Silver Falls State Park, OR- Year 2

The quiet of late fall and winter at Silver Falls is entirely different from the buzz of summer vacationers, hikers and bikers in the Park. In our 3 winter months last year we learned a little of the Park without the crowds, but it is amazing to be in the middle of the busy campgound in July.  Our job, as relief campground hosts, is really different too.  Our campsite in the tent loop is right on Silver Creek just beyond the covered bridge that leads to the cabin area.  The huge Douglas firs surrounding it add to the beauty.

We are on one end of a 50 site loop nearly full every nite with families and children.  This week a family reunion of babies, toddlers and preschool kids has invaded the area around us, but the weeks before were very pleasant.  On a particularly warm afternoon when Terry was outside resting, a neighbor brought over an ice cold beer to thank him for such a clean, well kept campground.  How nice is that?!!

The sites under huge fir trees are large and well shaded.  The photo below shows the road to our site past 23 other sites.

There are lots of beautiful ferns everywhere too.  Here's the entrance and the covered bridge near our site.

I might have mentioned last year that this park is called the 'crown jewel' of the state park system and it is truly special!

Our job in the campground is cleaning sites on the days that the 2 other hosts have off.  So on Mon. and Tues. we clean the RV sites and on Weds. and Thurs. the tent sites in the second loop.  We have had as little as 6 sites one day and 40 on another.  On Sun. Terry works as park mechanic like he did  last year and I have been a trail guide at the North Falls trailhead.  Of course, I was assigned to the one trail I hadn't been on, but my trainer helped me remedy that right away.

We are staying busy and learning more about the park and the Salem and Silverton area each day!