Oregon's Riverside State Park Offers Disc Golf & Camping Less Than An Hour From Portland

From the Pacific coast to the scenic Oregon-Idaho border, Oregon's natural beauty shines across the state. While you may not be able to squeeze in a visit to Mount Bachelor or the stunning beaches just north of California in Brookings on a trip to Portland, that doesn't mean you can't relish the stunning beauty of the Willamette Valley. If you're in the Portland area and looking for that Goldilocks outdoor experience — not too far with plenty to do yet quiet enough to fly under the radar – while being less than an hour from downtown, check out Milo McIver State Park. The 950-acre park is nestled on the Clackamas River and best known for camping and being home to one of the top disc golf courses in the state, along with several scenic hiking trails. While you're relaxing the day away there, you may spot a wide variety of wildlife, including deer, elk, and beavers. Dozens of species of birds, including swooping ospreys and eagles, also frequent the park and fish for salmon and steelhead around the park's Clackamas Hatchery.

The park was gradually developed between the 1960s and the 1980s just outside of Estacada, a charming riverside city where you can find groceries for your camping trip or wind down an afternoon on the disc golf course with a local beer at the Bent Shovel beer garden. Notably, in 1970, the state park hosted the Vortex I music festival, reportedly the only state-sponsored music festival in U.S. history.

While you'll likely drive to Milo McIver, many Portland locals bike the 25 miles along bike paths and quiet streets to the park. A daily parking pass is required for vehicles, while bicycles and pedestrians enter for free.

The Willamette Valley is the cradle of Oregon's underrated wine country, with underrated cities such as McMinnville, and its growing disc golf community. And like the local wineries, many disc golf courses in the region are also considered to be world-class. Within the park's Riverbend Day-Use Area, you'll find a course with 27 holes. The park's Riverbend East Course, in particular, was ranked by UDisc as the best in the state three years in a row (as of this writing) and is rated as one of the top 100 courses in the world. As you move from hole to hole, you'll drive through narrow gaps in trees that open up to wide fairways. For an even bigger challenge, consider playing the Riverbend West Course, which starts off with a professional-level 850-foot par 5. If you have never played before, visit the park office, where you can rent discs for the day and tee off from the short tees. Past players recommend wearing waterproof shoes, as you'll likely be hunting down discs by the water. 

Although disc golf is the main activity in the Riverbend Day-Use Area, you'll find other amenities to enjoy a lazy afternoon and soak up the scenery. There are several group-use picnic pavilions, as well as restrooms throughout the disc golf course. When you visit, don't miss trekking to the park's scenic Memorial Viewpoint, with sweeping views of Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams, and Mount Hood. Access to the lookout from the Vortex trails may be limited; however, a paved route from the viewpoint parking lot leads to the top. 

Campers at Milo McIver State Park can expect a mix of nature and convenient amenities during their trip. The park's primary campground has 44 campsites with electricity, water, restrooms, and hot showers, as well as picnic tables and fire rings for a relaxed evening once the sun goes down. Campsites are large enough for a 60-foot RV, and per past campers, you'll have room to spread out. If you've brought a tent, you'll find a more secluded site nearby. Reservations for both campsites are bookable six months in advance on the Oregon State Parks website. Other campsites, including three more secluded bike or walk-in sites, are first-come, first-served.

If your idea of a perfect day camping is on the water, grab your fishing rod and head to the Clackamas River to catch a trout for breakfast, or spend an afternoon paddling around a calm stretch of the river called Estacada Lake. Note that visitors will need a fishing license, as well as a waterway access permit if they plan to take their own watercraft (including a paddleboard) on the water. Nearby lifejackets are free to borrow, and kayaks and paddleboards are available to rent from Clackamas River Outfitters. You may want to think twice about taking a dip, though, even in summer: The water temperature is normally in the mid-60s Fahrenheit or lower.