had a lot of fun as we always do anytime we have an excuse to visit this local treasure. Happy Enchanted Trails!

Flickr: Enchanted Forest

Tags Big Timber Log Ride, Challenge of Mondor, Comedy Theatre, Enchanted Forest, Haunted House, Ice Mountain Bobsled, Oregon, Salem, Tofteville

Hiking Oregon Salem/Albany Trip report Willamette Valley

Champoeg State Heritage Area

Post author By derwoodynck
Post date June 24, 2025
1 Comment on Champoeg State Heritage Area

On Juneteenth we headed to Champoeg State Heritage Area for a morning hike. We had visited the park in December 2015 (post) as part of our “500 featured hikes” goal and run into a few flooded sections of trail. Our focus on this visit was to hike those sections on this visit to fill in the gaps of Sullivan’s featured hike.

As we’d done on our previous visit we parked at the Riverside Day Use Area.

We followed a paved path through the picnic area to the pavilion which marks the place where the first American government on the Pacific Coast was created.

The Pavillion Trail.

The trail in 2015.

We passed the pavilion and headed down some steps to a trail along the Willamette River where we veered left on the trail closest to the river.

We took the trail angling left which took us to the river.

Duck flying by an eagle’s nest.

The path continued above the river before looping back toward the pavilion.

Bittersweet nightshade

Coastal manroot and red elderberry.

Heading back toward the pavilion.

We came to another set of stairs and headed up to a small picnic shelter.

At the small shelter we detoured to the right to check out the foundational remains of a building then headed back past the shelter on a paved path that led back to the pavilion.

The sign below the window marks the high-water marks of the 1861 flood that destroyed all of the original buildings in the area.

After reading the interpretive signs at the pavilion, we took another path down toward the river.

This path briefly followed the river before veering away and leading to the Townsite Day Use Area and a private residence (We assume this is for the park ranger?).

Robin

At the far end of the Townsite Day Use Area parking lot we picked up the Champoeg Townsite Trail.

This dirt path led us to a group tent area and boat ramp near the Oak Grove Day Use Area.

Scenery along the trail.

The Willamette River.

Blackberry blossoms and wild cucumber (fruit from coastal manroot).

Young rabbit along the trail.

Moth mullein

Starling

At the far end of the group tent area the trail headed toward the boat ramp before turning right through some blackberry bushes.

The trail veered away from the river at a bench near Champoeg Creek. The trail then followed the creek bed to a park road and bike path.

Ground squirrel

We turned left on the bike path and crossed over Champoeg Creek near the campground entrance.

Champoeg Creek

Champoeg Creek in 2015.

We continued on the paved path for a tenth of a mile then turned left at a hiker symbol for the Kitty Newell Gravesite.

In 2015 we went all the way to Butteville but today we had some chores to do at home, so we skipped it this time.

We turned left on the dirt trail and then took another left at a “Y” junction to visit the gravesite.

The gravesite trail is to the left with the Nature Trail to the right.

The trail continues a short distance beyond the gravesite to a bench along Champoeg Creek.

We returned to the junction with the Nature Trail and followed that by staying left at junctions. After 0.4-miles we popped out onto the bike path near another bench.

There was some poison oak along this trail.

Willamette River

We turned right on the bike path and after 0.2-miles found ourselves back at the sign for the Kitty Newell Gravesite. We continued back across Champoeg Creek but stayed on the bike path at the Champoeg Townsite Trail.

We stayed on this paved path for a half mile to a “Visitor Center” pointer.

Ground squirrel

Checker mallow

This was supposed to be a picture of the elegant brodiaea but apparently the camera was obsessed with the grass.

We skipped the center during our 2015 visit so this time we turned left and headed up a small hill.

After walking around the grounds at the Visitor Center we headed back down the hill and continued on the bike path back to the Riverside Day Use Area.

Swallow

Phacelia

Marker for Napoleon Street.

The sign at the bottom of the tree is the water line for flooding that occurred in 1996 and the one up higher (a lot higher) is for 1861.

The bike path leaving the Townsite Day Use Area.

Just hanging out.

Heading for the Riverside Day Use Area parking lot.

Today’s hike came in at 5.7-miles with just 100′ of elevation gain.

It was a beautiful morning, and we accomplished what we’d set out to do by filling in the missing pieces of the featured hike. (One thing to note is that Champoeg is a fee park – $10.00/day or $30.00/annual pass.) With the park being less than 45-minutes from Salem we were home by 10:30am giving us plenty of time to do a few chores before doing some relaxing with the cats. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Champoeg State Heritage Area

Tags champoeg creek, Champoeg State Heritage Area, hiking, Oregon, Riverside Day Use Area, Willamette Valley

Hiking Oregon Salem/Albany Trip report Willamette Valley

Wildlife Week Day3: Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge 04/29/2025

Post author By derwoodynck
Post date May 1, 2025
No Comments on Wildlife Week Day3: Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge 04/29/2025

Overnight and morning rain showers delayed day 3 of wildlife week but by 9am things were starting to clear up. With the later start I had decided it would be the day I visited Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge. It is the closest refuge to our home in Salem, just under 20 minutes, and I was only expecting to do a 5-to-6-mile hike meaning I’d likely still be home around Noon. This was my sixth visit to the refuge (2010, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024) and I was looking to do something a little different during this visit. Looking at the refuge map and Google Earth there was a possible route/trail around the base of Baskett Butte along it’s west and south sides and my mission today was to check it out. I wound up with a 5.5-mile lollipop (with a short handle).

I parked at the familiar Baskett Butte Trailhead and set off on the signed trail staying right at junctions eventually passing Morgan Lake, the Smithfield Road Trailhead and Moffitti Marsh.

You can actually see some of the route I explored on the left side between Parvipes Marsh and the butte and at the bottom of the picture wrapping around the butte.

It might be wildlife week but for the first half mile I saw more wildflowers than wildlife.
Manroot

Camas

Plectritis

Checkerbloom

Tolmie’s mariposa lilies

My first non-flying bird wildlife sighting was a doe from the saddle on the butte.

After watching her for a moment I started to move and noticed two more deer on the other side of the trail in the woods.

Morgan Lake with a bit of Moffitti Marsh to the left.

