Covered Bridges and Their Stories
Lane County has 20 covered bridges. Mosby Creek Covered Bridge is the oldest in the county and is located next to the main access point for the Row River Trail. Office Covered Bridge is the longest covered bridge in Oregon: it is bright red and has a separate pedestrian walkway alongside its single-lane crossing. A small park at the north end of the bridge serves as a trailhead for the North Fork Trail. Goodpasture Covered Bridge was built in 1938 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Other traces of history can also be discovered through specific objects. The vehicle collection at the Lane County History Museum includes, among other things, an 1851 covered wagon, a 1908 Ford Model T and a McKenzie River drift boat. 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.
Coast, Waterfalls and Swimming Access
Heceta Beach provides access to the Pacific Ocean, ocean views, shoreline walks and opportunities to observe coastal wildlife. At Heceta Head, the trail network is seven miles long and part of the Oregon Coast Trail. Coastal walks and a longer trail network offer different ways to explore the ocean.
The waterfalls also differ in their form. Siuslaw Falls drops about 10 feet over a broad rock face. Siuslaw Falls Park provides access to swimming in the river; swimming is unsupervised. Wildwood Falls is 15 feet high and cascades over basalt cliffs into a broad pool.
There are other specific places to go for water activities. Lane County Parks provide boat ramp access to the Siuslaw River, the Willamette River and the McKenzie River. At Westlake Park, a boat ramp leads to Siltcoos Lake, where fishing and paddling are possible. 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.
River Trails and Nature Education
At Hendricks Bridge Park, a scenic loop trail winds through a diverse forest, following the McKenzie River. The park also provides river access for launching boats. At Armitage Park, a riverfront trail runs along the McKenzie River through the park; the Crilly Nature Trail there is 0.5 miles long. Both parks offer a distinctive setting for a riverside walk, while the specific trail distances differ.
The Howard Buford Recreation Area offers a larger network of trails for hiking and horseback riding, spanning nearly 30 miles. Mount Pisgah Arboretum covers 209 acres and is dedicated to nature education. Together, these places offer different ways to experience the landscape on foot, on horseback or through educational programs, without requiring one route to suit every interest.
Cycling Route and Local Produce
The Aufderheide Scenic Bikeway is 60 miles long and connects Highway 126 along 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 cycling.
The Lane County Farmers Market offers a different way to discover Lane County. Visitors can buy fresh, seasonal produce from local farms and connect directly with growers and producers. Encounters with local products thus complement explorations of trails, rivers and covered bridges.
Discover more destinations: Eugene, Springfield, Creswell, McKenzie, Oakridge, Cottage Grove, Vida, Junction City, Florence, Fall Creek.
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