Tumalo State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tumalo State Park |
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The Deschutes River at the park
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| Type | Public, state |
| Location | Deschutes County, Oregon |
| Nearest city | Bend, Oregon |
| Area | 330 acres (130 ha) |
| Created | 1954 |
| Operated by | Oregon Parks and Recreation Department |
Tumalo State Park is a fun state park in Deschutes County, Oregon, United States. It opened in 1954. The park is found northwest of the city of Bend. It sits right along the Deschutes River. Many different kinds of birds live here. People love to visit for picnics, swimming, fishing, hiking, and camping. It is open every day of the year.
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Park History
Tumalo State Park was created in 1954. It is about 5 miles (8.0 km) northwest of Bend. The park was set up to protect a beautiful part of the Deschutes River. Here, tall basalt cliffs drop down to the water. It also gave people a place for picnics and a public campground.
The first 115 acres (47 ha) of land were given to Oregon by Deschutes County. Over the years, the park's size changed a bit. In 1959, the state gave back 1 acre (0.40 ha) for a road. This road helped people living south of the park. In 1960, the state bought 3.5 acres (1.4 ha) more land.
A year later, another road was built across the park's corner. This made the park 0.8 acres (0.32 ha) smaller. In 1963, another road project reduced it by 0.7 acres (0.28 ha). But in 1972, the county gave a huge 191 acres (77 ha) more land. This helped the park grow a lot. More land deals in the next ten years made the park 330 acres (130 ha) in total.
Park Landscape
Tumalo State Park is located in the Deschutes River canyon. It stretches along both sides of the river. On the east side, the land is mostly flat. It gently slopes up towards the east. The slope gets much steeper at the park's eastern edge. On the west side of the river, the park land is mostly flat too.
Plants and Animals
The park has an open look with some trees. You will mostly see western juniper trees. There are also some ponderosa pine trees. In areas not used by people, big sagebrush covers the ground. Along the river banks, you can find willow, dogwood, alder, and poplar trees.
Birds of Tumalo State Park
Tumalo State Park is a great place to watch birds. You can often see swallows near the cliffs. Large great blue herons stand along the river. Other common birds include the mountain chickadee and western meadowlark. You might also spot a yellow warbler or a cedar waxwing.
Even though they are rare, some special birds have been seen here. These include the American dipper and the Costa's hummingbird. Bigger birds like the mourning dove and California quail are also around. Birds of prey, such as the osprey and bald eagle, fly overhead. You might even see a great horned owl.
Mammals of Tumalo State Park
You will often see Golden-mantled ground squirrels and chipmunks in the park. In the early morning or evening, look for black-tailed deer. They often walk through the park. Other animals living nearby include California ground squirrels and pygmy rabbits.
You might also find striped skunks, porcupines, and raccoons. Coyotes and bobcats also live in the area around the park.
Fun Activities
A road called O.B. Riley Road goes through the park. It runs from Bend to the town of Tumalo. The main part of the park is on the south side of the Deschutes River. The park has roads, parking, and restrooms. There are also solar showers and laundry areas.
You can find hiking trails and a big picnic area. The picnic area is west of the highway. All the campsites are on the east side. There is a group shelter for up to 50 people. The campground has 50 tent sites and 23 spots for trailers. There are also seven yurts, which are round tents. The park is open all year.
Tumalo State Park is very popular in summer. People love to wade, swim, and float on inner tubes in the river. There is also a playground for kids. The park has many hiking trails. These trails are also popular for mountain bikers.
Fishing in the Deschutes River is good, especially in spring and late summer. You can often catch rainbow and brown trout. The park's trees, riverbanks, and cliffs attract many birds. This makes it a great place for birdwatching.