Columbine

Iris

Robin

Sparrows

Gold crowned sparrow

The grass was low enough that the lake was fairly visible. Later in Spring you’re lucky to see any water from the trail.

Not a great picture due to the distance and light, but there are a couple of ruddy ducks to the left hanging out with some ring-necked ducks.

Mallards

American coot

Gadwalls

Buffleheads

Common yellowthroat

At the end of Morgan Lake (by the sign above) I started scanning the wetland below for a bittern. I’ve heard them in the area before and had them fly off before I could get a picture, but I was usually coming from the other direction. This time I had the high ground, and it made a difference.
Looking for a bittern.

American bittern. I could only see the bittern from a very short section of trail and as soon as I lost a little elevation it disappeared from sight. It never flew off, but I couldn’t see it even knowing where it was.

Following the trail next to Smithfield Road.

Lots of red-winged blackbirds near the trailhead.

Finch

Heading back toward Baskett Butte and Moffitti Marsh.

Northern flicker

Moffitti Marsh

American wigeons

Female common yellowthroat

Spotted towhee

I watched a crow chase off a hawk that had apparently gotten too close.

The official trail heads up the hill to the left. I veered right just beyond the trail sign pointing toward Moffitti Marsh.

I followed tire tracks from the refuge vehicles through the muddy grass. It wasn’t the easiest walking, but it wasn’t too hard to follow the tracks.

Lilac

Parvipes Marsh ahead to the right.

A refuge tractor was a little behind me so when I came to a “T” junction with a clear but less worn track heading uphill to the left I turned that way.
The tractor turned right and drove over a dike at the end of Parvipes Marsh to a field on the other side.

Deer farther up the hillside.

The track I was on turned to the right and traversed the hillside around the butte.

This appears to be balsamroot. There were just a couple of patches on the SW side of the butte.

Cottonwood Pond

Buttercups and miniature lupine

Meadow checker-mallow

Lomatium and plectritis

South Slough Pond

I was a bit surprised to find a bench along this route given it isn’t shown as an official trail.

Grass pea

More checkerbloom

Golden paintbrush

The path I was on was leading toward Coville Road and I could see the trailhead, but I hadn’t been to the overlook on Baskett Butte yet. In 2023 I had come down from the overlook on a trail that connected up with the track I was on, so I kept watch and then turned uphill when I spotted the tread.
If I hadn’t been looking for the tread I don’t think I would have noticed it.

Lupine

Another Tolmie’s mariposa lily

Western meadowlark

The overlook ahead.

The obligatory photo from the overlook.

It was a steep climb up to the overlook and in hindsight I was wishing I had done the loop in the opposite direction. I had opted not to do that though because I wasn’t 100% this route was going to work. After a brief break at the overlook I headed down to the trailhead on the official trails.

Lots of patches of plectritis on the butte.

Ground squirrel

Swallow

Before heading home I drove up Coville Road to the parking area at Cottonwood Pond since I had seen a lot of birds on the water during my hillside traverse.
Baskett Butte from the Cottonwood Pond parking area.

Mallards

Northern pintails

Northern shovelers

Lesser scaup. They look a lot like ring-necked ducks only without the ring.

Ring-necked ducks

Nap Time.

Another nice day at a wildlife area. In addition to the photographed subjects a bald eagle, Bullock’s oriole, goldfinch, turkey vulture, and Canada geese all flew by me but refused to pose for a picture. The next couple of days are forecast to be sunny before more showers arrive on Friday in time for the weekend. Hopefully I will have some cloud free morning light over my next couple outings. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Baskett Slough 2025

Tags American Bittern, Baskett Butte, Baskett Butte Trailhead, Baskett Slough Wildlife Refuge, Cottonwood Pond, deer, hiking, Moffitti Marsh, Morgan Lake, Northern Pintail, Oregon, Parvipes Marsh, Rich Guadagno Memorial Loop Trail, Ruddy Duck, Salem, Smithfield Road Trailhead, Wildlife

Hiking Oregon Salem/Albany Trip report Willamette Valley

Wildlife Week – Day 2: Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge 04/28/2025

Post author By derwoodynck
Post date April 30, 2025
1 Comment on Wildlife Week – Day 2: Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge 04/28/2025

For day 2 of my “Wildlife Week” vacation I returned to Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge. This marked my fourth visit to this refuge which is just under 30 minutes from Salem (2014) (2021) (2022). For this visit I parked at the Eagle Marsh Trailhead and hiked a total of 10.5-miles visiting Eagle, Teal, Willow, Mallard, Egret, Pintail and Killdeer Marshes as well as Mohoff, Wood Duck, Dunlin and South Ponds.
The route included two short road walks along Buena Vista and Wintel Roads.

My “sunrise” start was once again under a canopy of clouds making pictures of the numerous ducks and other birds difficult during the lollipop loop past Eagle Marsh and around Teal and Willow Marshes.

Ring-necked ducks

Much of the area, and most trails, are closed between October 1st and April 1st each year.

Ring-necked ducks and a very out of focus pied billed grebe.

Willow Marsh

Northern filckers

Geese

Teal Marsh

Pied billed grebe

Common yellowthroat

Pair of bald eagles in the snag.

One of the eagles.

I believe this is a greater yellowlegs.

Bufflehead

Green-winged teals

Killdeer

Leaving Eagle Marsh. Even over an hour after sunrise there wasn’t much light.

A 0.2-mile walk to the SW along Buena Vista Road brought me to the start of the dike trails at Mohoff Pond and Mallard Marsh. I took the dike between the two and followed it to a 4-way junction between Mohoff Pond, Mallard Marsh, Egret Marsh, and Pintail Marsh.

Robin

The mudflats at Mallard Marsh were busy.

Green-winged teals and several species of shore birds. I think the darker, larger birds are short billed dowitchers, the smallest are sandpipers and there is one with a black mark on its underside which may be a dunlin.

Better look at the short billed dowitchers.

A little better look at what I think might be dunlins.

I see you.

This American bittern saw me way before I saw it. It had flown up earlier and landed in the vegetation and even though I watched where it landed, I couldn’t make it out until it took flight again.

Savanah sparrow that appears as annoyed with the bugs as I was.

Not a great photo but there is a northern pintail lower right.

A sandpiper, my guess is a least sandpiper.

