We decided to spend two weeks in Oakridge, a small town of 3300 people about 40 miles east of Eugene. We had been in this area on previous trips and love the gorgeous scenery. We hiked to Salt Creek Falls, the second highest waterfall (286 feet) in Oregon. The tallest is Multnomah Falls. The trail winds through old growth forest to the magnificent falls.

The Willamette Fish Hatchery has lovely manicured grounds, including trout ponds and a trail through the forest. We saw some very large sturgeon (about eight feet long) in one of the ponds.

The North Fork Trail is now one of our favorite hikes. The trail follows the Willamette River for many miles. We hiked one three mile section. There were many wildflowers along the trail and we had some access points to the river.

Greenwaters Park is near our RV park in Oakridge. There are several trails winding through the forest. The park has picnic facilities and some beautiful Rhododendron bushes and flowers. There is a nice view of the river from the bridge.

Salmon Creek Falls is of the most beautiful campgrounds we have seen. It is a short drive from Oakridge. We went there several times just to sit by the creek and listen to the falls. A great place to relax and enjoy the beauty of God's creation.

We had fun trying to find some of the covered bridges near Cottage Grove. It is like a treasure hunt. Some of these bridges are being used today, while others are preserved for history.

On Father's Day we drove to Spirit Falls trailhead. There is a short hike to the lovely falls. Then we had lunch at a Thai restaurant in Cottage Grove and in the afternoon we went to Cottage Theatre to see the play, "Moon Over Buffalo", a hilarious comedy.

If you like old growth forest, rivers and waterfalls, the Oakridge area is definitely the place to visit.