This is a beautiful short walk that goes from the beach parking lot to the lighthouse. I've gone…read morehere several times and it's always gorgeous, even when it's foggy and raining. There are wild blackberries that grow along the path that you can snack on or take home with you if you go at the right time of the year, which is an added plus! The bathrooms by the beach parking lot are rough. They are not for the faint of heart or faint of nose. You're better off holding it until you can get to downtown Florence and use the public bathrooms there.

The Hobbit Trail would make JRR Tolkien proud. The trailhead is a subtle affair and easily found…read moremainly due to the other cars parked at the trailhead. Parking is available on both sides of the highway, but remember, it's hwy 101 and traffic can be heavy. Because there is so much vehicle traffic as well as hikers coming and going, there are enough eyes there to make you feel okay about leaving your car there locked up. The trail itself starts out fairly smooth with gentle ups and downs, but get a bit more aggressive as you continue. A walking stick of some sort really comes in handy on a few of the steps and turns. As you progress towards the coast the forest starts to get thicker and darker like Mirkwood. The rays of diffuse sunlight scattered by drifting mists definitely lends a mystical element to the surroundings. Some of the trees are so twisted and gnarled that you might almost expect Treebeard or another Ent to come pacing past you. We did come across a gnome that was cleverly hidden by someone. After about a mile the trail reaches the end where the last section gets a bit steeper with plenty of roots to avoid. This is a very well used trail and there are a lot of very friendly hikers going both directions. The trail then opens onto a very large beautiful flat sandy beach with a cliff wall to your immediate south and a long flat sandy beach to the north. We found our first sandfall! A waterfall but it was sand, not water. Sand from the hillside above the cliffs was just pouring and cascading over the rocky edge. I posted a brief video of one with this review. All in all it was a good hike for a guy with a bum knee, anything worse than that should probably not try the whole trail. Mainly because a couple places had steps in and around roots that were probably around 1 to 2 foot steps. If you do push on to the bottom, the beach is worth it. Lots of very friendly smiling people and an awful lot of very well behaved dogs. I think the magic in this is that it was all so clean. The hike back out was easier than I had anticipated but there is no ADA assistance.

Many waterfalls and swimming holes along this amazing and shaded trail…read more Love mossy rocks? How about lush ferns? How do you feel about cascading water? Do you enjoy dipping your feet into cold water on a hot summer day? Or how about swimming among giant redwood trees? If any of this sounds appealing you need to visit Sweet Creek Falls. We came in the middle of summer and it was the perfect way to spend an afternoon hiking, meditating, and swimming. There are 11 waterfalls ranging in size and close to 2.5 miles all together of shaded trails to explore, rustic bridges included. This was definitely one of the highlights of our trip to Oregon last summer. Know before you go: Parking lots at each trailhead. Super stinky bathroom located only at Homestead Trailhead. Dog friendly. And most importantly FREE! *Don't be surprised to see topless women swimming. We all have breasts and it's a beautiful thing to be free especially in a place like this. If this bothers you just look away. *Don't use Yelp directions as they'll take you to the wrong place. Use Google instead. I've reported this several times but like nearly everything I report Yelp ignores it. And Happy Earth Day! If you haven't discovered what nature can do for your soul I highly recommend getting away from the daily grind, turning your phone off, and just enjoying what places like this can do for you. It's truly magical.

Awesome trail with multiple waterfalls. Trails were nice and clear of debris and branches. A few…read morespots with bigger rocks, roots, and water. Gorgeous scenery! There are so many photo opportunities. Many different bridges along the trail allow you to walk over the water. There is a part of the trail where you have to walk through a small stream. I wasn't wearing the proper gear and didn't want wet shoes and socks, so we headed back at that point and headed towards the upper parking lot. The upper trail still had snow on the ground, and the parking area was pretty soggy. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our time here. We would love to come back again during a drier season. Highly recommend!

This scenic area is a must-see when visiting the Yachats area! There's so much to do here. There's…read morea Visitors Center with restrooms, a museum, informational videos and friendly employees to answer questions. They have a large parking lot available for visitors. At the top of the hill is the Cape Perpetua Overlook day use area. It costs $5, and there's plenty of parking and a vault toilet. There's also a map of the trails by the pay station. The views from up there are amazing! The trails are well maintained. Don't forget to check out the cool West Shelter observation point! On the other side of highway 101 is a trail to Devils Churn, Cook's Chasm, and Spouting Horn. All must-sees! The dramatic views change depending on high and low tides. We always make a point to stop here while visiting the area, any time of year. It never disappoints. Highly recommend!