American wigeons. Another not great shot but they were all sticking close to the far shore of Mallard Marsh.

Mallards hanging out at Mallard Marsh.

Nearing the 4-way junction.

At the junction I went straight passing between Egret and Pintail Marshes. This was the first time I’d taken this route.

Northern shoveler

I made my way to the Pintail Marsh Trailhead and then road walked another 0.3-miles east along Wintel Road to a small pullout along the Prairie Extension Trail.
Pintail Marsh from the trailhead along Wintel Road.

Cinamon Teal

I veered right on the Prairie Extension’s grassy tract.

Camas

Hawk

Song sparrow

Spotted towhee

Common vetch

After two tenths of a mile on the Prairie Extension I noticed a hiker symbol marking the Woodland Loop Trail on the right.

While this trail has theoretically been there on my previous visits it hasn’t always been obvious or passable. Storm damage and Spring flooding had kept me off this trail until today. The third of a mile trail passes through a dense and damp woodland before returning to the grassy track near the end of the Rail Trail boardwalk.

Avens

Western meadowrue

Obstacle

Newer looking bridge.

Older bridge.

End of the Woodland Loop.

The boardwalk to the left.

I turned right and hiked around Dunlin and Killdeer Ponds then made my way back to the Rail Trail boardwalk. There was some commotion at the SW corner of Dunlin Pond caused by several bald eagles having a heated conversation.
The one trying to land was apparently not invited to the party.

There are 3 immature and 2 adult eagles in the trees. Then there was the juvenile that wasn’t welcome and possibly another juvenile that had been flying around. I was having a hard time keeping track of just how many there were.

After tearing my focus away from the eagle meeting, I watched a northern harrier hunt in the field opposite of Dunlin Pond.
Grey ghost

Dunlin Pond

These may be the two juveniles that were not allowed at the meeting.

A nearly dry South Pond on the right after having looped around Killdeer Marsh.

The start of the boardwalk.

I didn’t see much of anything along the boardwalk (which is typical) until near the end when things picked up near Wood Duck Pond.
Dove

Song sparrow

Wood ducks

Mallard

Swallow

Cinnamon teal

I turned right at the end of the boardwalk and took the Prairie Extension back to Witnel Road and then hiked back to the Pintail Marsh Trailhead.

Woodpecker

Pintail Marsh (all the black specs are insects)

I went left along the marsh and stayed left at junctions to pass Mohoff Pond and make my way back to Buena Vista Road.

Female red-winged blackbird

Male red-winged blackbird

American coot

The highly invasive American bullfrog.

A good look at the size difference between a Canada goose (left) and cackling geese.

Sunning snake

Canada goose

I walked the road back to Eagle Marsh where a great blue heron was hanging out next to the overlook.

The heron’s head between the interpretive signs.

Ankeny has never disappointed. I always see a lot of wildlife, but getting good pictures without a professional camera and telephoto lens is difficult given the size of the ponds and how easy it is for the birds to put a good deal of distance between people and themselves. In addition to the wildlife included in the post I also saw an osprey, a coyote (just before pulling into the parking area), a scrub jay, and numerous small birds that would not cooperate for photos. All in all, it was a great addition to Wildlife Week. Happy Trails!

Flicker Album: Ankeny 2025

Hiking Oregon Salem/Albany Trip report Willamette Valley

Silver Falls State Park – Thanksgiving 2024

Post author By derwoodynck
Post date December 2, 2024
1 Comment on Silver Falls State Park – Thanksgiving 2024

With November quickly coming to an end we hadn’t managed to get out on a trail yet. We skipped the first two weekends due to poor weather and then spent most of the next week at theme parks in Southern California (post). While we got plenty of walking in at the parks, I didn’t consider those days as our monthly outing. Both Heather and I came down with head colds following our return home, so another weekend came and went without a hike. The forecast was dry for Thanksgiving which provided an opportunity to get a morning hike in. I was feeling better, but Heather was still dealing with a lingering cough, so I set out alone to check out the newest trailhead at nearby Silver Falls State Park.

The North Canyon Trailhead was opened in June 2023 followed by the North Rim Trail in July 2023. I was looking forward to checking out these new features, so I parked at the new trailhead and set off following pointers for the North Rim Trail.

The route I’d planned was to take the new trail 0.8-miles to the North Falls Trailhead then take a 0.6-mile out-and-back detour on the Upper North Falls Trail to visit Upper North Falls. After returning to the North Falls Trailhead I would take the Trail of Ten Falls down into the canyon passing behind North Falls and following this trail past Twin Falls to the Winter Falls Trail where I would turn left to visit Winter Falls and then climb out of the canyon to the Winter Falls Trailhead.

At the Winter Falls Trailhead I would again pick up the Trail of Ten Falls aka the Rim Trail where I would turn right and follow it past the Nature Store. Shortly after passing the Nature Store the Trail of Ten Falls heads down into the canyon again to pass behind South Falls. The trail is also known as the Canyon Trail between this point and where it heads into the canyon near the North Falls Trailhead. I would follow the Trail of Ten Falls/Canyon Trail behind South and then Lower South Falls on the South Fork Silver Creek. The trail eventually leaves the south fork behind and then later crosses the North Fork Silver Creek before passing Lower North Falls. A short spur trail just East of North Falls leads to Double Falls on Hult Creek. After crossing Hult Creek the Trail of Ten Falls passes Drake Falls followed by Middle North Falls. I would take another short spur trail leading behind Middle North Falls before continuing another half mile to a junction with the Twin Falls Trail. Finally I would take the Twin Falls Trail uphill a half mile back to the North Canyon Trailhead. This route resulted in an approximately 8.8-mile hike with close to 1000′ of elevation gain.

I chose the route because it included roughly 1.5-miles of trail that was new to me. The new-to-me trail included the North Rim Trail, Twin Falls Trail, and a short section of the Winter Falls Trail (between Winter Falls and the Winter Falls Trailhead). I chose the direction (clockwise) because the last two times I’d visited the waterfalls I’d been going the opposite direction, so I wanted a different perspective this time around.

Onward to the pictures!
The North Rim Trail heads left at a fork with the Twin Falls Trail a short distance from the parking lot.

I stuck to the North Rim Trail here leaving another (short) trail to do next time.

The Nature Play Area along the loop trail I didn’t take.

