And there are so many reasons to get outdoors in June – starting with our Oregon State Parks Centennial on June 4th! The centennial will be celebrated on State Parks Day, and parking fees at all State Parks will be waived for the day.
Summer is almost here and now is a great time to enjoy the weather and explore areas of the state that have recently re-opened after closures from pandemic restrictions and wildfires. Here are some of the places to add to your summer list:
Clackamas River Corridor – while many of the damaged campgrounds and recreation sites remain closed the highway has reopened and many areas North of 224 are welcoming visitors. Kayakers and canoers are also able to access the river at several points along the route.
Santiam State Forest is also reopening as the forests begin to recover. Some of the popular destinations now open include Rocky Top Trail and the Packsaddle area near Niagra. Other areas are open but restricted to non-motorized vehicles; a full list is online at Oregon Department of Forestry.
Ecola State Park has also reopened in April after a 5-month closure due to weather-related road damage. The park is a popular hiking and surfing spot north of Cannon Beach offering some of the best views of Haystack Rock and the Tillamook lighthouse.
With many areas still recovering from the fires of the past two years, and staffing challenges for parks both on the state and federal level, it is still important to be aware of possible closures. Check resources online for status updates for State, BLM and USGS sites: