1.0 hr
Overview
The land for this new state park on the site of a lumber mill was purchased in 2008. The Bates Mill had operated from 1917 to 1975, and an entire company town grew up here. Once the mill shut down, the buildings were razed, and the major feature that remains is the old mill pond. The log pond was filled in to create the campground area, and the park opened to the public in 2011. Unfortunately, the wide open, shadeless campground does not make the park a very appealing place to doss down for the night unless you have an RV. However, there are two short loop options for those who want a stroll here: one on the east side and the other on the west side of Bates Pond. This description follows the latter, which takes you past the pond into a ponderosa pine upland blooming with a myriad varieties of wildflowers in the late spring/early summer.
Trail Stats
3.7 km
43 m
1283 m
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Photos
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