Silver Falls State Park
26 Miles East of Salem, ORby
K. Pickering
Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My! Well, technically there were no
tigers, but yellow jackets do have stripes, and in my opinion, they can be almost as bad
as tigers.
When we first pulled in to the park to check in for our campsite,
the first thing the ranger handed us was a beautiful glossy flyer with instructions on how
to ‘bear proof’ your campsite. This was followed by a hastily composed,
photocopied information sheet outlining the recent cougar sightings in the park.
Mom and I looked at one another and wondered if we had made a
mistake. But we had spent most of the day trailering our trusty steeds in; turning back
now wasn’t an option. Besides, the towering old growth forest, with 14 miles of
horse trails and 10 gorgeous waterfalls was simply too tempting. We pulled in and set up
camp.
As we all know, most horses can’t read. So our trusty steeds
were not the least bit concerned about cougars and bears. They were just happy to get out
of the ‘box’ and into the nice roomy corrals at the campsite. A bit of hay made
their day complete. However, as Mom and I went about the business of setting up tents, we
were constantly peering over our shoulders into the deep dark woods, hoping we
wouldn’t see anything large, furry and hungry peering back at us.
Just as we had settled in, congratulating ourselves
on having the nerve to stay, a lone riderless horse came galloping full bore through the
camp. Right behind him came another horse, carrying two riders. They shouted something
about a ‘nest’. After all the ponies were caught up and calmed down, we learned
that these two riders had the unfortunate experience of stirring up a yellow jacket nest
on the trail.
Oh My... Lions and bears we might be able to deal with, but there is
no negotiating with a yellow jacket.
We were beginning to think about not riding at all, but still…
that forest was really something special. It beckoned. We decided we would think about it the
next morning.
After we had finished up a hearty campfire dinner, one of the
friendly park rangers stopped by the campsite to let us know that the yellow jackets had
been taken care of, and to assure us that all the trails had been checked for yellow
jacket nests. It would be safe to go out tomorrow.
The next morning we resolved to do what we went there for -- Ride.
We saddled up and trotted off on some the most spectacular horse trails you will find in
the Oregon State Park system. Even during the hottest part of the day, riding under the
canopy of those old growth trees was like a dip in a cool mountain stream. The forest was
quiet, still and full of life. The sound of the hoof beats was muffled by the moss and
ferns covering the forest floor, yet no matter where you looked, the entire place was
teeming with wildlife. Birds, chipmunks, squirrels and deer.
As if that weren’t enough, the spectacular waterfalls, which
are found throughout the park, were absolutely stunning, ranging from 177 ft in height to
27 feet. Their silky beauty made braving lions, yellow jackets and bears well worth the
trip.
During our three day stay there, we never saw any
lions, yellow jackets or bears, which was just fine with us. We did see a beautiful
example of a micro-ecosystem nestled in the low elevation foothills of the Cascades. The park is a
place out of time, a primeval rain forest, an emerald jewel surround by thousands of acres
of Christmas tree farms. Silver Falls is a very special and unique place. We will
definitely be going back, and recommend it to all our equestrian friends. This is one
horse camp you simply cannot miss.
Park Web Site: http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_211.php
Getting There: Silver Falls State Park is located off of OR
214, 26 miles east of Salem. Check Park web site for specific driving instructions.
Trail Difficulty: Easy. Beautiful, exceptionally well
maintained trail system throughout the park. Appropriate for riders and horses of all
levels.
Contact Information: For information only, call (503)
873-8681, ext. 31 or (800) 551-6949. To make reservations, call (800) 452-5687.
Cost: Horse Camp $16 per night for individual site, $48 per
night for group site. To avoid additional fees, be sure your horse corrals are clean
before you leave. The park provides wheelbarrows, tools and shavings to maintain and clean
the corrals.
Amenities: Showers and bathrooms. Portable toilets in the
horse camp. Wading and swimming area for the kids. There is also a privately operated dude
string in the park for the horse-less riders that may accompany you, for information about
guided trail rides call (503) 873-3890.
The horse camp features large, spacious campsites and corrals. It is
isolated from the general campground, no worries about loose dogs or curious children
getting in the corral with your horses.
What You Should Know: Stock up on supplies
before you go to camp, it is over 20 miles back to town. Be prepared to bear proof your
campsite at night. A horse trailer with an enclosed tack room will be perfect for doing
this. Never ride alone. At least one horse in
your group should be wearing a ‘bear bell’.
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