Decided to pull off for a hike this weekend while passing through. We found the trailhead just…read morebeyond the visitors center and decided upon the 1mile discovery loop. There's plenty of parking, including some for rvs. This portion of the trail, which starts at the back of parking lot, is a lollipop loop with well-maintained paths. The journey is a constant slight incline until about halfway through the loop. The forest here is just stunning...so serene especially within the loop itself. Highly recommend!

This botanical garden has become a traditional stop while traveling along highway 101. It's a…read moreperfect place to get out and stretch your legs or use the facilities. The walk to the Cobra Lilies, aka Pitcher Plants isn't long at all, maybe a quarter mile round trip. It's a beautiful walk through trees to a boardwalk through the Darlingtonia garden. We've never been when they're in bloom, but they are definitely something interesting to see any time of year. I would highly recommend!

If you are headed to Honeyman or Heceta, this reserve is just one minute off the side of Highway…read more101 between those two parks. Darlingtonia is the only Oregon State Park dedicated to protecting one single species: the Darlingtonia. The only plant in this species is the Cobra Lily, which is the only pitcher plant native to Oregon. (In other words, this state park exists to protect the cobra lilies that grow here.) The reserve is small, but definitely worth checking out. A short accessible boardwalk crosses a bog filled with several hundred, if not a few thousand, cobra lilies. The 'pitcher' part of the plant, which is the part that resembles a cobra, is visible year round. In spring, it puts up yellow and purple flowers. Many of these flowers dry in place, and are still somewhat visible in winter. Even without the flowers in bloom, the pitchers themselves are neat and pretty to look at. There is no fee to visit Darlingtonia. The small parking area only has room for about ten cars or so, but it takes less than fifteen minutes to walk through.

This is a great trail along the ocean in Yachats. It begins in a neighborhood and takes you down to…read morethe beach where you can see tidepools. There are a few benches along the trail where you can sit and relax and take in the gorgeous ocean view. It's most popular in the mornings, for tidepools, and evenings, for beautiful sunsets. The trail is pretty flat and expands about 2 miles. It connects to a couple of other trails in Yachats to the south, the Oregon Coast Trail (1 mile) and the Amanda Trail (1 mile). The trails are well maintained and perfect for a casual walk to take in the fresh ocean air. I would highly recommend!

I've returned to this magnificent trail so many times over the years - my review is long overdue…read morebut it's kind of a hidden gem and I'm hoping it'll stay that way lol! This is probably my #1 fave trail of all time. It's not technically difficult by any means - it's short, almost entirely flat, and very well maintained. But it holds my heart bc there's a veritable feast for my lens in every nook and cranny and the environment changes year after year due to storms, tides, and sand levels rising and falling - a never ending photographer's paradise! And no doubt I'll be returning year after year for a long time. The trail runs about 1.5 miles from the sleepy coastal town of Yachats to its dead-end on a long sandy beach in the Cape Perpetua protected marine area. To say the tide pools here are amazing is an understatement. They are unparalleled! I've never seen so many colorful starfish, anemones, snails, barnacles, and tons of other undersea creepy crawlers anywhere else. The sunset and sunrise views are magical as well. And there are interesting pockets and tunnels created by mysterious wind swept coastal pines - just glorious! The giant dark basalt boulders are covered in so many species of barnacles and always changing shape due to erosion from wind and waves - creating so many fascinating pools to explore. The trail meanders past my fave hotel of all time too - the Overleaf Lodge. This is my happy place - my heart is always here. If you ever have the chance to visit, take it.

