Orchard Heights Park

Rate this place

Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Orchard Heights Park is a popular destination located in Salem, Oregon.


°F

°F

mph

Wind

%

Humidity

Summary

The park offers visitors a range of activities, including hiking, picnicking, and bird watching. One of the unique features of the park is its abundance of old-growth trees, which provide a beautiful and shaded environment for visitors to explore.

A popular spot within the park is the Orchard Heights Reservoir, which offers visitors the chance to fish, kayak, and canoe. The park's hiking trails are also a popular attraction, with visitors able to explore the natural beauty of the park while getting some exercise.

Interesting facts about Orchard Heights Park include its history as a former orchard and farmland, before being converted into a park in the 1970s. The park was originally named "Ritter Farm Park" after the family who owned the land.

The best time of year to visit Orchard Heights Park is during the spring and summer months when the weather is mild and the park is in full bloom. However, visitors can also enjoy the park's autumn foliage and winter snowfall.

Overall, Orchard Heights Park is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Salem, Oregon. Its beautiful scenery, range of activities, and unique historical significance make it a great place to explore and enjoy.

       

Weather Forecast

Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References