we always WAnder.......
  • Where We Wandered
    • Arizona >
      • Forest Rd 611, North Rim Grand Canyon
      • N Timp Point, North Rim Grand Canyon
    • California >
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      • Benton Hot Springs
      • Panther Flat
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      • Mt Hood Meadows Ski Parking
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      • Rufus Landing Recreation Area
      • Silver Falls State Park
      • Skull Hollow Campground
      • Tillicum Beach
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"The Journey is the Destination" ~  Dan Eldon  

Opal Creek Wilderness Dispersed Site, N Fork Santiam River

Picture
This was a great little overnight spot, right on the creek which Mason loved!   Far enough off the road for privacy and with a peaceful creek.   This spot didn't come without its negatives which are typical of dispersed sites - lots of trash around which always makes me angry.   But after a 5 min clean up you have a great site with tons of privacy compared to the campground just down the road.    And the outdoor adventures around are numerous!   See below for the hikes we tries while in this area. 

Directions: 12 miles northwest of Detroit.  From Salem, follow Hwy 22 east to Mehama. Turn on Little North Santiam Road (FS 2209) and proceed for about 17 miles, then about 4 miles on FS 2207.  Just a couple miles past the Shady Cove campground.  You will go by several picnic pullouts on the right and a really nice waterfall on the left and then this site is on the right.   


Nearby Hikes and Sights.....

Sullivan Falls is just up the road from the dispersed campsite.    Great little waterfall with a neat little chute.     Would make a great stop for lunch and a dip in a cool pool. 

Henline Falls -   This 1.8 mi roundtrip trail leads to a 90 foot waterfall, with a nice pool and the remnants of an abandoned mine shaft from the 1930's.  The trail meanders through young Douglas-fir and Western Hemlock forest and with only a 200 feet elevation gain it makes for a great easy hike for a family.    The mine shaft is blocked off about 30 feet in, but we found a little geocache surprise inside the dark tunnel. 
Directions: From Salem, travel East on Hwy 22 to milepost 23 at the Swiss Village Restaurant. Turn left on North Fork Road, which is marked "Little North Santiam Recreation Area". Travel about 19 miles to forest road 2207 junction, continue past this junction for ¼ mile. Trailhead is on the left side.    GPS N44º 50.603', W122º 20.193'

Three Pools Day Use Area - This is a popular summer destination with spectacular emerald pools attracting well over 15,000 visitors each year, primarily for swimming.   I wish we had the opportunity to visit on a weekday and maybe have the place to ourselves!   The pools are deep enough for diving and very beautiful! 
Directions:  12 miles northwest of Detroit.  From Salem, follow Hwy 22 east to Mehama. Turn on Little North Santiam Road (FS 2209) and proceed for 17 miles to Three Pools Day Use Area.


For a great hike in the area - see our page on Breitenbush Campground with details on a hike to Jawbone Flats and Opal Pool!  
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  • Where We Wandered
    • Arizona >
      • Forest Rd 611, North Rim Grand Canyon
      • N Timp Point, North Rim Grand Canyon
    • California >
      • Alabama Hills
      • Benton Hot Springs
      • Panther Flat
      • Redwood National & State Parks
    • Idaho >
      • Amanita Campground
      • Dworshak State Park
      • Farragut Lake State Park
      • Grandjean Rd
      • Jerome County Fairgrounds
      • Kootenai Falls & Suspension Bridge
      • Morman Bend
      • Lake View Campground - Stanley Lake
      • Northwest Passage Ponderosa State Park
      • Petit Lake
      • Ponderosa State Park
      • Priest Lake Lionhead Unit
      • Schweitzer Mountain Ski Lot
      • Stanley Lake Campground
      • Wood River
      • Woodhead Power Park
    • Montana >
      • Avalanche Campground
      • Big Arm State Park
      • Bowman Lake
      • Dalles Forest Service Campground
      • Emery Bay Campground Hungry Horse Reservoir
      • Glacier Rim River Access
      • Lake Como Horse Camp
      • Painted Rocks State Park
      • Route of the Hiawatha
      • Slowey Campground
      • Wayfarers State Park
      • Whitefish Mountain
    • Nevada >
      • Pyramid Lake Wino Beach
      • Walker Lake Sportsman's Beach
    • Oregon >
      • Breitenbush Campground
      • Cape Lookout State Park
      • Cascade Locks Marine Park Campground
      • Cottonwood Canyon State Park
      • Detroit Lake, OR
      • Fort Stevens State Park
      • Jasper Point State Park
      • Kiwa Spring Rd / Forest Service Rd 4130
      • La Pine State Park
      • Little Crater Paulina Lake
      • Memaloose State Park
      • Mt. Bachelor Overnight RV
      • Mt Hood Meadows Ski Parking
      • Olallie Lake, OR
      • Opal Creek Wilderness North Fork Rd
      • Phil's Trails Dispersed
      • Rufus Landing Recreation Area
      • Silver Falls State Park
      • Skull Hollow Campground
      • Tillicum Beach
    • Utah >
      • BLM 340 Dispersed Site
      • Devil's Canyon
      • Devil's Garden - Arches National Park
      • Goosenecks State Park
      • Lone Rock Beach
      • Watchman Campground - Zion
      • Valley of the Gods
      • Red Canyon Forest Service Campground
      • Gooseberry Mesa
    • Washington >
      • Burke Lake - Ancient Lakes, Quincy WA
      • Glacier View Campground
      • Entiat WA FS Rd 5800
      • Fox Creek Campground - Entiat
      • Frenchman Coulee
      • Hamma Hamma Campground
      • Ike Kinswa State Park
      • Jameson Lake
      • Lakeshore RV - Chelan
      • Lake Takhlakh Campground
      • Lake Wenatchee State Park
      • Mad River Rd Entiat WA
      • Manastash Rd Dispersed
      • Maryhill State Park
      • Mission Ridge Ski Parking
      • Moses Lake Sand Dunes Dispersed Site
      • Plymouth Park
      • Taneum Creek - Shadow Cr Rd Taneum Creek Rd Dispersed Site
      • Taneum Creek Dispersed
      • Tieton River Dispersed Sites
      • Turkey Hole Lyle WA
      • Wenatchee Confluence State Park
      • Wynoochee Lake
    • Wyoming >
      • Bridge Bay Campground
      • Grand Teton National Park
      • Lizard Creek
      • Lonesomehurst Campground
      • Pebble Creek Campground
      • Signal Mountain Campground
      • Tower Fall Campground
      • Yellowstone National Park
  • Camp Cooking
    • Campfire Fajitas Recipe
  • Camper Mods
  • Wandering Wisdom
    • No Wandering Without...
    • No Wandering Without...
    • GoPro and Camera
    • Wisdom of Other Wanderers
    • We have been featured!
  • Camp Reads
  • Wanderer's Wishes....
  • Different Kind of Wandering
    • Cruising! >
      • Cruise Ship Style
      • Cruise Ship Fun
  • National Parks Visited
  • The Wanderers
    • Our Truck Camper History
    • Contact Us
  • Where to Wander Next.....
  • Blog
    • Gifts for Nurses
    • Essential Sites for Nurses
    • Chicago Trip