The Little North Santiam has long been known for its swimmable green pools, so tempting on hot summer days. This trail, built by Salem volunteers along a less well-known portion of the scenic river’s bank, reveals that the river has other charms as well: hidden waterfalls, spring trilliums, and mossy, old-growth forests lit with autumn-reddened vine maple. To shorten this trip to 4.5 miles, bring a second car as a shuttle and hike the trail one-way.

To find the lower trailhead, drive east from Salem on . . .

This chapter is an excerpt from 100 Hikes : Central Oregon Cascades