Old Growth Ridge Trail: Hwy 126

Old growth trees, fall color, a scenic drive, and hiking in an unexplored area are what drew us to the Old Growth Ridge Trail a couple weeks ago. Have you heard of Old Growth Ridge? The trail head is located in the Whittaker Creek Campground not far off Highway 126 (roughly half way between Eugene and …

Wigwam Memories: Swisshome

"Daddy, Ed, and I spent an hour or two pulling slab wood off the Erskine sawmill conveyor belt leading  to their wigwam burner," writes Joe Moreland in A Place to Rest My Head, his memoir about growing up in the coast range after WWII. Needing to build a chicken coop, they drove to Swisshome one evening to …

From Lake to Ocean: Siltcoos Canoe Trail

We explored the Siltcoos Canoe Trail for the first time two years ago. It was such a memorable trip that I've been trying to get back there ever since. Twice we made plans for the trip, and twice they were cancelled at the last minute. Earlier this month, everything finally came together. The Siltcoos River is …

Captivating Darlingtonia

Plants that eat bugs. Just the thought of them and I am instantly transported back to third grade, when our teacher brought several carnivorous plants into our classroom. I’m not sure I ever saw one eat a bug because, of course, the third grade boys liked to poke the plants to make them close. Regardless, as a …

Siuslaw Pioneer Museum: Florence

Old Town in Florence is usually abuzz with tourists enjoying the shops, restaurants, and views of the Siuslaw River along Bay Street. For me, part of the charm of Old Town is the sense of history that I get as I walk down the street or dine in one of the restaurants. Located in the heart …

Western Snowy Plover: Share the Shore

Last summer, while canoeing the Stiltcoos Trail we floated through Western Snowy Plover habitat.  From our seats in the canoe, we saw several plovers along both banks of the river. The plovers on the north side, which consisted of hard-packed sand, I later identified as the Semipalmated Plover. However, the plovers on the south side, which was …

Siltcoos Canoe Trail: Florence

I have been intrigued by the Siltcoos Canoe Trail ever since I first heard about it. There is something about canoeing all the way to the ocean that fascinates me -- I'm not exactly sure why -- and experiencing the Canoe Trail has been on my mind for a couple of years. Of course, I …

Siuslaw Interpretive Center: Florence

The next time you are in Old Town Florence, head to the west end of Bay Street and enjoy the new Siuslaw Interpretive Center. We've been watching this new park being developed for the past couple years, and during my last visit to Florence I discovered that the interpretive signs have finally been installed. Though …

Escaping to the Coast for a fog-free day

It has been my experience that one of the best times to visit the Oregon Coast is in the winter. It seems that the gloomier and drearier it is in the Willamette Valley, the nicer and more beautiful it is on the Coast. Take today for instance; when we left Cottage Grove it was foggy, …

Cushman Railroad Bridge

I love catching sight of the Cushman railroad bridge when we head to Florence on Highway 126. Almost a century old, I think it is one of several iconic sights on that route to the coast. The steel bridge crosses the lower Siuslaw estuary about three miles east of the Pacific Ocean, and as a “swing bridge,” it is able …