Oregon State Parks came close to a record number of visitors in 2023, with Silver Falls State Park among the busiest. Oregon Parks and Recreation Department officials reported that total parks visits were at an estimated 52.2 million a year ago. That’s the second highest figure ever, beaten only by the 53 million during the post-pandemic parks binge of 2021. […]
By James Day A pair of free guided hikes in the recently upgraded North Canyon area of Silver Falls State Park are on tap for New Year’s Day. The hikes are part of Oregon State park’s annual tradition of waiving parking permit fees on the year’s first day at all state parks that require them. A total of 31 Oregon […]
By James Day The Geer farmhouse is in line for a new roof, courtesy of a grant from Oregon Heritage. Oregon Heritage, a division of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, awarded the GeerCrest Farm & Historical Society $20,000 for its roof project. The award was one of 18 statewide that added $277,681 to historical preservation efforts. Jim Toler, a […]
By Melissa Wagoner The current trajectory of the invasion of the emerald ash borer (EAB)– a wood boring pest known for its decimation of the ash trees on the East Coast of the United States since its introduction in 2002 – leaves little hope for the future of Oregon’s mature ash trees. “I think that folks believe that eventually EAB will kill […]
By James Day The overnight facilities at what used to be called the Silver Falls Lodge and Conference Center have reopened under new management after a six-month closure. Silver Falls Hospitality will be operating the facility, which is now called Smith Creek Village, with the name noting the nearby stream. Silver Falls Hospitality is operating the concession under an agreement […]
By Steve Ritchie Even as the number of visitors to Oregon state parks swells, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is finding new ways to reach out to the public. The latest example of this outreach is a partnership between OPRD and KUNP, a Spanish language television channel affiliated with Univision which is carried on Portland, Vancouver, Salem and […]
