Many years ago when I used to live in Salem (Like 30) My parents used to take us to some awesome swimming holes on the Santiam.
I remember one where a bridge used to cross the river and there was a rope swing. I used to chase the fish there.
At another place up river somewhere there was a big rock to jump off at least 25 feet high (it seemed like it was 40) into a deep cold pool and down below were other pools carved from sandstone or granite by the river and much colder than the previously mentioned place. Any clues as to where these places are? I plan on going up there next week and camping.
Dang... I swear I know those places too.... good memories of childhood there... Let's all go down to the river and see if we can find it!!
well I know some good ones on the smith river and upper Sacramento river in the state of Jefferson. I plan on finding these too.
One of the places might be Here (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=46694+Hufford+Rd,+Foster,+OR,+United+States&sll=44.399015,-122.538698&sspn=0.001158,0.00284&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=46694+Hufford+Rd,+Foster,+Linn,+Oregon+97345&ll=44.399111,-122.538972&spn=0.009199,0.022724&z=16)
[Edit}
OK never mind that other place. this is the place.
(http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/31284172.jpg)
Salmon Falls County Park (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Salmon+Falls+Park,+Lyons,+Oregon&hl=en&cd=1&ei=ly5xTOKoF6b6tgOmu53IBg&sig2=MVLeq-zwWYSYQ7utxJj2zw&sll=44.833876,-122.364408&sspn=0.018991,0.038418&ie=UTF8&view=map&cid=1170879371064075817&ved=0CF4QpQY&hq=Salmon+Falls+Park,+Lyons,+Oregon&hnear=&ll=44.831891,-122.370894&spn=0.00875,0.022724&z=16&iwloc=A)
Sounds like you're thinking of North Fork. Yeah, Salmon Falls is in the same territory.
Well we went and camped in right in the station wagon about 20 miles from the swimming hole. In the morning I did some looking around while the wife slept in the back of the car and found the park in the above picture. I decided that while the place was pretty cool it wast the spot I was looking for. so after doing some hunting around I found the long lost swimming hole. Except for the very cold temperature of the water this spot is a 10!
(http://i36.tinypic.com/wl3j7.jpg)
(http://i35.tinypic.com/2a4shn6.jpg)
(http://i38.tinypic.com/2dvmtc2.jpg)
Yes you can swim under that rapid through a hole in the rock.
(http://i38.tinypic.com/33m33pc.jpg)
This is the tower I remembered.
(http://i38.tinypic.com/2gxp7jn.jpg)
(http://i34.tinypic.com/2ro3ic1.jpg)
with the dogs
The place is called "Three Pools" I took a GPS reading in the nice paved parking lot 44. 50' 21"N 122. 18' 39" W (LINK) (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=44+50%27+21%22N++++122+18%27+39%22W&sll=44.461231,-122.206421&sspn=1.176181,2.90863&ie=UTF8&ll=44.839043,-122.311907&spn=0.009129,0.022724&t=h&z=16)
So plug that into google or something, and it will give you the spot. (take out the decimal or you will get a decimal location, I just did that because there is no degree sign on the keyboard) You have to about 2 miles on gravel road to get there so it might not be the best thing for the monster. At least as far as keeping it clean anyway.
The water is just incredibly clear with a bit of an emerald tint to it. I wasn't sure at first if it was the spot I was looking for but it was so similar that I figured it would do. But as I was fooling around in the little waterfall/rapid right by where Joy is sitting I noticed the rock that seems to block water from one pool to the other. I could see through, and sure enough you can swim through a scoured out hole in the rock, under the rapid, and out into the pool on the other side. Then I new for sure that was the place!
Now to find that bridge with the swing.