One of two bridges along the North Rim Trail.

Railing near the North Falls Viewpoint.

North Falls from the viewpoint.

North Falls

Map located at the North Falls Trailhead.

Upper North Falls from the Upper North Falls Trail.

Upper North Falls.

The split in the Trail of Ten Falls where the Canyon Trail heads down to North Falls.

North Falls

Trail behind North Falls.

Behind North Falls.

I will always take pictures of these large boulders in the creek.

Hair ice, a phenomenon that only occurs on rotting wood when the correct mix of moisture, atmospheric conditions, and temperature combines with the fungus Exidiopsis effusa. There were quite a few occurrences this morning.

Trail marker at the Twin Falls Trail junction.

Twin Falls

Twin Falls is a tough one to get a good clear view of the full waterfall. Recent rainfall had provided good flow for this fall which helps with the visibility.

This is Twin Falls on July 7, 2006.

All the rain had the side creeks and falls flowing as well.

Nearing the Winter Falls Trail and its bridge over the creek.

The view from the bridge.

Winter Falls from the Winter Falls Trail.

Winter Falls

It’s a steep couple of tenths of a mile climb from Winter Falls up to the trailhead which warmed me up enough that I removed my beanie, buff, and made a switch to lighter gloves shortly after I’d turned back onto the Trail of Ten Falls/Rim Trail.

The forecast had called for sunny skies, but we were also dealing with an air stagnation warning. For a brief moment I thought the fog might burn off, but that never materialized and by the time I arrived at South Falls more fog had rolled in.

There are some nice big trees scattered throughout the park.

Trail of Ten Falls/Canyon Trail above South Falls.

South Falls

Behind South Falls

For a short loop just to South Falls you can cross the bridge and return to the rim.

The trail below heading for Lower South Falls.

From behind Lower South Falls. I scared a poor woman so badly as I neared the falls. She was setting her phone up on a tripod for a selfie and didn’t see me coming nor could she hear me with the roar of the falls until I was just a couple of feet away. When I said that I was just going to sneak behind her she let out the loudest scream I’ve heard in a while.

Ankle deep pools behind the falls.

Lower South Falls

The mile long Maple Trail (right) allows for a shorter loop to both the falls on South Fork Silver Creek.

This is now the North Fork Silver Creek.

Unnamed falls on a side creek.

The footbridge over the North Fork Silver Creek.

Pool below the bridge.

Lower North Falls

Footbridge over Hult Creek and the spur trail to Double Falls.

Double Falls

Back on the Canyon Trail.

More fog.

Drake Falls

Middle North Falls

Spur trail (right) to Middle North Falls.

Behind Middle North Falls.

Splash pool

The Winter Falls Trail footbridge spanning the creek ahead on the right.

Chipmunk.

I saw a few birds (and heard several more) and saw a deer on my drive through the park, but this was the only wildlife that I managed to even try and get a photo of on the hike.

Twin Falls again which meant I was nearly to the Twin Falls Trail.

Twin Falls Trail junction.

It was another stiff climb out of the canyon. There was a bench at a switchback with a somewhat obstructed view of Twin Falls.

The Twin Falls Trail leveled out near its end.

Arriving back at the junction with the North Rim Trail.

I spotted several ruffed grouse as I was driving out of the trailhead.

I really enjoyed this loop. It began and ended with waterfalls and saved Middle North Falls, which I’ve decided is my favorite of the ten, until near the end. It was also a great time of the year to visit to see the falls full from the recent rains. This was my seventh visit to the park and even with my 2022 perimeter loop (post) there are still a number of trails I’ve yet to explore away from the waterfall area. I’m already looking at possible routes for the next visit. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Silver Falls State Park Thanksgiving

Corvallis Hiking Oregon Salem/Albany Willamette Valley

Independence Riverfront Parks – 07/06/2024

Post author By derwoodynck
Post date July 9, 2024
No Comments on Independence Riverfront Parks – 07/06/2024

The arrival of a heat dome on July 4th had us rethinking our hiking plans. We’d had a nice but warm hike on the Olallie Trail on the 4th (post), but the heat was only forecasted to get worse over the next few days. We were still recovering from that hike but still wanted to get out for a short stroll to stretch our legs, so we decided to make the fifteen minute drive to Independence, OR for a walk along the Willamette River.

The city of Independence has been developing parks along the river over the last 20+ years starting with Riverview Park which opened in 2005. Our plan was to start at this park and hike north past the community dog park and around the Independence Sports Park which is still under development. Due to the city’s 4th of July celebrations we weren’t able to park at the park so we began our hike from South D Street and walked down Osprey Lane to reach the park.

From the northern end of the park’s parking area we crossed Ash Creek on a footbridge.

Ash Creek

On the far side of the bridge we spotted a doe who was on her way to the creek.

After watching the doe for a while we continued on. The wide paved path made for an easy stroll. It was early enough that it wasn’t too warm yet, and most of the path was in the shade which also helped.

In addition to the single doe we spotted a variety of birds along our route.

Passing the dog park.

Sign at the start of the sports park.

Bird in a nest.

Interpretive sign along the trail.

Shortly after entering the sports park we forked right onto the soft surface Willamette River Trail

Stellar’s jay

Flowers along the path.

Eventually the field on the left will be developed into sports fields.

Vetch

Morning sunlight showing why it’s a robin “red breast”.

Sparrow

Going around the open field brought is into the sunlight, but it still hadn’t warmed up too much.

Swallows

Spotted towhee with breakfast.

When we got back to Riverview Park instead of taking Osprey Lane back to our car we took a paved path from the southern end of the parking area.
Amphitheater at Riverview Park.

This paved path passed between the river and apartments for a little over a third of a mile to South Main Street where we turned right (north) for a block to return to South D Street and our car.
Willamette River

Killdeer

Pointers on South Main Street.

This was a perfect recovery walk coming in a 3.1-miles with virtually no elevation gain.

