LOCAL POINTS OF INTEREST
The Oregon Experience is based in Mill City and is an easy drive from Portland, Salem and Eugene. There are many things to do in the area, and we highly recommend exploring several of the local state parks. Closest to our home base is the North Santiam State Recreation Area, a wonderful place for light hiking, exploring along the river or picnicking with family. For more extensive hiking trails, impressive waterfalls and camping, visit Silver Falls State Park. Located in a temperate rainforest, the Canyon Trail follows the river and will bring you to waterfalls ranging from 27 to 177 feet high. In neighboring Silverton is the Oregon Garden, a botanical garden that hosts the Oregon Garden summer concert series.

For anyone interested in water sports, the Detroit Lake State Recreation Area is a must. Boats, water skiing and personal watercraft are all allowed on the 9-mile long lake, while the visitor center, playgrounds and large campground make it an ideal place for families. The Detroit Lake Recreation Area Business Association Website is loaded with valuable area information, maps and photographs. To get a taste of the more remote parts of Oregon, the Willamette National Forest is home to eight wilderness areas that can be accessed only by foot or horseback.

WHERE TO STAY
Mill City is located 30 miles east of Salem and approximately 15 miles west of Detroit. In the Detroit Lake area, we recommend both Denny's Place and Repose & Repast B&Bs. For an extensive selection of local motel, inn and B&B listings, please visit the Travel Oregon website. Fisherman's Bend Campground and Detroit Lake State Park Campground both offer individual, group and RV camping facilities.

 

The Santiam River is a crystal clear mountain stream that flows out of Santiam Lake in the heart of the Oregon Cascades. The river spills and tumbles for nearly 100 miles and merges downstream with the larger Willamette and ultimately the mighty Columbia. The river corridor provides habitat for beaver, otter, mink, geese, osprey, herons and many other species. For the fisherman, varieties of trout, winter steelhead, spring Chinook and summer steelhead provide a year round supply of action.