Milo McIver State Park is probably best known for its 27-hole disc-golf course, extensive equestrian facilities, and if you were around in 1970, the Vortex I rock festival.*
Set on the southern banks of the Clackamas River across from Estacada, Oregon, the 951-acre park also includes roughly 9 miles of trails through native forest, numerous group picnic areas and shelters, volleyball courts, a dog park, a 53-site campground, and three group camp sites. Because of its hilly topography, the park is divided into two day-use areas that flank the river, Riverside to the west and Riverbend to the east. The Riverside day-use area also has a boat ramp connection to the River Mill Reservoir, known by locals as "Estacada Lake."
* In the summer of 1970, roughly 30,000 to 100,000 people converged on Milo McIver State Park for Vortex I: A Biodegradable Festival of Life. The five day music festival was held almost one year to the day after the Woodstock Festival in Bethel, New York. Most notably, however, it was and still remains the only state-sponsored rock festival in U.S. history. Why? Then-President Richard Nixon had planned to come to an American Legion convention in Portland to promote the continuation of the Vietnam War, and plans were being hatched for a massive anti-war demonstration to coincide with Nixon's visit. The festival was planned by then-Governor Tom McCall, with the assistance of other peace-activist groups, as a diversion to draw focus away from Nixon's visit. Governor McCall was hoping to avoid the same fate as the Kent State demonstrations that happened in May of that same year in which four unarmed students were killed and nine others seriously injured. President Nixon ended up canceling his appearance and the festival was a huge success.
Note: The picnic shelters can be reserved through Reservations Northwest: 1.800.452.5687.
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