We were pleasantly surprised with the number of birds and how nice the parks looked even after having just hosted the 4th of July celebrations. Hopefully the heat dome will move on soon and that will be the end of abnormally warm weather for the Summer, but it’s nice to have options such as this available. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Independence Riverfront Parks

Tags Ash Creek, hiking, Independence, Independence Community Dog Park, Independence Sports Park, Oregon, Riverview Park, willamette river, Willamette River Trail

Hiking Oregon Salem/Albany Trip report Willamette Valley

Baskett Slough Wildlife Refuge – 05/28/2024

Post author By derwoodynck
Post date June 1, 2024
4 Comments on Baskett Slough Wildlife Refuge – 05/28/2024

I extended my Memorial Day Weekend by taking a vacation day, and what better way to follow up a weekend of hiking than taking another hike. I turned to our nearest wildlife refuge and returned to Baskett Slough for a quick morning hike. This would be my fifth visit (far too few) with the most recent having been last April (post).

I started out at the Baskett Butte Trailhead and hiked up to the Rich Guadagno Observation Platform on Mt. Baldy hoping for a colorful Sunrise.

The best of the color was while I was still at the trailhead.

Checkerbloom

Common madia

Meadow checker-mallow and vetch

The platform

Too late for any color.

From the platform I headed out to the Morgan Lake Loop. There didn’t seem to be many birds around until I got to Moffitti Marsh.
There always seems to a western meadowlark or two on Mt. Baldy.

Spotted towhee

I went left to hike the loop clockwise.

Moffitti Marsh in the distance.

Geese flying over.

Snake in the grass.

Pied-billed grebes

Common yellowthroats

Gadwalls

Moffitti Marsh

Dove

Beyond the marsh the trail follows a fence line along farmland where I spotted a northern harrier. Normally these birds fly off quickly, but the one sat on his post as I slowly got close enough to get some decent zoomed photos.

When he finally flew off I continued to the Smithfield Road Trailhead then continued on the loop toward Morgan Lake.
House finch

Swallow

Sparrow

Crow

Goose family

Common yellow-throat (female)

Roses

Columbine

White-crowned sparrow

Ookow

Tolmie’s mariposa lily

After completing the Morgan Lake Loop I returned to the trailhead by completing the Rich Guadagno Memorial Loop.

Waxwing

After returning to the car I decided to check out a part of the refuge that I hadn’t seen before by driving out Coville Road to a parking area at Cottonwood Pond. It was a quarter to 8am and I wanted to avoid joining the morning rush hour traffic on the highway. It turned out to be a good decision because, as luck would have it, an American Bittern was sitting in grass near the mostly dry pond.

I watched the bittern for a few minutes then hopped back in the car and headed home. This was a 4.9-mile hike with 340′ of elevation gain.
Cottonwood Pond is in the lower left corner.

This was a nice way to end my long weekend leaving me plenty of time to do things like write these trip reports. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Baskett Slough 2024

Tags American Bittern, Baskett Butte, Baskett Butte Trailhead, Baskett Slough Wildlife Refuge, Cottonwood Pond, Coville Road, hiking, Morgan Lake, Northern Harrier, Oregon, Rich Guadagno Memorial Loop Trail, Smithfield Road Trailhead

Corvallis Hiking Oregon Salem/Albany Trip report Willamette Valley

Albany Parks and Snag Boat Bend – 04/22/2023

Post author By derwoodynck
Post date April 24, 2023
3 Comments on Albany Parks and Snag Boat Bend – 04/22/2023

The delayed arrival of Spring weather has begun affecting the timing of the hikes that I’d planned for us this year. We had originally planned a wildflower hike for this weekend, but they are running at least two weeks behind so we turned to a pair of wildlife hikes instead. Our first stop was at the Snag Boat Bend unit of the William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge.

This 341-acre unit is located a across the Willamette River to the East of the 5,325-acre refuge. The unit has several miles of trails although the amount accessible fluctuates due to flooding.
Not sure how “official” the writing is on the map, but it wasn’t wrong about the Turtle Loop being “closed” (high water).

The Snag Boat Bend Loop Trail begins as a boardwalk that passes over the North Beaver Pond. Oddly there wasn’t much, if any, water in this pond despite other areas later being flooded.

After the short boardwalk section the trail became a combination of grass/mud as it followed a swollen Lake Creek toward the Willamtte River.

A swollen Lake Creek

A third of a mile from the trailhead is a picnic table overlooking a former channel of the Willamette River that is now an oxbow lake filled by Lake Creek.

The oxbow lake.

The trail makes a hard left at the picnic table passing along the water.
Lots of water in the lake.

Woodpecker hiding in the trees.

Just under 0.2 miles from the picnic table, during low water, is said to be a path that makes it possible to connect the Snag Boat Band and Turtle Loop Trails.
Note the sign on the far side vs the closer sign barely sticking up out of the water.

A quarter mile from the picnic table the Snag Boat Bend Loop turns left at a junction. We stayed straight and visited the Observation Blind before setting off on the Blue Heron Trail.
Oregon grape

Red flowering currant

Slug

Signs at the junction.

The observation blind.

There wasn’t a whole lot to observe from the blind since the morning fog limited visibility.

Goose

Spotted towhee

Mallard drake

The Blue Heron Trail followed the boarder of the refuge and some private farmland.

It was approximately another quarter mile from the blind to a 4-way junction. Here the Blue Heron Trail began and finished a theoretical loop using the left most forks and the Turtle Trail split off to the right along a dike.
Blue Heron Trail to the left and Turtle Trail on the right.

We turned right onto the Turtle Trail and as we got onto the dike we could see that the area below, where a loop shown on the Oregonhikers page joined back up, was likely flooded. We followed the dike a quarter of a mile to another junction where the Turtle Trail made a hard right and descended from the dike into an open area where several rabbits were busy having their breakfast.

American widgeon

We followed this grassy track for a third of a mile back to the swollen Lake Creek where, during low water, the Turtle Loop would turn right along the creek and loop back around.

Another sign out in the middle of the water.

We turned back and returned to the junction with the Blue Heron Trail.
The start of a possible loop using the Blue Heron Trail. The fainter track on the right heading downhill was flooded just 100 feet or so away.

The flooded area where the loop would end.

I had gone down to the flooded section to see if there was possibly a way across without having to wade but there wasn’t. The good news was that my heading down to this spot had caused a great horned owl to move trees which allowed both Heather (on the other section of the Blue Heron Trail) and myself to spot it.

