Silver, Golden Falls tantalize adventurers
Winding roads, scenic trails greet nature hikers
Editor’s note: Somewhere, sometime long ago,
someone came up with the demented idea that stu
dents should go to school during spring - right on
through warm, Friday afternoons when open-shirted
professors aren't too keen on upholding their end of
the bargain either. About the only thing to do after
that is to chuck it. Disappear. Vanish. Hit the road.
The student conduct court punishes only those who
waste their weekends in libraries.
Time to cruise. By car, by bike, by foot. Leave
the bright lights behind or head for brighter. Gold still
glitters in the southern outposts of Oregon. Moun
tains, an arm’s reach to the east; the ocean, a skip to
the west.
Into a day at the track? A tour of vineyards? A
festival for conchologists? Or cock-crowing? it's all
going on this spring. And everything within a few
hours’ distance.
Future Shock tells us we are all immobilized by
the surfeit of choices before us. The Emerald will
accept that theory and begin a weekly series of
outings, some in our backyard, others which need
an auto. But we provide readers with information for
bike enthusiasts and for hikers as well. Tourism is
but a state of mind. Appreciate it. Explore.
By GREG STILES.
Of the Emerald
If you’re the type not easily discouraged by sev
eral hours of winding roads, Golden and Silver Falls
State Park may provide the setting for an enjoyable
weekend outing.
While thousands parade up and down the
Oregon coastal route (U.S. 101) annually, very few
people ever see or hear about the park situated in the
foothills of the Coast Range. Few people on a busy
travel schedule feel they can justify the trip up a
dead-end road. Those, however, who do make the
trip aren’t disappointed.
The land was donated to the state for a park by
the Weyerhaeuser Company in the 1930s. At one
time there was a narrow one-lane road which snaked
between the two falls. It was anything but safe, with
several automobiles’ mangled remains resting in the
bottoms of the steep canyons as memorials to the
ruggedness of the terrain.
The picnic sight beneath the falls is the final stop
where one may spend the day. There are several
areas beyond Allegany — the last place to buy food
and supplies.
After you leave paved road you come to Mil
licoma Myrtle Grove State Park four miles beyond
Allegany. The picnic area is shaded by Myrtle Trees.
Not too far down the road there is a high swing which
allows those with the urge to get their feet wet the
chance for adventure. The daring may climb 40 feet
up a tree and swoop over the Millicoma River.
For beginners there are several heights to swing
from which are considerably lower.
The final mile of road to the falls area is difficult,
mainly because of embedded boulders jutting up
toward the underside of cars. At the same time the
scenery changes. The hillsides momentarily take on
more arid characteristics. Once, however, at the pic
nic area the land takes on the appearance of an
Amazon jungle with dense overgrowth on either side
of the narrow paths leading to the base of the two
falls.
The path to Silver Falls from the picnic area is
the shorter of the two, while the trail to Golden Falls
climbs for a quarter of a mile.
Resting beneath the 200-foot high Silver Falls
are mammoth boulders and large twisted piles of
trees.
By carefully climbing over the rocks one may
climb approximately half way up the falls on the right
side. Approaching from the left side, however, one
may scale the hillside and climb up the remains of the
old road up to a small plateau above the falls.
A narrow path branches off the trail and leads to
a large indentation about 20 feet below the top of the
falls, an excellent sight for taking pictures.
Back on the trail, one can jump down beside
Silver Creek which feeds the falls. Looking upstream
there is no indication that a 200-foot drop lies just
ahead. Up Silver Creek there are many sights for
those wishing to back-pack through the area.
Adventurers should be cautioned not to wander
too far behind the falls. The owner of the land behind
the park actively discourages trespassing by patrol
ling the area with a rifle.
Glenn Creek is the larger of the two streams
which cascade spectacularly over a wide area, mak
ing the longer hike to Golden Falls worthwhile.
For those interested in a daylong hike, Loon
Lake may be reached easily on foot.
To reach Golden and Silver Falls, turn off U.S.
101 at the East Side turn-off just south of Coos Bay,
then turn left at East Side and follow the signs to
Allegany.
Photo oourtesy of the Oregon State Highway Commission
In Glenn Creek Valley near Coos Bay on the Oregon Coast, Golden
Falls, along with Silver Falls, is a central feature of the Golden and
Silver Falls State Park. The series of cascades entail a drop of200 feet,
about the same height of Silver Falls. A picnic area provides facilities
for summer picnics.
TONIGHT
The Influence of The Influence of
Federal Funding Federal Funding in
in Higher Education University Governance
A discussion
with
Phil Rockefeller, Kathy Adam,
H.E.W. Regional Commissioner H.E.W.
Laison to the States
Larry Omo
H.E.W. Office of Civil Rights
7:30 p.m. Sponsored by ASl'O State Affairs - EMU
Forum Room
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