4 min
Overview
This county park tucked into a sweeping bend of the South Santiam River is almost all given over to an extensive campground, and yet a leafy secondary forest offers plentiful shade, and a loop trail around the entire 76-acre park offers a measure of solitude. About half of the trail runs along a low bluff above the river, with several spurs leading down to the water. There are several swimming holes for summer visitors. The park also plays host to a rare population of foothill yellow-legged frogs (Rana boylii): Their habitat is signed and should not be disturbed. Walk back to the entrance of the parking area. A trail sign points you towards the South Santiam River where a wide track descends between two cabins. Pass a small beach, and cross a footbridge. Cedar, hemlock, and Douglas-fir form the canopy over an understory of sword fern, salal, and vine maple. Wind through the woods above the river passing a bench overlook. Spurs lead down to the cobbled water’s edge. At a junction, keep left on a gravel trail. Across the river, a high exposed bluff is topped by conifers. Along the path, you’ll notice short numbered posts from an old nature trail. Cross a damaged boat launch ramp, and then pass a sign telling about the foothill yellow-legged frog, a species with a sporadic distribution, mainly in California. This is its northernmost outpost. The trail switchbacks up into a dense young Douglas-fir wood. Reach an old road, and go 10 yards to the left (There is a small enclave of private property to the right). The trail resumes close to Highway 20 and heads through young Douglas-firs, thimbleberry, and sword fern. Circle around the private property, where there appears to be an abandoned motor home. Keep left as you hike close to the campground. Pass a rotting stump that has been repurposed as a “gem tree”: Painted cobbles here can be exchanged (T1L1 = Take one, leave one). Cross the entrance road, and continue along through a carpet of trailing blackberry, sword fern, and salal. At a junction, cross a footbrid
Trail Stats
0.0 km
18 m
216 m
0 m
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Photos
400px-RiverBendLoopMap
400px-RiverBendLoopMap
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250px-Gem_tree%2C_River_Bend_County_Park
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250px-Bench_on_the_river%2C_River_Bend_County_Park
400px-Drop_in_the_South_Santiam%2C_River_Bend_County_Park
400px-Drop_in_the_South_Santiam%2C_River_Bend_County_Park