Since we knew that we would be able to make the Blue Heron Trail into a loop we followed it a half mile from the junction, making a sharp right near the 0.4-mile mark and decided to turn around. The trail had gone from gravel to wet grass and our feet were getting pretty damp which helped make the decision to turn around.
Cottonwood with red flowering currant, Oregon grape, and Indian plum blooming in front.

We were able to keep our feet dry on the gravel surfaces.

Mushroom

Rufous Hummingbird

Hawk preparing for takeoff.

We had started to go past the turn for the Blue Heron Trail so this photo is as we headed back toward the turn. We came from the right-hand side so the path straight ahead would have been the “sharp right”.

Killdeer

Our turn around spot. The trail was beginning to bend back to the East here.

We headed back along the Blue Heron Trail following it to the Snag Boat Bend Loop where we turned right in order to finish that loop.
A chipping sparrow among the golden-crowned sparrows.

On the Snag Boat Bend Loop

The trail turned left to follow this gravel roadbed for the final third of a mile.

The gate in the distance is at the trailhead.

Our hike at Snag Boat Bend came in at 3.9 miles with maybe 50′ of elevation gain. Had some of the loops not been flooded it might have been a bit shorter.

It was a nice first visit though and we are now interested in returning in late Summer/early Fall when some of the flooded trails might be accessible. While the fog made it a bit hard to see we still managed to see a few ducks, a goose, several rabbits, the owl, a hawk, lots of smaller birds, and one bald eagle that flew overhead. From the trailhead we drove North to the city of Albany where we’d plan to visit a series of the city’s parks. The idea was to start at Monteith Riverpark and hike East along the Willamette River to Simpson Park and then continue along the river there past First and Second Lakes if the trail wasn’t flooded. If it was flooded, we could turn inland at Simpson Park and re-visit the Talking Water Gardens (post).

I had two reasons for putting this urban hike on our schedule. First it was close to home and secondly Monteith Riverfront Park sits at the confluence of the Calapooia and Willamette Rivers, and the Calapooia is one of Oregon’s rivers that we had yet to see on a hike. This 80-mile long tributary of the Willamette begins in the Willamette National Forest near Tidbits Mountain (post) and flows Northwest through Brownsville, OR before turning North to the East of Interstate 5. It was disappointing to arrive and find that the entire park was closed for a large waterfront project by the City of Albany. (Normally I would check the status of our destination prior to heading out, but I didn’t expect an entire city park to be closed, and after looking online when I got home, I’m not sure I would have found the information anyway.)
We wound up parking East of the Riverfront Community Center and hoping on the Dave Clark Trail there.

Less than 100 yards from where we’d parked we came to an observation platform that led out over the Willamette River. From this platform we could at least see the mouth of the Calapooia emptying into the Willamette.

The confluence ahead to the left.

Highway 20 passing over the Willamette to the left. Fun fact about U.S. Highway 20 – It runs from Newport, OR to Boston, MA and is the longest road in the USA according to the Federal Highway Administration. Click here for more information and an interesting write up of the drive from Boston to Newport by Boots on the Trail.

We followed the Dave Clark Trail East passing under both bridges of the highway and then later under the Union Pacific Railroad.

Orange crowned warbler. One of many small birds we saw along this trail.

We thought it was a little odd to see two occupied nests atop the railroad so close together until we realized that the occupants weren’t both birds of prey.

Canada geese were using one of the nests.

Might be the mate looking acting as lookout from the bridge.

Osprey occupied the other and appeared to be in the process of renovations.

We also encountered a beautiful male Anna’s hummingbird but for the life of me I couldn’t get either one of the cameras I was carrying to focus on the little guy so the only picture we wound up with was a cropped shot from Heather’s phone.
His bright pink head was more impressive in person.

After ducking under the railroad and passing some apartments the trail passed the Willamette Community Garden and climbed to NE Oak Street.
The community garden (not pictured) was on our right.

Pretty tulips at the sign.

Here the trail follows several blocks of sidewalk before reaching its end at Bowman Park. The official route of the trail turned right on Oak St for a block then left for 5 blocks NE Water Ave to Geary St where it turned left and descended 3 blocks to Bowman Park. We stayed straight on Front Ave NE though and followed it 3 blocks to Harrison St. NE where we turned right for a block to NE Water Ave to rejoin the Dave Clark Trail.
Not a lot to see in the residential neighborhoods but we did cross Pettyjohn Creek along the way.

Sign for Bowman Park at Geary St.

Bowman Park on the left and the paved path we took on the right.

A paved path led East from Bowman Park behind a new apartment complex where it turned to a wood chip surface.

Cormant in the middle of the Willamette.

At the far end of the apartment complex the trail suddenly turned into a slick, muddy single track.

Squirrel

Things got started getting interesting here, and not in the good way. We quickly started passing vacant and/or abandoned homeless camps and the trail surface was just a mess. At this point we were only about a half mile from the Simpson Park Trailhead though so we pressed on.
Seen near a homeless camp which sort of captures the situation. A combination of unaffordable house, drug abuse, and mental illness has created a crisis up and down the West Coast with no simple (or quick) answer.

We initially mistook all the footprints and bike tracks as a sign that the trail saw good recreational use.

According to the Oregonhikers.org Field Guide entry for the Albany Riverfront Hike there is a concrete bridge over Cox Creek near Simpson Park. We never made it that far though as after a quarter mile we came to small pond over the trail. There was no foreseeable way around and we didn’t want to do to much searching for an alternate route for fear of stumbling upon an occupied camp so we turned around.

Prior to reaching the impassible puddle we had already decided to forgo trying to hike further along the Willamtte from Simpson Park and had planned instead of visit Talking Water Gardens and return via roads instead of the muddy trail. Now that we’d been stymied though we trudged back through the mud and past the homeless camps to the apartments where we turned left on a path that led a short distance uphill into Eads Park.

We turned left and passed through this small park then turned right onto Burkhart St NE and began our second stint of neighborhood hiking. After a block on Burkhart we made a left on Willamette Ave NE and followed it 0.2-miles to its end at the Albany/Millersburg Water Reclamation Facility where we turned right onto Davidson St. NE. A block on Davidson brought us back to Front AVE NE and a sign for the Talking Water Gardens.

Front Ave became Waverly Dr NE and we followed it until we finally crossed Cox Creek three tenths of a mile later.

