You’ve probably driven past Estacada a dozen times on your way to Mount Hood, never realizing you were skipping over one of the weirdest, most multi-faceted pieces of land in the Oregon State Parks system.
Honestly, Milo McIver State Park is a bit of a shapeshifter.
Depending on who you ask, it’s either a world-class disc golf destination, a prime spot to haul a drift boat into the Clackamas River, or the site of the only state-sponsored rock festival in U.S. history.
Yeah, you read that right.
In 1970, Oregon’s governor basically told 30,000 hippies they could have a massive party here—complete with open drug use and nudity—just to keep them from protesting Richard Nixon in Portland. They called it Vortex I. The "Governor’s Pot Party" is still a legend among local old-timers, and while the "biodegradable festival of life" is long gone, the park still carries that slightly wild, anything-goes energy.
Why the Disc Golf Community Obsesses Over This Place
If you see someone walking through the woods here carrying a bag that looks like a high-end diaper bag, they’re probably a disc golfer. And they’re probably intense.
Milo McIver State Park isn't just a place with a few baskets scattered in a field. It’s home to the Riverbend East and West courses, which consistently rank in the top 100 globally on UDisc.
The Pro Circuit Reality
The Beaver State Fling is held here every year. It’s a National Tour event. People fly in from across the country to try and navigate the "I-5" hole (Hole 14 on the West course), which is basically a massive, narrow tunnel of trees that eats discs for breakfast.
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- Riverbend West: The "Championship" side. It’s long. It’s punishing. If you don't have a 400-foot drive, you’re going to be scrambling for par all day.
- Riverbend East: Slightly more "approachable," but don't let that fool you. The elevation changes will still ruin your calves by the ninth hole.
The park added a $10 day-use fee recently (up from $5), but for most players, it’s a small price to pay for what feels like a professional-grade experience. Just bring a towel. The grass is almost always wet.
The Clackamas River: More Than Just a Scenic Backdrop
Most people think of the Clackamas as a place to tube during a heatwave. At McIver, it’s a bit more technical.
The park sits on a stretch of the river that marks a transition. Upstream, you’ve got the gnarly whitewater of the upper Clackamas. By the time the water hits the McIver boat ramps, it starts to mellow out, but it’s still no joke.
Pro Tip: If you’re launching a kayak or raft here, pay attention to the flow rates. The "upper" ramp is gravel and can be tricky for low-clearance cars. The "lower" ramp is paved and much easier to manage.
Fishing and the Million-Fish Hatchery
Tucked away in the Riverside day-use area is the Clackamas Fish Hatchery. It’s run by ODFW, and they pump out over a million Chinook salmon every year.
It’s kinda fascinating to walk the grounds and see the massive concrete ponds full of steelhead and coho. If you have kids, this is the "I'm bored" antidote. You can watch the life cycle of these fish up close, and it's free to visit (though you still need that park parking permit).
Fishing for "keepers" is a major pastime here. The river is stocked heavily, and during the winter steelhead run in March and April, the banks are lined with anglers who look like they haven't slept in three days.
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The Vortex Loop and the "Hippie" Heritage
You can’t talk about Milo McIver State Park without mentioning the Vortex Loop.
It’s a 4.2-mile trail that takes you through the very meadows where the 1970 festival happened. Today, it’s peaceful. You’ll see Douglas firs, bigleaf maples, and maybe a black-tailed deer if you’re quiet.
But if you look closely at the landscape, you can almost imagine the massive timber stage they built. Governor Tom McCall took a massive political risk by allowing the festival to happen. He figured that if he gave the anti-war protestors a place to go, they wouldn't burn down downtown Portland while the American Legion was in town.
It worked.
Nixon ended up cancelling his trip anyway, but the party went on. It’s the kind of weird Oregon history that makes a hike feel a bit more significant.
Hiking Stats for the Weekend Warrior
- The Rivermill Trail: About 4 miles. This one gives you the best views of Estacada Lake.
- Maple Ridge: Short but steep. Good for a quick cardio hit.
- Wood Duck Pond: It’s exactly what it sounds like. It’s a quiet, marshy spot that’s great for birding.
Camping: Expect Competition
Getting a spot at the McIver campground in July is like trying to win the lottery.
There are only 44 electrical sites. That’s not a lot for a park this close to Portland. Most are tucked into a lush forest canopy that provides decent privacy, which is rare for state parks.
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If you’re a "hiker-biker" type, there are three dedicated sites with lockers and solar charging stations. It’s a popular stop for people touring the Cascades by bicycle.
Basically, if you want a weekend spot, you need to be on the reservation website the second the window opens. Or, come on a Tuesday in October. The park is actually stunning in the fall when the maples turn, and the crowds vanish.
What Most People Miss: The Bat Barn
I’m serious. There is a dedicated Bat Barn.
It’s near the Riverbend area. It was built specifically to house a colony of Yuma myotis bats. It’s not exactly a "tourist attraction" in the sense that you can go inside and hang out with them, but at dusk, you can stand nearby and watch hundreds of bats emerge to hunt insects over the river.
It’s one of those "only at McIver" details that makes the park feel like a living, breathing laboratory.
Actionable Steps for Your Visit
- Check the River Levels: If you’re floating from McIver to Barton Park (the classic 6-mile float), check the USGS gauge for "Clackamas River at Estacada." Anything under 1,000 cfs is going to be a slow, "butt-dragging-on-rocks" kind of day.
- Buy the Annual Pass: The daily fee is now $10. The annual Oregon State Park pass is $30. If you plan on coming back more than twice in a year, just buy the sticker. You can get it at the park office.
- Download the UDisc App: Even if you aren't a pro, the disc golf courses are confusing. The app will save you from wandering aimlessly into someone's line of fire.
- Pack for "Oregon Weather": This park sits in a bit of a bowl. It can be pouring rain at McIver while it’s sunny in Clackamas. Bring a shell.
- Visit the Viewpoint First: When you enter, stop at the Milo McIver Memorial Viewpoint. On a clear day, you can see Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, and Mt. Adams. It’s the best way to get your bearings before heading down into the river canyon.
Whether you're there to hurl plastic at metal baskets or just to soak in the weird history of a state-sponsored "pot party," McIver is a weirdly perfect slice of the Pacific Northwest. Just watch out for the geese at the boat ramp; they're the real owners of the park.