2 min
Overview
The Cascadia Ranger Station for the Sweet Home District of the Santiam National Forest was constructed here in 1930. Three years later, the Santiam National Forest was merged with the Cascade National forest to become the Willamette National Forest. In 1934, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) began construction of a new set of buildings. In addition, they used this site as a base for developing 80 miles of trails as well as roads, fire lookouts, telephone lines, and bridges throughout the Willamette National Forest. A new office for the Sweet Home Ranger District was completed in Sweet Home in 1963, and the buildings at this site were torn down. Now a new loop trail with interpretive signs leads through the forest and gives information on the natural and human history at this location on the South Santiam River. Next to the site is the Short Bridge, a covered bridge that still conveys vehicle traffic across the South Santiam. At the parking area, an information kiosk tells about the history of the Cascadia Ranger Station and Archie Knowles, a long time forest ranger. Take the wide trail leading from the west side of the parking area into a forest of Douglas-fir, western hemlock, western red-cedar, and big-leaf maple. Sword fern, wood-sorrel, and inside-out flower form the leafy carpet. Pass a mossy “gem” display inviting you to T1L1 (Take one, leave one – the “gems” are small painted cobbles). One interpretive sign offers information about big-leaf maples; another faces a large Douglas-fir. A third sign tells about western red-cedar. The trail reaches an old road bed, where you should go right. Now you’re on the low bluff above the South Santiam River. A steep spur leads down to the edge of the water. You’ll get a view from here of the Short Bridge, a covered Howe truss bridge built in 1945, and first named the Whiskey Butte Bridge. It was later renamed to commemorate local resident Gordon Short. At a viewing area, interpretive signs tell about the bridge and also about the migration of Pacific lamprey up
Trail Stats
0.0 km
10 m
242 m
0 m
—
Photos
400px-OldCascadiaRangerStationMap
400px-OldCascadiaRangerStationMap
160px-Tall_Douglas-firs%2C_Cascadia_Ranger_Station_Site
160px-Tall_Douglas-firs%2C_Cascadia_Ranger_Station_Site
250px-Mountain_boykinia%2C_Cascadia_Ranger_Station_Site
250px-Mountain_boykinia%2C_Cascadia_Ranger_Station_Site
400px-Short_Bridge_from_the_river%2C_Cascadia_Ranger_Station_Site
400px-Short_Bridge_from_the_river%2C_Cascadia_Ranger_Station_Site