Saddle Mountain State Natural Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saddle Mountain State Natural Area |
|
|---|---|
Saddle Mountain
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Type | Public, state |
| Location | Clatsop County, Oregon, United States |
| Nearest city | Seaside |
| Operated by | Oregon Parks and Recreation Department |
Saddle Mountain State Natural Area is a cool state park in northwest Oregon. It's found in the Northern Oregon Coast Range in Clatsop County. The park is about 20 miles (32 km) by road from Seaside.
A 2.5-mile (4 km) long hiking trail goes all the way to the top of Saddle Mountain. This mountain is right inside the park. On clear days, you can see the Pacific Ocean, the mouth of the Columbia River, and even some Cascade mountains in Washington and Oregon from the top!
Contents
The Story of Saddle Mountain Park
How the Park Began
The land for Saddle Mountain State Natural Area has an interesting past. On August 11, 1916, the federal government gave 1,402 acres (567 hectares) to Oregon's State Land Board. This land was meant to become a park around Saddle Mountain.
Later, on November 21, 1928, Nellie and O. W. Taylor gave 1,280 acres (518 hectares) as a gift. They gave it to the state highway commission, which managed Oregon's state parks back then. This was the first land officially added to what was first called Saddle Mountain State Park.
Building the Park with the CCC
During the 1930s, a tough time called the Great Depression happened. The park became home to a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp. The CCC was a group of young men who worked on public projects.
Starting in June 1935, the state let the federal government use the land for two years. While they were there, the CCC made many improvements. They built the main trail to the mountain's summit. They also made a 7.25-mile (11.7 km) road from the Sunset Highway to the main parking lot. Plus, they built the parking lot itself, a picnic area, and restrooms.
Growing the Park and Facing Challenges
On December 5, 1935, the Oregon State Land Board gave their 1,402 acres (567 hectares) to the state highway commission. They thought the parks division could manage the land better. This new land, which had already been logged for timber, became part of the park.
However, forest fires burned many trees near the base of the mountain in 1936 and again in 1939. Even with these challenges, the park continued to grow. In 1948, the state built an overnight camping area, a special building called a Quonset hut, and a water system with a reservoir.
In 1953, the Oregon State Board of Forestry built a fire lookout tower on top of Saddle Mountain. By 1964, the state had bought five more pieces of land, adding 372 acres (151 hectares) to the park. This brought the total size to 3,054 acres (1,236 hectares). By 1997, the park's name was changed to Saddle Mountain State Natural Area.
Exploring Saddle Mountain Park
Getting There and What to See
Saddle Mountain Road connects to U.S. Route 26. This is about 8 miles (13 km) east of where Oregon Route 53 meets Route 26. The main attraction of the park is Saddle Mountain itself, which is 3,283 feet (1,001 meters) tall.
From the mountain's peak, on clear days, you can see far-off mountains in the Cascade Range to the east. You can also spot the Pacific Ocean to the west and the mouth of the Columbia River to the north.
Park Facilities and Nature
The park has some basic facilities for visitors. These include simple campsites, restrooms, hiking trails, and picnic areas. Just remember, the campground is closed from October 31 to March 1 each year.
The park is full of natural beauty. It has thick forests and a spring near the mountain's summit that flows all year. You can find trees like cedar, hemlock, and spruce here. There's also a rare plant called Cardamine pattersonii. You might even spot a herd of elk roaming in the park!
