Milo McIver State Park explained

Milo McIver State Park
Map:Oregon#USA
Map Width:220
Type:Public, state
Location:Clackamas County, Oregon
Coords:45.306°N -122.3734°W
Coords Ref:[1]
Operator:Oregon Parks and Recreation Department

Milo McIver State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is in Clackamas County along the Clackamas River, near Estacada and close to Mount Hood.

History

The park was named in honor of Milo K. McIver. McIver was an Oregon Highway Commission member from April 1, 1950, to March 31, 1962, and commission chairman from April 1, 1958, to March 31, 1962. McIver set a record for long service with the commission. His 12-year term exceeded by a year and a half that of Ben R. Chandler. His facility in the fields of realty, property management, financing and industrial development were instrumental in investing nearly $1 billion on about 1000miles of new highway. During his term as chairman, Oregon led all other states in opening interstate freeways.

In 1970, the park was the site of Vortex I, a government-sponsored music festival.

Flora and fauna

The park contains a colony of Townsend's big-eared bats, considered a sensitive species in Oregon.[2]

The largest Yew in Oregon is located in the park.[3]

Amenities

The park has many amenities for various activities, including day use and overnight camping, primitive camp sites, hiking and horse trails, boating, bird watching and a disc golf course.[4] The equestrian trail system and facilities include: a very large parking area, portable toilets, a covered picnic area, a handicapped mounting ramp, a regular mounting block, an outdoor warm-up arena, a small round pen, and several training stations along the upper trail loop. The stations include: a teeter-totter bridge, a suspension bridge, a farm gate, a back through chute, a "mountain trail" area with small boulders, roots, and logs to step through, two large logs to cross and sidepass, a small water crossing, concrete cavaletti to cross, a two-tiered step-up box, and an 18by balance beam, 36feet long, with a 20-degree bend in the middle. There are also two small bridges over small streams. The park's master plan calls for the construction of a horse camping area as well.

Notes and References

  1. 1124222 . Milo McIver State Park . 2011-07-01.
  2. Web site: Milo McIver State Park . . 2011-07-01.
  3. Web site: Pacific Yew, Taxus brevifolia . Native Plants PNW . 2018-01-12.
  4. Web site: Milo McIver State Park . Oregon Parks and Recreation Department . 2011-07-01.