We made our way to the gated entrance to the Talking Water Gardens happy to see that the man-made waterfall in the Beaver Marsh was flowing this time.

Buffleheads

We turned right and headed for the main sign board to get a picture of the map and decide on our route.
We decided to loop around the West Beaver Marsh and Central Oak areas before heading back.

There was obviously a lot more water present now then there had been in November and while there were less ducks present there was a larger variety of birds and best of all a bunch of western pond turtles.

View from above the waterfall.

The first set of turtles we spotted.

Western pond turtles.

Female red-winged blackbird

Green-winged teal

Yellow-rumped warbler (Audubon’s)

More turtles

Mallard drake

Turkey vulture

Another bale of turtles. (I had to look up “bale” because I had no idea what a group of turtles was called.)

Another man-made waterfall.

This had been full of ducks on our previous visit.

Yet another turtle.

Black phoebe

Acorn woodpecker

Sparrow

Northern shoveler

Hummingbird

Red-winged blackbird

Bench along the Central Oak area.

The first goslings we’ve spotted this year.

Very zoomed in shot of a hawk seen in the distance.

Bullfrog

Marsh wren

Final set of turtles.

Mallard pair

Chickadee

Yellow-rumped warbler (Myrtle)

We took about an hour to hike a little over 1.25-miles through the gardens. There was a lot of stopping to watch the wildlife and attempt to get photos. After exiting the gardens we made our way back to Front Ave via Waverly Drive and this time followed signs for the Dave Clark Trail back to it.

We followed the Dave Clark Trail back to our car, but not before spotting a bit more wildlife.
A couple ahead of us on the trail spotted this guy for us.

Squirrel

Our Albany Parks hike wound up being just 6.3 miles with under 100′ of elevation gain bringing our total for the day to 10.2 miles and maybe 100 total feet of elevation gain. All the hiking on paved surfaces in Albany combined with having wet shoes and socks made it feel like more though.

At the end of the day we were glad that we wound up in Talking Water Gardens given how much fun wildlife we spotted there but I probably would not do the rest of this hike over. The Dave Clark Trail along the Willamette was nice enough and if I was in Albany for another reason and had some time it would be a fine place for a stroll but necessary neighborhood walk to reach Simpson Park/Talking Water is not nearly as nice as either simply starting at the Simpson Park Trailhead or hiking along Cox Creek from Waverly Lake as we had done in November. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Snag Boat Bend and Albany Parks

Hiking Oregon Salem/Albany Willamette Valley

Minto-Brown Island Park Outings Spring 2023

Post author By derwoodynck
Post date April 18, 2023
1 Comment on Minto-Brown Island Park Outings Spring 2023

For several years Heather has volunteered with our local running store, Gallagher Fitness Resources, Princess Steps, a Women’s Beginning Walking Running Clinic. They meet on Tuesday nights but have “homework” walks throughout the week which she and I have been doing together. The longer walks are set for Saturdays and for three of the last four weeks we’ve taken those walks at Minto-Brown Island Park. The park has also been part of a couple of urban hikes that we’ve taken in previous years (2017 & 2020).

Despite the numerous visits there were still sections of trails that I hadn’t been on. I decided to use my second day off of work to check a few of those off my to-visit list. Minto-Brown is even closer to our house than Baskett Slough Wildlife Refuge which I’d visited the day before (post). In fact, it’s less than a mile away as the crow flies, but it is on the other side of the Willamette River so I had to drive a little over 3.5-miles to Riverfront Park where we’d been starting all of our walks.

Heather’s plan from the walking group had us increasing distance each week starting with 5.3 miles on 3/19 then 6.6 on 3/25 and 9 miles on 4/8. (Heather wanted more hill practice before the hiking season and since Minto-Brown is mostly flat we did a 7.5 mile “hilly” hike through the West Salem neighborhoods on 4/1.) For this visit I was planning on going a little further again by visiting Eola Bend County Park which borders Minto-Brown to the NW along the Willamette River. I wasn’t sure what my actual route would be though. Minto-Brown is full of both pave and dirt trails, some of which parallel one another just feet apart. Numerous loop options are possible, but closure due to flooding or nesting birds can block access to certain trails at times. All of the visits this year started the same as we first passed the Gerry Frank Salem Rotary Amphitheater in Riverfront Park and took the Peter Courtney Minto Island Bridge over the Willamette Slough and into Minto-Brown Island Park on the Minto-Island Conservation Trail.
The amphitheater and bridge on 3/19 23.

The amphitheater and bridge on 4/14/23.

On the first three visits we took the first paved right (one mile from Riverfront Park) and stayed right at the next junction to walk along the Willamette River and eventually arrive at the Lot 3 Trailhead. On this final visit I was unable to access the path along the river due to high water from recent rains so I forked left on a gravel that is often closed during bald eagle nesting season.
Wetland near the bridge on 4/8.

The wetland on 4/14.

Signs at the 2nd junction – 3/19.

The path to the Willamette River on 3/19.

The path on 4/14.

April 8th along the Willamette.

April 14th on the inland gravel path.

Beyond Lot 3 is where our visits began to differ. On our first (shortest) visit we continued South from the lot and took the second left (Brown Squirrel & Yellow Duck Loop) looped around the South and East ends of the Dog Park to Lot 2 where we crossed the entrance road and followed the 10k path back to the junction where we had taken our first right that morning. From there we retraced our steps back to Riverfront Park.

For the second hike we continued South from Lot 3 then forked right and crossed Oxbow Slough on a footbridge before turning back after another 0.75-miles at a “T” junction with the Blue Heron, Purple Rabbit, and 10k Trails. We retraced our steps, passing the shared Squirrel & Duck Loop section that we’d taken the previous week turning instead at the next right (We were coming from the opposite direction as the previous week. This was also part of the Yellow Duck Loop and took led us along the North side of the dog park to Lot 2 where we turned left and again followed the 10k path back as we had the week before.

On our third outing we followed our route from the week before to the “T” junction but turned left and continued on the shared Purple Rabbit/10k Loop to return to the junction near the bridge over the slough. This time we returned through Lot 3 taking the right fork of the Red Osprey Loop at the North end of the lot. This loop brought us through an open field with an old cherry orchard to the 10k Loop where we took a left and followed the familiar route back to Riverfront.

