Waterfall Wednesday #6

McKay Falls

This short waterfall cascades over an ancient basalt flow next to the town of Scotts Mills, Oregon. Located in what is known as Scotts Mills County Park, McKay Falls had once been cut off by a short dam and the flow diverted into a switchback channel. all this was done to give a local flour mill some power for operation. The mill has been long gone, but the side channel and dam still remain. A section of the dam was destroyed to allow water to flow back over the basaltic columns of the Columbia River Basalts, thus re-creating McKay Falls. Due to the side channel, and the rest of the dam, this waterfall is smaller in streamflow and steam width than it was before the mill was built.

If you feel like viewing McKay Falls, the Scotts Mills County Park is open from May 1st to October 31st. Until next time, get outside and enjoy hiking to one of the many waterfalls in the great Oregon Outdoors.

Mountain View Monday #11

Even though the Spirit Mountain Casino near the town of Grand Ronde, Oregon is one of the most visited places in Oregon, few people know why the casino was given this name. The name, as it turns out, originates from a 1,776-foot mountain just three miles north of Grande Ronde. Although this mountain is nowhere near the largest in the Oregon Coast, and looks more like a large hill, it is still called a mountain nonetheless. This mountain, along with others like it in the Coast Range most likely was formed by the folding of underlying bedrock and perhaps has some basalt sills or dikes cutting through it. Portions of it are harvested for timber; and, as you can see in the photo below, are burned after the section of forest has been clear-cut. After the burn, two trees will be planted for every tree that was harvested.

State Park Saturday #8

If you're looking for one of those lesser-known state parks, or just so happen to drive past the town of Grand Ronde, stop on by at Fort Yamhill State Heritage Area. This state park sits on a low hill just northeast of the Spirit Mountain Casino, but overlooks the real Spirit Mountain for which the casino was named after. While at Fort Yamhill, let your imagination take you back to a time when the Kalapuya and other tribes of Western Oregon were pushed onto the reservation. Maybe you can imagine yourself as one of the natives, or one of the soldiers that were stationed at this fort while you hike the interpretive trail.

While most of the buildings on the site have been long gone, a few still remain such as the Suttler's Store where people from the tribes came to trade with those at the fort. One of the Officer's Quarters had been relocated a short distance away and was used as a house for some time after the closing of Fort Yamhill. A third building, the Blockhouse - where they watched over the valley below and jailed natives and unruly soldiers alike, was dismantled, taken to the town of Dayton, and reassembled in Palmer Park.

 The relocated Officer's Quarters -- note how small it is compered to modern-day apartments.

From where the blockhouse once stood, you can see across the Grand Ronde Valley and Spirit Mountain to the northwest.

A Sentry box was placed at this location to control the movement of people - natives and settlers alike - along an ancient trail.

 A section of the Killimuck Trail still exists today as part of the trail that you walk on. Maybe someday the whole trail, or at least sections, can be once again be remade like the Ice Age trail of Wisconsin

Fort Yamhill State Heritage Area is open year-round, but I believe that Autumn is the best time to go. Not only will the Maple and Birch trees be out in full color, but there will be less crowds. On the day I went, I practically had the whole park to myself - you can see my car in the parking lot above. If you like bird watching, don't forget to bring your binoculars as many birds including the Red-tailed Hawk call this place home. So if  you are interested in the park, check out the Fort Yamhill State Heritage Area's website to find all the information you need to have a good time. Until next time, get outside and enjoy one of the many state parks in the great Oregon Outdoors.