Given the name of the park, we had an appropriately spring-like outing on this first in a series of “family-oriented” dawdler hikes with the Chemeketans. For our first loop, we followed the perimeter trail to the TCC trail through the forest, then back out the sunny side of the perimeter “trail” to our snack break. Our efforts along the west edge of the perimeter trail led us through a grassy field where the trail was not so well-defined, resulting in soaked shoes and socks. After a few minutes to dry out and have a snack back at the car, we headed to the south and hiked the Upper Spring Valley Trail, where we enjoyed a profusion of camas, Oregon iris, and what I believe to have been monkeyflower. A wonderful trip to a quiet place, and just the right length for the kids. Total hike mileage was about 2.3 miles, very minimal EG.
Spring Valley State Park, Oregon -4/16/2016
- CampinCarl
- Posts: 573
- Joined: June 17th, 2011, 7:41 am
- Location: Salem
Spring Valley State Park, Oregon -4/16/2016
Last edited by CampinCarl on April 18th, 2016, 4:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- CampinCarl
- Posts: 573
- Joined: June 17th, 2011, 7:41 am
- Location: Salem
Re: Spring Valley State Park, Oregon
A few more wildflowers from the day
- sprengers4jc
- Posts: 1036
- Joined: October 22nd, 2013, 11:35 am
- Location: Vancouver, WA
Re: Spring Valley State Park, Oregon -4/16/2016
Thanks, Carl! We will add this one to our list of easy but pretty hikes with our dog
'We travel not to escape life but for life to not escape us.'
-Unknown
-Unknown
Re: Spring Valley State Park, Oregon -4/16/2016
Good stuff, Carl. Spending quality time out in the woods with family is as good as it gets.
"Going to the mountains is going home."
— John Muir
— John Muir
Re: Spring Valley State Park, Oregon -4/16/2016
Internet is not very useful in finding this park, it keeps coming up in Nevada. However, I was able to find it between West Salem and Dayton. The trail map conveniently cuts off the "mileage to Salem" to make you guess how far north it is.
Looks like an interesting winter hike option.
Looks like an interesting winter hike option.
- kaltbluter
- Posts: 397
- Joined: June 2nd, 2014, 10:36 am
Re: Spring Valley State Park, Oregon -4/16/2016
I have a map of that area here. It's about 10 miles North of Salem. Right across the river from the Willamette Mission Park.BigBear wrote:The trail map conveniently cuts off the "mileage to Salem" to make you guess how far north it is.
- CampinCarl
- Posts: 573
- Joined: June 17th, 2011, 7:41 am
- Location: Salem
Re: Spring Valley State Park, Oregon -4/16/2016
Sorry about that, yeah not very easy to find.
Here is a link from the Salem Area Trail Alliance, who worked with OPRD to build the trail system. This map is also posted on the kiosk at the parking area:
http://www.salemtrails.org/spring-valley/
It is also in the Willamette River Water Trail as Spring Valley Access.
http://willamettewatertrail.org/map/spr ... ey-access/
It's a nice little park if you're in the area or live close like I do. You can also mountain bike here.
Here is a link from the Salem Area Trail Alliance, who worked with OPRD to build the trail system. This map is also posted on the kiosk at the parking area:
http://www.salemtrails.org/spring-valley/
It is also in the Willamette River Water Trail as Spring Valley Access.
http://willamettewatertrail.org/map/spr ... ey-access/
It's a nice little park if you're in the area or live close like I do. You can also mountain bike here.