Cascadia Park & Lower Soda Creek Waterfall Trail

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Cascadia Park & Lower Soda Creek Waterfall Trail

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Difficulty: Easy
Length: 2.1 miles / 3.4 km
Duration: 1 hour or less

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Overview: This state park has a lot to do with camping at Cascadia campground, swimming in the Santiam River and a short hike to the long thin Lower Soda Creek Falls.

It used to be the location of a hotel and resort back in 1896, based on the “curative powers” of the mineral spring water along Soda Creek. Visitors trekked to the remote spot to drink from the bubbling spring. At the height of the resort’s popularity in the early 1900s, an average of 1,000 people a week stayed at the hotel and in the camping area. If you look closely you can find a pipe with the orange spring water still flowing out.

The main campground has 25 first-come, first served tent sites tucked into the trees and rhododendrons. Two reservable group tent areas are near the South Santiam River. If you only have time for a short visit, there are plenty of picnic tables in two day-use areas. Drinking water is available in all areas, as well as flush toilets.

Look for a small trailhead sign and a bench as you drive into the main day-use parking area. This is the take-off point for a 3/4-mile trail that leads to the 150-foot Soda Creek waterfall. The dirt trail is moderately steep. Look for several varieties of ferns, wildflowers and big Douglas-fir, cedar and maple trees.

Tips: To get here take Hwy 20 14 miles east of Sweet Home. Between milepost 41 and 42 look for the Cascadia State Park sign and turn north across a bridge. Keep right and park at the picnic area.

Points of Interest

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Cascadia Campground

Campsites are first-come, first-served. Open May 1 - September 30.

25 primitive sites (maximum site 35 feet); group tent (2 reservable areas); group day-use (2 reservable areas). For information only, call (541) 367-6021 or (800) 551-6949. To make reservations for the group tent and day-use areas, please call Reservations Northwest at (800) 452-5687.

Park rates (subject to rate changes; winter, emergency or other closures)
May 1 to September 30
Tent site: $17
Hiker/Biker (per person/per night): $5
Extra vehicle: $5
Group (tent): $71, $3 per person after 25.

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Waterfall Trailhead

Find this trail a little ways up the road from the campground entrance.

Turn right towards the East Picnic area and you will find the trail head on the left.