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
wanderingyuncks 