Santiam State Forest Recreation Guide
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Come discover a forest of towering Santiam Douglas-fir and hemlock trees. Catch the mist on a hot day from a high waterfall as it plunges to a STATE FOREST punchbowl of broken basalt. Feel the wind sweep over you as you stand on a rocky peak with the Recreation Guide snow-capped Cascades towering in the distance. Relax at your camp near a clear lake ringed with rhododendron. The Santiam State Forest may be one of Driving forest roads the best-kept secrets in the foothills of the northern Oregon Cascades. It’s easy to miss Most of the recreation sites on the forest are reached over the tucked-away forest for busy travelers maintained gravel roads, but drivers should be aware that gravel heading up Highway 22 to more popular roads require more caution, slower speeds, and higher clearance. destinations. The fact that it is largely Carry a forest map, water, check your spare tire, and be alert unknown can be a plus for visitors for log trucks and other vehicles. Stay to the right and expect a seeking a more primitive, vehicle around every corner. but highly scenic experience. If you’re looking for more specific information or a detailed The Oregon Department of Forestry forest map, visit our office one mile east of Mehama on Hwy 22 invites you to stop and visit the or click through our website at oregon.gov/odf. Santiam State Forest, located about 30 miles east of Salem. Spread over Stay current on forest updates 47,000 acres of prime forest lands Camping fees and sites that require fees may be subject to ranging in elevation from 1,000 to 5,000 feet, the forest is carefully change. Trails, roads, and campsites are subject to closure due to eather on the forest weather, maintenance, and active timber sales. To view closures managed to provide a range of W is generally warm and dry and other updates, visit oregon.gov/odf. benefits from wood products to wildlife habitat to recreation in the summer. The bright Forest Contact Information: opportunities. Visit our office on autumn colors and glowing Highway 22 near Mehama for sunshine of early fall give Santiam District Office information and maps and come way to steady rain at the Oregon Department of Forestry ready to explore. 22965 North Fork Road SE lower elevations by late fall. Be prepared to venture off the Lyons, OR 97358 At higher elevations, snow Phone: (503) 859-2151 beaten path and travel gravel roads to find the best this forest has blankets the forest and often to offer. A little exploration will stays until June. reveal secluded picnic spots, high mountain vistas, scenic waterfalls, tranquil lakes, and trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. 9/19 Shellburg Falls Rhody Lake Campgrounds in the Forest Legend rivate timber companies harvested most of the forest in the Santiam P Campsites are available on a first-come, History Canyon between 1880 and 1930. By the 1930s and 1940s, much of the land first-served basis; no reservations. was either logged over or burned by wildfire. Some of these landowners let Restrooms Camping Picnic Site Limit per site: 8 people, 2 vehicles their land return to the counties for delinquent taxes while others sold it to Maximum stay: 14 days the county for a minimal amount. Fees: $20/night drive-in sites* Horse Trail OHV Drinking Trails Water The Forest Acquisition Act, passed in 1939, encouraged counties to deed the $15/night walk-in sites* foreclosed lands to the Oregon Department of Forestry in exchange for a (*includes 2 vehicles) All pets must be on leash. Hiking Mountain Fee share of future timber harvest revenues, giving rise to the state forest system Trail Bike Trail we have today. Since then, the Oregon Department of Forestry has managed Shellburg Falls Recreation Area the land. Shellburg Falls Recreation Area offers a small, developed campground nestled Fairy slipper orchid By the time the state took ownership, much of in a moss-draped forest of Douglas-fir and hemlock. The scenic Shellburg the forest was already naturally restocked with Falls Trail passes behind the waterfall, which plunges 100 feet from the edge of a native mix of seedlings. The first ground to a basalt cliff into a foamy pool. Nearby, you will find six miles of trails open to be planted on the Santiam State Forest by the mountain bikes, horses, and hikers. Department of Forestry was the area of the 1951 Sardine