Lane: Coast, Rivers and Covered Bridges

The bright red Office Covered Bridge has a single-lane crossing and a separate pedestrian walkway. It is one of 20 covered bridges in Lane County. The Goodpasture Covered Bridge was built in 1938 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Mosby Creek Covered Bridge is the oldest covered bridge in Lane County and is located next to the main trailhead of the Row River Trail. The Office Covered Bridge, meanwhile, is the longest covered bridge in Oregon. A small park at its north end serves as a starting point for the North Fork Trail.

The bridges therefore differ in age, length and connection to trails. The McKenzie Pass Scenic Bikeway also has a historic connection: it follows a wagon route from the 1860s that is listed on the U.S. Register of Historic Places. Those interested in regional history will also find a vehicle collection at the Lane County History Museum, including an 1851 covered wagon, a 1908 Ford Model T and a McKenzie River drift boat.

Coast, Waterfalls and Rivers

Heceta Beach offers access to the Pacific Ocean, ocean views, shoreline walks and opportunities to observe coastal wildlife. The trail network at Heceta Head is seven miles long and is part of the Oregon Coast Trail. This offers a distinct trail connection, while visits to Heceta Beach focus on coastal views and wildlife watching.

The waterfalls also differ in their described features. Siuslaw Falls drops about 10 feet over a broad rock face. Swimming in the river is possible at Siuslaw Falls Park; swimming is not supervised. Wildwood Falls is 15 feet high and drops over basalt cliffs into a wide pool. The approximate or stated heights provide a specific comparison without suggesting the two falls are the same.

Lane County Parks offers boat-ramp access on the Siuslaw River, Willamette River and McKenzie River. At Hendricks Bridge Park, a scenic loop trail follows the McKenzie River through a diverse forest; the park also offers river access for launching boats. At Armitage Park, the Crilly Nature Trail is 0.5 miles long, and a riverside path follows the McKenzie River through the park. The Howard Buford Recreation Area offers nearly 30 miles of trails for hiking and horseback riding. These provide different length references for a short, named trail and a larger trail network. Mount Pisgah Arboretum covers 209 acres and serves as a place for nature education.

Water Activities and Getting Around

Westlake Park has a boat ramp for fishing and paddling on Siltcoos Lake; the lake is known for warmwater fishing. Richardson Park has a designated swimming area and a marina with 212 slips. Marina services may vary during infrastructure work. Goodpasture Landing offers paved trailer parking, a restroom facility, and access to shore fishing and boat fishing.

More than 12 miles of the upper McKenzie River are designated Wild and Scenic. The Aufderheide Scenic Bikeway focuses on the route and trail access: the route is 60 miles long and connects Highway 126 on the McKenzie River with Highway 58 near Oakridge. Along the route are more than five campgrounds and more than 25 trailheads. The route is not maintained in winter; check conditions before setting out.

Regional Culture and Finding the Right Place to Stay

At the Lane County Farmers Market, you can buy fresh, seasonal produce from local farms and connect directly with growers and producers. The market and museum therefore complement the bridge, river and coast themes with more ways to get to know Lane County.

Choose a hotel to suit the destinations you plan to visit, and check the location of the specific listing against your own plans.

Explore more destinations: Vida, Junction City, Eugene, Creswell, Cottage Grove, Springfield, Florence, Fall Creek, McKenzie, Oakridge

For the broader travel overview: Oregon.