Elliott Corbett Memorial State Recreation Site
Corbett State Park | |
---|---|
Location | Jefferson County, Oregon |
Nearest city | Sisters, Oregon |
Coordinates | 44°24′35″N 121°46′29″W / 44.4098°N 121.7748°W |
Area | 63 acres (25 ha) |
Created | 1952 |
Operated by | Oregon Parks and Recreation Department |
Open | Year-around |
Elliott Corbett Memorial State Recreation Site (also known as Elliott Corbett State Park, Corbett Memorial State Park or Corbett State Park) is a state park along the south shore of Blue Lake Crater in Jefferson County, Oregon, United States. The park is named in honor of Elliott R. Corbett II, who was killed while serving in the United States Army during World War II. It includes 63 acres (25 ha) of wilderness land with very few park facilities. Corbett State Park is administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.
Geography
Corbett State Park covers 63 acres (25 ha) of forest and meadow above the south shore of Blue Lake, east of the Cascade Range in Central Oregon.[1][2] The park is just south of Highway 20, 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Santiam Pass and 14 miles (23 km) west of Sisters. The park’s elevation ranges from 3,468 feet (1,057 m) at the shore of Blue Lake to over 3,600 feet (1,100 m) on the slopes above the lake.[1][2]
Blue Lake fills a deep volcanic
History
In the 19th century, the central meadow of what is now Corbett State Park was a popular stopping place on the pioneer wagon road that crossed the Cascade Range near Santiam Pass. Pioneer travelers liked the site because it offered fresh water and good grazing for their
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department acquired property in 1952. The land was a gift to the people of Oregon from
In August 2003, the area around Blue Lake was burned by the
Wilderness
Corbett State Park is a 63-acre (25 ha) day-use wilderness preserve. The park's central feature is a large open meadow surrounded by
While the park is relatively small, it provides habitat for a wide range of wildlife. The mixed
Among the birds found in or near the park are:
- Mountain chickadees
- Red-breasted nuthatches
- Brown creeper
- Dark-eyed juncos
- Western tanagers
- Chipping sparrows
- Red crossbills
- Golden-crowned kinglets
- Ruby-crowned kinglet
- and Steller's jays.
The forest is also home to
Recreation
Corbett State Park offers a variety of wilderness experiences. The most common recreational activities are
Because there is no road access to the park, visitors must hike into the area. From the west, the Corbett Park trail begins at a small parking area along Forest Service Road 2076, 3⁄4 mile (1.2 km) south of Highway 20. From the trailhead, visitors hike 2 miles (3.2 km) east through the Deschutes National Forest to the park’s main meadow. From the east, the park trail begins at Camp Caldera. From the camp, visitors can reach the park by hiking along the Blue Lake Crater Rim Trail that circles the lake. However, the trail along the east side of the lake is private property.. The entire loop trail around the lake is approximately 2.5-mile (4.0 km). One can also hike the waterfall loop trail on the south side of the park. The trail leaves the meadow about fifty yards west of the creek. Run south to the falls and then curves north back towards the meadow and Dark Lake trail.[1][2][3]
During the winter months, Corbett State Park is a site for
Because Corbett State Park is only accessible by trail, it has relatively few visitors. There is no charge for using the park. However, park facilities are very limited. Potable water and toilets are not provided for visitors. Signage within the park is also very limited. This is designed to enhance the park's wilderness experience.[1][2]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Bannan, Jan, "Elliott Corbett Memorial State Recreation Site", Oregon State Parks A Complete Recreation Guide, The Mountaineers Books, Seattle, Washington, 2002, pp. 172–174.
- ^ a b c d e f g Johnson, Daniel M., "Blue Lake" Archived 29 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine (PDF), Atlas of Oregon Lakes, Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon, 1985, p. 211.
- ^ a b c d e Newman, Doug, "Marking the Blue Lake Trail", The Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, 19 November 1978, p. 22NW.
- ^ "Survey for Expressway Approved", Northwest Magazine, The Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, 25 November 1952, p. 7.
- ^ "Bond Interest Rates Threaten Program of Highway Department", The Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, 26 June 1953, p. 19.
- ^ "Map ROD-1 B&B Fire Recovery Project Location" (PDF), B&B Fire Recovery Project Record of Decision, Sisters Ranger District, Deschutes National Forest, United States Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Sisters, Oregon, August 2005, p. 7.
- ^ Fisher, Jim, "Creating a New Forest from Ashes of B&B Fire", Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon, 23 July 2004.
- ^ "Changing the Landscape", B&B Complex Fire road-side kiosk interpretive exhibit, Sisters District, Deschutes National Forest, United States Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, Sisters, Oregon, 15 July 2008.
- ^ "Metolius Preserve" Archived 1 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Deschutes Land Trust, Bend, Oregon, 22 March 2014.
- ^ "Mammal Species of Oregon" Archived 19 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, State of Oregon, Salem, Oregon, 22 March 2014.
- ^ "Suttle Lake", Deschutes National Forest, United States Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, Bend, Oregon, 22 March 2014.
- ^ "Metolius Preserve Bird Checklist" Archived 26 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine (PDF), Deschutes Land Trust, Bend, Oregon, 22 March 2014.
External links
- Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
- Corbett Memorial State Park, stateparks.com