Английская Википедия:Cottonwood Canyon State Park
Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Use mdy dates Шаблон:Infobox park Cottonwood Canyon State Park, established in 2013, is the second largest state park in Oregon, encompassing Шаблон:Convert on the lower John Day River.[1] The largest is Silver Falls State Park at Шаблон:Convert.[1]
Park headquarters, about a two-hour drive east of Portland, is adjacent to Oregon Route 206 between Wasco and Condon.[1] The river, which here forms the boundary between Sherman County on the west and Gilliam County on the east, meanders for Шаблон:Convert through the arid park.[2]
The walls of the main canyon reach to Шаблон:Convert above sea level within the park, which also includes four side canyons: Hay Creek, Esau, Rattlesnake, and Cottonwood. These and the main canyon are flanked by grassland, sagebrush shrub-steppe, river bottom, and cliffs composed mainly of basalts of the Columbia River Basalt Group.[2]
History
In 2008, the Western Rivers Conservancy, a non-profit organization based in Portland, bought the land from a cattle-ranching family, the Murthas, who had owned it since the 1930s. The conservancy was able to borrow money from the Wyss Foundation to make a quick purchase possible. Later, Western Rivers offered to sell the land to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) to create a state park. OPRD agreed and paid Western Rivers what the non-profit had paid the Murthas, $7.86 million.[1] In 2022, the park applied to become the 2nd IDA Dark Sky Park in the state of Oregon, with approvals expected to come by mid to late 2023.[3]
Recreation
Hiking, camping, fishing, and river rafting are among the recreation possibilities in the park. A campground with 21 primitive sites, 7 sites for hikers and bikers, a group camping area, potable water, and a restroom are near the park headquarters and the information building.[2] Hiking trails include Pinnacles, in Sherman County, and Lost Corral, in Gilliam County, each of which follows the river downstream for Шаблон:Convert.[4] On the upstream side of the highway, the Hard Stone Trail follows the river for Шаблон:Convert.[4] In addition, old ranching roads that cross the park double as hiking trails, and an adjacent Шаблон:Convert of public land managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management offer further possibilities for hiking.[4]
Horse trails wind through the Gilliam County segment of the park.[2] The J. S. Burres day-use area, also in the Gilliam County segment, is a put-in place for boaters heading downriver and a take-out place for commercial and private groups running the John Day between Clarno and Route 206.[2] Hunting, subject to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations, is allowed in undeveloped parts of the park.[2]
Cottonwood Canyon is also one of the darkest state parks in Oregon, which makes the park ideal for star gazing.[5] The canyon provides an opportunity to stargaze that is hidden from lights from the surrounding areas and adjacent road.
Fauna and flora
In 2010, a small number of California bighorn sheep were transplanted to the park's future location from the nearby Lower Deschutes Wildlife Area;[6][7] the herd eventually grew into one of Oregon's largest.[8] Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer, pronghorn, coyotes, and many smaller mammals can be found in the area. A variety of snakes (including the western rattlesnake) live in the park, which is also home to several lizard species. Frogs, toads, and waterfowl can be found near the river.[2] Fish in the river include Chinook salmon, steelhead, catfish, carp and smallmouth bass.[4]
Raptors such as American kestrels and Swainson's hawks frequent the area. Game birds such as the chukar partridge and the ring-necked pheasant are found in the uplands, and migratory birds such as Bullock's oriole and the lazuli bunting visit the park in summer.[2]
Balsamroot and monkey flower bloom here in early May. Sagebrush blooms in October.[2] OPRD workers have been planting small numbers of box elder, chokecherry and hawthorn trees to provide shade near park headquarters.[1]
See also
References
External links
- A rugged new park in Eastern Oregon
- Cottonwood Canyon, Oregon's second biggest state park, hums with construction activity
Шаблон:Protected areas of Oregon
- Английская Википедия
- 2013 establishments in Oregon
- Parks in Gilliam County, Oregon
- Parks in Sherman County, Oregon
- Protected areas established in 2013
- State parks of Oregon
- Страницы, где используется шаблон "Навигационная таблица/Телепорт"
- Страницы с телепортом
- Википедия
- Статья из Википедии
- Статья из Английской Википедии
