Cool Off at the Cascadia State Park Swimming Hole

Swimming and summer go hand-in-hand, especially in Oregon, with our multitude of clean rivers and lakes. But there’s one swimming hole on the South Santiam River that is just a notch above the pack, called (somewhat unimaginatively) the Cascadia State Park Swimming Hole.

This family-friendly swimming spot is located just a few miles from Sweet Home, and is a perfect place for a hot summer escape to the woods. The wonderful thing about this location is that it’s at a relatively shallow and slow-moving section of the South Santiam River. A maintained wooden stairwell leads down to the water’s edge, making the trek down easy for young children. There are also gentle rapids that are fun to ride downstream on inflatable devices.

The swimming hole is a short hike from the Cascadia State Park campground, which is only open May 1-Sept. 30. It’s a clean and tidy campground, although it can get crowded, and works on a first-come-first-serve basis. Getting to the swimming hole from the parking lot requires a short walk from the day use parking area. The trail is signed, and can be accessed from the parking area.

Access to the river is free, but camping is $17 per tent. For more information about the area, check out the official state webpage: http://bit.ly/1r2Ycs7

Image with bridge used via a Creative Commons license: "The South Fork of the Siuslaw River at Cascadia State Park" by Rick Obst: https://www.flickr.com/photos/discoveroregon/28387680297