I'll be up front. I love Oregon. I love how beautiful it is here. I love the slower pace of life. I…read morelove the food. I love that people here have manners. Actual manners! Sh*t, I haven't experienced anything like this since living in New England (shoutout to NH, VT, and ME). But I digress. Dealing with folks takes a toll on me so I knew I wanted to grab a couple close friends and find a serene spot in a forest somewhere to recharge my batteries. Oregon delivered as usual. Alsea Falls Recreation Site (AFRS) is a picturesque area located 30 minutes southwest of Corvallis and boasts gorgeous forests of red cedars, maples, and Douglas firs as well as two waterfalls. I thought hiking trails here were pleasant. They offer plenty of shade and aren't very strenuous. Alsea Falls is located rather close to the day use parking lot, but there is a 1.4 mile trail leading to Green Peak Falls if you walk across the wooden bridge. The trail is poorly marked so you may lose it when you end up at McBee Park campground. Stick to the right and you will find two trails. Take the right official trail with the trail post. The left trail is shorter but there are stinging nettles along the way. Green Peak is the larger of the two falls and it is possible to climb to the top via the adjacent trail (right side), but it is steep so be careful. O T H E R I N F O -Day use parking is $3. Fill out an envelope. Drop off the envelope with payment in the receptacle across from the outhouse. Keep the stub in your vehicle. -Amenities within the campground include drinking water and vault toilets. Several campsites can accommodate large RVs or trailers; up to 32 feet long. -Dogs are allowed on a leash so bring the family pup along! -Salmon and steelhead fishing during the winter months. -The park is clean. Keep it that way and pack your trash until you find a rubbish bin. -Pack a camera. Take plenty of photos. Collect memories instead of things.

Such a stunner this one! Oregon has a great coastline but this one comes with a side of light…read morehouse. Devils elbow state park isn't just a fun name it's a beautiful location to have picnic and enjoy the sandy shoreline.

On our way to Newport, we decided to take the scenic route to Oregon coast via 101. We were…read moreenjoying the nice coastal view but didn't have the chance to stop because it was getting late for us to reach our destination. Until we saw a lighthouse from a distance and decided to check it out. We took a turn and saw lots of cars parked near the bridge where we were at. From the parking lot, we were greeted by an amazing view of the beach and a lovely structure perched on top of a hill. We found out that this structure used to be the lighthouse keeper's house which is now into converted into a bed and breakfast. Unfortunately, the lighthouse is nowhere to be seen. We were told that we needed to hike up a half mile to reach it. As I have mentioned earlier, it was starting to get dark so we ditched the idea. I hope someday, I'll be able to go back to stay in this B&B and hike up to the lighthouse.

Short little loop around the rim to gain a view of the bowl itself. There is a small parking lot up…read morethe road from where the actual park top is. Restrooms are available near the parking area. There is also a steep stair decline right across from the parking lot that will take you down to the beach....however, this has been closed temporarily for repairs (thank goodness because the wooden stairs were in rough shape).

This was a terrific surprise to find such a thing just next to a fence…read more A huge stone bowl with a path to the sea the ocean passes in and out. You can see the bottom from the fence. Amazing ...

We visited two sections of the sand dunes from Florence OR, make sure you pick up a map upon…read moreentering. Great place to get some steps in and view these massive sand dunes. You can rent vehicles from an outside company to ride thru the dunes if desired. I just enjoyed the nature trails and flowers along the way! Bathrooms and steps are in good condition. Great parking, they do check your car for a paid pass. Dont be cheap and end up paying a fine. Its a park, do the right thing.. @glampedlife

We visited two sections during our stay on the Oregon coast. The first stop was the south jetty…read morelocated minutes from downtown Florence. We enjoyed watching dozens of harbor seals frolicking in the water. We also walked out on the jetty where several people were catching mostly juvenile Dungeness crabs. The other section we visited was an overlook where there were 3 viewing decks that provided us with a quick overview of the massive dunes.

We stayed at this campground a couple weeks ago for the first time and had an excellent experience!…read moreI wasn't sure what to expect with this being the second largest campground in Oregon- would it be overwhelming with so many people, too much noise, etc? I was actually surprised how quiet it was (okay camping in a public campground is never silent but it was pretty moderate noise). The advantage of it being such a large campground too is that they had nice, well-equipped, clean facilities equally spaced out. Showers are free to use, though I didn't while we were there. A cute welcome center in the middle has info, games/books, and ice and firewood to buy and is located right next to a pretty good sized playground for kids. It's also a super dog-friendly place (we brought our 75# boy with us) and everyone there seemed to be mindful of their own dogs with leashes/cleaning up. Honeyman is located close to the heart of Florence and close to lots of recreation activities - dunes, beach, two lakes, etc. We enjoyed a quick walk over to Cleawox Lake each day to play, and rented a paddle boat too! The only downside is that like most Oregon State Park campgrounds you do need to plan quite a bit ahead to reserve your spot online. It's very difficult to get a spot last minute or day of in the busy times (late spring - summer - fall).

Overall it's fine. It's a bit overpriced for what you get. Weekends are loud and there didn't seem…read moreto be anything being done about it. There are bright lights randomly throughout the campground which make for an interesting "camping" vibe. There's probably better, quieter and more secluded places nearby.