My route was most similar to our third outing. It varied in that I had to stay inland instead of hiking along the river and I turned onto the dirt Blue Heron Loop path shortly after crossing the bridge over the slough.
The Minto-Island Conservation Trail (Used during all four hikes.)

Oxbow Slough is accessible near Lot 3.
Oxbow slough 3/19.

April 14th

Just South of Lot 3 the paved path is shared by the 10k, Purple Rabbit, Blue Heron, Green Deer, Yellow Duck and Brown Squirrel Loops.

The footbridge over Oxbow Slough is part of the 10k, Blue Heron, and Purple Rabbit Loops.

The Blue Heron Loop ran parallel to the paved path and at times nearly touched.
Blue Heron Loop running parallel to the 10k/Purple Rabbit Loops.

Field along the Blue Heron Loop

The biggest difference, and most of the extra mileage came when I continued straight toward the Brown’s Island Demolition Landfill when the Blue Heron Loop turned left. At the landfill I turned right and followed a gravel roadbed around it to the Orange Turtle Loop onto which I turned right following counterclockwise into Eola Bend County Park.
The “T” junction where the 10k/Purple Rabbit Loops turn left from the Blue Heron Loop.

Most of the junctions are well signed with maps which helped keep me on track.

Willamette River from the Orange Turtle Loop.

Orange Turtle Loop

The boarder between Minto-Brown Island Park and Eola Bend County Park.

A bit of the history of Eola Bend County Park.

Nice map of the Willamette River watershed.

Eola Bend County Park

I took advantage of this picnic table to take a short break.

After completing the Orange Turtle Loop I went back along the landfill (Admittedly one of the least exciting things to experience on a hike.) passing the path I’d arrived at the landfill on and continued just over a tenth of a mile on the gravel road which brought me to the end of a paved road at the landfill.
The landfill behind the map.

Arriving at the road.

I turned left here and in less than a tenth of a mile was back on the Purple Rabbit/10k Loop which uses a 0.3-mile section of the road.
The 10k/Purple Rabbit Loop on the left.

I was now back on the route of our third visit and followed the Purple Rabbit/10k Loop just over a half mile to a junction with the Green Deer Loop, with a short detour to a bench along Oxbow Slough.

The Green Deer Loop junction.

I made my one mistake of the day here thinking that I could turn right (we’d gone left the week before) and do this loop. Just over 0.4-miles in though I came upon a small pond in the middle of the trail.

I backtracked to the Purple Rabbit/10k Loop and again followed our third visit route until coming to the Brown Squirrel/Yellow Duck/10k Loop where I turned right. This was the path we’d taken on our first visit to loop around the dog park. I followed the paved path around the South side of the park but then instead of staying on the trail the loops follow I hoped onto a rougher dirt path that paralleled it and followed that to Lot 2 where I hopped back onto the 10k Loop.
The paved 10k/Yellow Duck/Brown Squirrel Loop.

The rougher dirt path.

The dog park (possibly the happiest place in Salem, at least for dogs).

The 10k Loop on the opposite side of the entrance road from Lot 2.

I deviated once more from our earlier visits when I left the 10k Loop just before it joins the Red Osprey Loop. I crossed that paved path and onto a faint dirt path that led past the Old Cherry Orchard. I followed this dirt path just under a half mile to the paved 5k/10k/Red Osprey/Brown Squirrel Loop where I turned right and climbed a small hill to the Minto Island Conservation Trail.
From our 3/19 hike on the 10k Loop. The path running from left to right is the Red Osprey Loop. On this last trip I took the path on the left down to the sign below at the junction and continued straight.

At the sign heading toward the old cherry orchard.

The old cherry orchard.

I turned left onto the Conservation Trail and returned to Riverfront Park to complete my hike.

Cherry blossoms.

One constant throughout all of the hikes was the abundant wildlife.
Deer – 3/19

Bald eagle – 3/19

Cormorant on the Willamette – 3/25

Sparrow – 3/25

Lesser goldfinch – 4/8

Mallard – 4/8

Wood ducks up in a tree – 4/8

Osprey – 4/8

Green-winged teal – 4/14

Mallard – 4/14

Golden-crowned sparrow – 4/14

Robin – 4/14

White-crowned sparrow – 4/14

Squirrel – 4/14

Rabbit – 4/14 (This was one of several dozen bunnies that I encountered on this day.)

Woodpecker – 4/14

Lot 3 also had its share of wildlife.
Scrub jay – 3/19

Dove – 4/8

Killdeer – 4/14

Red breasted sapsuckers – 4/14 (Males peck the sign to make noise to either attract mates or establish territory.)

Pied billed grebe in Oxbow Slough – 3/19

Ring-necked ducks from the bridge over Oxbow Slough – 3/25

Buffleheads from the bridge over Oxbow Slough – 3/25

Geese from the bridge over Oxbow Slough – 3/25

Hummingbird along the Blue Heron Trail – 4/14

Orange-crowned warbler along the Blue Heron Trail – 4/14

Dark-eyed junco at Eola Bend County Park – 4/14

Northern flicker at Eola Bend County Park – 4/14

Swallows at Eola Bend County Park – 4/14

Red-tailed hawk near the landfill – 4/14

Great blue heron at Oxbow Slough across from the bench viewpoint near Lot 4 (Homestead Road) – 4/14

Wood duck drake in Oxbow Slough – 4/8

Ruby-crowned kinglet – 4/8

Rabbit – 4/8

Egret between the Red Osprey and 10k Loops – 4/8

Turkey vulture near the old cherry orchard – 4/14

We’re lucky to have this park nearby and it seems crazy that we still haven’t checked out all of the trails yet. It at least gives us a reason, besides the abundant wildlife, to keep going back. That being said we are really looking forward to some more remote hiking in quieter forests. Happy Trails!

Yellow-3/19
Black-3/25
Red-4/8
Cyan-4/14

Flickr: Minto Brown Walks / Minto Brown and Eola Bend County Park

Tags 10k loop, blue heron loop, Brown Squirrel loop, Dog Park, Eola Bend County Park, green deer loop, Lot 3, minto-brown island park, old cherry orchard, orange turtle loop, oxbow slough, purple rabbit loop, red osprey loop, Salem, willamette river, Willamette Valley, Yellow Duck Loop