All those wagon trains going to Oregon that we studied in history classes were headed for this river valley and it's rich, fertile fields---- the Williamette. Our present hosting site is on the banks of the river north of Salem and about 40 miles south of Portland. It includes 1,600 acres of woodlands, wetlands, rolling meadows and working farmland.
This is one end of the largest picnic area in the park. The distant tree line borders a lake that was the original river channel before a huge flood changed its course. The present river course was behind me when I took this photo.
This picnic area, the Filbert (Hazelnut) Grove, borders the river with a 6.4 mile bike trail along the river bank. This area will stay open all year when access to it is not flooded out.
The paved bike trail goes all the way to the Wheatland Ferry Crossing at the edge of the park. This crossing was used by the wagon trains too! There's a Bicycle Campground and a Horse Campground back to back here on the right. Nice trail !!
We are busy helping to ready the park for winter; taking down volleyball nets, blowing leaves off the trails, patching holes in the bike path, getting equipment winterized, and organizing the work sheds. With 17 miles of trails in the park we will never keep them all clean and trimmed. It's all very satisfying work though and more than we can do before winter rains stop us.
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