Workamping in Oregon

We started our workamping gig in the state of Oregon on May 6 with a weeklong training session held at the facility headquarters in Estacada, Oregon. Our employer, Portland General Electric, operates 14 different day use and overnight camping facilities along the Clackamas River corridor in the Mt. Hood National Forest and in the high desert canyons near Madras.

This year I’m trying something different after spending 5 seasons as a fee ranger for the National Park Service. My husband and I are delving into life as a camp host in one the small campgrounds that line the southern shore of Lake Timothy in the Mt Hood National Forest.

For the first week of employment, we reserved a camp site at Milo McIver State Park while attending training at the Portland General Electric Faraday Plant nearby.

The State Park is named for a Milo K. McIver who was involved in the Oregon State Highway Commission. He had a deep appreciation for nature and was instrumental in advocating for the land near Estacada to be preserved. During the time he served on the highway commission, the Oregon State Parks fell under the umbrella of the Department of Transportation. So, McIver’s work was connected to the state park system during his tenure. According to an article I read in the Estacada News, while working for the highway commission, McIver was instrumental in the acquisition of 40 new areas – bolstering the state park system and increasing its popularity among Oregon residents . There is a plaque dedicated to his vision near the Milo McIver Memorial Viewpoint located in the park.

From this viewpoint, it is possible on a clear day to see, not only Mount Hood, but also Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens. We could easily see Mt Hood due to its proximity to Estacada and could just barely make out Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens.

Milo McIver State Park maintains a few miles of trails that offer opportunities for biking, hiking, and equestrian activities. During our week there, I hiked quite a few of those miles. Spring wildflowers and native shrubs were waking up after a winter’s rest and starting to bloom along the trails and in the forest.

Many of the deciduous trees were starting to leaf out. I love the bright green color of the new leaves as they emerge! The bigleaf maple below is catching the late afternoon light through the dense forest – enchanting!

The park has an area for equestrians to park their trailers and access the horse trails through the park. Many of the horse trails are dual-purpose and also serve as hiking trails. So, I encountered a number of riders as I walked the trails.

Some of the trails offer up a nice view of the Clackamas River as it winds its way towards its junction with the Willamette River near Oregon City.

From the short introduction that I received to the Oregon forest environment here in Milo McIver SP, I know without a doubt that I am going to enjoy exploring the Mt. Hood National Forest and all the diversity of flora and fauna that it has to offer up!