Milo McIver

Milo McIver State Park encompasses 952 acres along the Clackamas River southeast of Portland, offering diverse recreation including disc golf, equestrian facilities, camping, and river access. The park is named after Milo McIver, a former Oregon Highway Commission chairman who advocated for state park development. Established in 1966, it features a mix of forested areas, open meadows, and river frontage that provide varied recreational experiences. The park is particularly renowned for its championship-level 27-hole disc golf course, considered one of the finest in the Pacific Northwest. Its location near Estacada makes it easily accessible for Portland-area residents seeking camping, hiking, and water-based recreation on the scenic Clackamas River.

The park's riparian forests and river corridor support diverse wildlife including black-tailed deer, Roosevelt elk, black bears, coyotes, and river otters that hunt along the Clackamas River. Bird species include bald eagles and osprey that fish the river, pileated woodpeckers in mature forests, and various songbirds including warblers, tanagers, and thrushes. The Clackamas River provides essential habitat for chinook and coho salmon, steelhead trout, and coastal cutthroat trout that attract predators and delight anglers. Small mammals such as raccoons, skunks, beavers, and Douglas squirrels are common throughout the park. Amphibians including Pacific tree frogs, red-legged frogs, and rough-skinned newts inhabit wetland areas and stream margins.

The park's vegetation includes mixed coniferous forests dominated by Douglas fir, western hemlock, and western red cedar, with bigleaf maple, red alder, and black cottonwood in riparian zones. The understory features sword fern, Oregon grape, salal, vine maple, and oceanspray that create dense cover and provide food for wildlife. Open meadow areas support native and introduced grasses along with wildflowers including camas, lupine, and various asters that bloom in spring and summer. Riparian vegetation includes willows, red-osier dogwood, and black hawthorn that stabilize riverbanks and provide nesting habitat for birds. Some areas contain Oregon white oak, remnants of savanna ecosystems that once dominated lower elevation Willamette Valley fringes before fire suppression and development.

The park is situated in the foothills of the Cascade Range, underlain by volcanic rocks including basalt flows and volcanic sediments from the ancestral Cascades. The Clackamas River has carved a valley through these formations, creating terraces and floodplains visible in the park's topography. Glacial activity in the upper Clackamas watershed during the Pleistocene contributed sediments that the river continues to transport and deposit downstream. The riverbed contains cobbles, gravels, and boulders eroded from volcanic bedrock upstream, constantly redistributed by seasonal high flows. The area experiences minimal seismic activity compared to the coast but sits within the Cascadia Subduction Zone, making major earthquakes possible though infrequent.

The park experiences a transitional climate between the Willamette Valley and Cascade mountains, with wet winters and warm, dry summers. Annual precipitation averages 50-60 inches, primarily falling between October and April, with occasional snow at this 500-foot elevation. Winter temperatures typically range from 35-50°F, while summer highs reach 75-90°F with pleasantly cool mornings and evenings. The Clackamas River provides moderate cooling during hot summer days, and the forest canopy creates shaded microclimates. Spring and fall are ideal visiting seasons with mild temperatures, blooming wildflowers in spring, and vibrant fall foliage in deciduous trees, though fall marks the return of rainy weather.

The Clackamas River valley was home to the Clackamas people for thousands of years, who fished for salmon, hunted elk and deer, and gathered berries, roots, and other plant resources. Willamette Falls downstream was a major trading and fishing site for numerous tribes. European-American settlement began in the 1840s, with logging becoming the dominant industry as massive Douglas fir and cedar forests were harvested. The Clackamas River corridor developed as a transportation route and supported small communities based on timber and agriculture. By the mid-20th century, much of the easily accessible timber was gone, and recreation became increasingly important to the local economy, setting the stage for park development.

Milo McIver State Park was established in 1966 and named after Milo McIver, who served as Oregon Highway Commission chairman and advocated for developing state parks accessible to urban populations. The park was developed with diverse facilities including campgrounds, picnic areas, trails, and specialized recreation amenities. The Milo McIver Disc Golf Course was added later and has become one of the park's signature attractions, hosting major tournaments and drawing disc golf enthusiasts from across the region. Equestrian facilities were developed to serve horse owners, with trails and staging areas designed for mounted recreation. The park has evolved to serve multiple user groups while maintaining its natural character and river access.

The park features approximately nine miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian use, winding through forests and meadows with varied terrain and difficulty levels. The 27-hole disc golf course is a major draw, featuring challenging layouts through wooded areas with elevation changes and technical shot requirements. The Clackamas River provides fishing access for salmon, steelhead, and trout, plus opportunities for swimming and wading during summer months. The park includes a fish hatchery operated by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, offering educational displays about salmon life cycles and conservation. Camping facilities, picnic areas, and group shelters make the park suitable for family outings, group gatherings, and overnight stays.

The park provides a 44-site campground with electrical hookups for RVs, tent sites, hiker/biker sites, and yurts for year-round use. Day-use facilities include picnic areas with tables and grills, restrooms, showers, and ample parking for cars, horse trailers, and RVs. The park is located off Highway 211 approximately two miles west of Estacada and 30 miles southeast of Portland, easily accessible for day trips or weekend camping. The nearby community of Estacada offers basic services including gas, groceries, and restaurants, while Portland provides comprehensive amenities. The park is open year-round, though winter brings muddy trails and cold weather, making spring through fall the most popular seasons for most activities.

Park management balances multiple recreational uses with habitat protection, focusing on maintaining forest health, protecting riparian zones, and supporting native fish populations in the Clackamas River. Trail maintenance and erosion control are priorities given heavy use by hikers, bikers, and horses, with ongoing work to prevent soil compaction and stream sedimentation. Invasive species management targets plants like blackberry and ivy that degrade native habitats, with volunteer groups assisting in removal efforts. The park works with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife on salmon and steelhead conservation, protecting spawning areas and maintaining water quality. Climate change concerns include reduced summer river flows affecting fish habitat, increased wildfire risk during droughts, and potential shifts in forest composition, with adaptive management strategies being developed to address these long-term challenges.