By amenities, I mean all the fantastic natural amenities. This campground is just off HWY 20 and is first come, first serve. There’s plenty of shade, potable water, showers and toilets. don’t expect the sites to be vast...they’re quite quaint and most only have room for one car. However, if you pick a campsite for what the nature around it offers, you won’t be disappointed.

Two points if interest for me were the Soda Creek Falls trail that takes you up the mountain to the falls, and the South Santiam River you cross over to get into the campground and park.

The trail up to the falls is a short .75 miles but don’t think it’s necessarily an easy one. it’s a rocky, narrow trail that requires solid soles (not a well-worn pair of Toms like I mistakingly wore) and has a good elevation gain through old growth forest. The trail at the end is a bit of a scramble over the natural rock formations to get down to the base of the falls or even to the top of the trail to overlook the canyon below.

The South Santiam River provides a perfect swimming spot for hot summer days. The trees provide plenty of shade over the smooth rock beach and the river gives both shallow and deep options for wading or swimming. I found myself wishing I had my nephew with me for this trip because he would have LOVED jumping off the rocks into the river below. Future plans to return with him are in the works.

Pros: *Easy access via HWY 20 *Natural water features to explore *Fun history of the area to learn about

Cons: *First come, first serve and fills up quickly *Not ADA Accessible to get to the waterfall or the river