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| THE SANTIAM PASS AREA is toward the top of the Cascades. The area starts at 3,000 feet with Coldwater Cove on Clear Lake. As the name indicates the water is clear and cold. The lake was formed about 3,000 years ago when a nearby volcano erupted and blocked the flow of the river. At the top of the area is Big Lake which is under the shadow of Mount Washington and of nearby Hoodoo Ski Area. Both campgrounds along with Big Meadow Horse Camp are very popular. They usually open about a month later than the lower campgrounds due to the higher snow pack area, but they are kept open to mid October. This area is great the whole time it is open, but it is really hard to beat the Cascades in the early fall after Labor Day when the air is crisp and the campers are few. One word of warning! The upper Cascade area can be full of annoying mosquitoes starting about 3 weeks after the snow mostly melts. This is usually in June and clears up after several weeks. To make your camping experience a little nicer, the new Hoodoo lodge will be available for showers, a camp store, an RV dump, and other camper’s needs in the Big Lake and Suttle Lake Area. In addition RV spots with electric and cable TV hookups will be available at Hoodoo. Call 541-822-3799 for reservations to stay at Hoodoo. Reservations to stay at Big Lake or Coldwater Cove must be made through the NRRS and cost $10. Reservations for the Hoodoo RV sites may be made without fee by calling Hoodoo at (541) 822-3799. | |||||||