Creek Fire, which burned 21,400 acres Season of use: Walk-in access year round; vehicle access May – November near Detroit Lake. Elevation: 1,500 feet Number of sites: 7 Shellburg Falls Santiam State Forest Today Santiam Horse Camp The forest is divided into several large blocks of The Santiam Horse Camp rests among the shade of Douglas-fir trees and is land and numerous smaller parcels. The largest the starting point for a system of non-motorized trails for horses, bicycles, and block of forest is in the Rock Creek Basin, hikers. Horse campers will find ample room for trailer parking with corrals located south of Highway 22 near Mill City and stock water for their animals. Trail users can travel through 12 miles of and Gates. This area includes the Rock Creek diverse forest on the Monument Peak trail system. campsites and the Santiam Horse Camp, where a growing network of non-motorized trails is Season of use: May – October available. Elevation: 1,700 feet Number of sites: 12 Santiam Horse Camp Another sizable piece of the Santiam State Forest lies just north of Highway 22 in the Niagara Road area. It includes the highest points on the forest and features trails to Rocky Top Rock Creek Campsites and Natural Rock Arch. Three campsites are spread out along Rock Creek offering a great spot to The other large block of Santiam State Forest is camp, picnic, or cool off in the stream during a hot summer day. located in the Butte Creek Basin and is reached Season of use: May – October by driving south of Highway 213 through Scott’s Elevation: 1,300 feet Mills and the Crooked Finger Road. Explore the Number of sites: 3 High Lakes Recreation Area and Butte Creek Falls in this area. View from Rocky Top Swimming hole at Rock Creek Campsites Scott’s Mills Maple Grove Road N 213 Silverton S a w te ll R o a d LEGEND M Camping oll al a R i Trailhead ver C ro Horse Campground ok e d Table Rock Picnic Site F 4,881’ in g e Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Staging Area r R o B a ut Maintained by Oregon Department of Forestry d te C Crooked Finger reek Butte OHV Area . 00 Rd Maintained by Other Agencies Rd 4 . 00 F Creek CF 3 C Oregon Department of Forestry Falls But te C 1,900’ re ek District Headquarters 5 00 Roa SANTIAM Santiam State Forest Butte Creek d A Falls STATE US Forest Service b i q u Campground a FOREST Bureau of Land Management C B r C e d. 80 e R 0 k 0 0 Rd Oregon State Parks 5 . C B B u t t e 3,500’ Paved Road C r e e k Gravel Road Rhody R d Scale . Lake Butte Lakes 0 1 2 3 4 5 miles 214 Silver Falls State Park Opal Creek L o o k ou Shady Cove t M t . R d Sublimity . AC 1 Shellburg Falls d. 00 R R d. Campground Salmon Falls urg Salem llb . he d S R 17 miles k e Fern Ridge Road re C s Shellburg Falls r e 1,500’ y Stayton A . d R Bear Creek e . g d d i R tiam R R San iver r ork n e h F r t n e Nor e g Littl 22 eek F a Cr W ut Rocky Top Sto North Fork Elkhorn Valley Mehama Canyon Creek 5,000’ k e e N r C or Lyons th t Sa ver u ntiam Ri o h s . a Rd k ara e ag W e i N r g C i e B n i d Natural Rock Arch r Mill City Minto Park a 3,800’ S Gates k nd e e l 226 North Santiam State Park 2 Ave. t e t r i C L N. Santiam Rive e r n st Gates School Rd. i N 1 Ave. Gates Hill Rd. d Fishermen’s Bend r a r Sorbin St. S ive Kingwood Drive L R i t h t s l e Niagara Park u b R n o e c t k i M C Ma e on r d C r u e r m e eek ent P k B Pack it in and Pack it out. e S a e d. k ve n Detroit Lake R R e M Monument d re . i T le Detroit Since many areas within the Santiam s C State Park Peak a r m e - e X Santiam Horse Camp k Ro State Forest are managed for primitive ck 1,700’ C Mongold State Park re R e recreation experiences, visitors are oc k Detroit k C R re o ek a Lake asked to practice Leave No Trace ethics. d When trash receptacles are not present, Rock Creek 1,300’ please Pack it in and Pack it out. SANTIAM STATE FOREST Crooked Finger Butte Creek Falls Trailhead and High Lakes Recreation Area Natural Rock Arch Trail Rocky Top Trail Off-highway Vehicle (OHV) Area Campground The High Lakes Recreation Area is a lightly The Natural Rock Arch is an impressive geologic This rugged, half-mile trail climbs to the 5,000- The Crooked Finger OHV Area offers 6 miles of Discover two beautiful waterfalls in less than visited area that includes Rhody Lake and Butte formation that stands 50 feet tall and 40 feet foot summit of Rocky Top, which was once the OHV trails which travel through diverse forest.