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About Appeal tribune. (Silverton, Or.) 1999-current | View Entire Issue (July 8, 2020)
2B | WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020 | APPEAL TRIBUNE An elevated boardwalk allows views of powerful Majestic Falls.. Crystal Falls and pool at McDowell Creek Falls County Park. McDowell Continued from Page 1B favorite — especially with kids, who universally love this place. The drive is also similar to Silver Falls — after traveling through farmland much of the journey, you enter temper- ate rainforest and a mini-canyon with an upper, lower and middle trailheads. Most people park at the lower trail- head — the first one you come to off Mc- Dowell Creek Drive. Hike to three waterfalls on 1.7 mile loop above Majestic Falls, to the upper trail- head parking area. The upper trail con- tinues just beyond and takes you through lush and pretty forest. Turn left at a junction, and you’ll reach the top of Royal Terrace Falls. The creek that feeds it, the aptly- named Fall Creek, allows for some fun wading in its shallow pools and tiers. (Obviously, make sure it’s safe so no one gets swept downstream, but in summer, it’s quite mellow). The final stretch of the trail takes you down a long and steep set of stairs alongside the waterfall to complete the loop, then turn left and return to the trailhead. Fun at the trailhead Hiking trails at McDowell Creek Falls County Park outside Lebanon. PHOTOS BY ZACH URNESS / STATESMAN JOURNAL Simple Cremation $795 Simple Direct Burial $995 Church Funeral $2965 SALEM 275 Lancaster Drive SE (503) 581-6265 TUALATIN 8970 SW Tualatin Sherwood Rd (503) 885-7800 PORTLAND 832 NE Broadway (503) 783-3393 TIGARD 12995 SW Pacifi c Hwy (503) 783-6869 EASTSIDE 1433 SE 122nd Ave (503) 783-6865 MILWAUKIE 16475 SE McLoughlin Blvd (503) 653-7076 Privately owned cremation facility. A Family Owned Oregon Business. “Easy Online Arrangements” www.CrownCremationBurial.com OR-GCI0348841-02 Before you start hiking, take a picture of the map to refer back to, or better yet, get a hiking guidebook with a map. You’ll probably be OK without a map, but it helps at a few intersections. The trail starts by crossing a wooden footbridge and entering lush forest along the creek. After a very short stretch, you’ll reach a junction that be- gins the loop — one pathway turns right and heads up steep stairs, while the oth- er heads forward toward a wooden bridge. We always head forward to the base- level view of Royal Terrance Falls, a 119- foot multi-tiered cascade. By summer, it’s not as powerful but is still an im- pressive sight. Beyond, the trail travels into deep forest, with the creek always nearby and a number of fun places to stop and wade. Eventually, the path crosses the road, then heads back into the forest for more forested hiking. Keep your ears open for views of 14-foot Crystal Falls, a waterfall you can see in the distance, but can only reach by scrambling down steep user trails. The pool below the falls is famous — it’s called Crystal Pool — and some peo- ple swim in it. But again, this might not be safe for young kids and there are bet- ter places to wade. Beyond Crystal Falls, you’ll reach an elevated boardwalk traveling out over the creek to an iconic view of Majestic Falls. It’s smaller than Royal Terrace at just 39 feet, but far more powerful. Com- bined with the boardwalk, this is prob- ably the coolest part of the hike. To continue on the loop, head uphill, A fun reward for finishing the hike, I’ve always found, is having lunch and playing at the trailhead. There are a few picnic tables set up along the creek with awesome wading and even swimming possibilities. Overall, McDowell Creek Falls Coun- ty Park is a great and unassuming place for a summer escape from the heat. McDowell Creek Falls County Park In a nutshell: Waterfall trail in deep forest with places to wade and some- times swim near Lebanon. Hike length: 1.7 miles Difficulty: Mostly easy, with a few steep-ish climbs Good for kids: Yes Camping: no Dogs: yes, but keep them leashed Directions: About an hour and 10 minute drive from Salem. Follow Inter- state 5 south to Exit 233 for Lebanon/ Sweet Home. Follow Highway 20 east for 19 miles, through the town of Leba- non. Turn left onto McDowell Creek Road and follow signs about 9 miles to the park. If you reach Sweet Home on Highway 20, you’ve gone too far. Coordinates: 44.464232, -122.682278. Zach Urness has been an outdoors re- porter, photographer and videographer in Oregon for 12 years. . Urness is the au- thor of “Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon” and “Hiking Southern Oregon.” He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJour- nal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on Twitter at @ZachsORoutdoors.