I really love places which are educational and fun. We wanted to visit the forest for some fall colors and the overall drive to this place is magical. They have a cute stationary inside the center with a lot of local, handmade, and cute stuff. We bought some maps. From the time you enter inside the place to the time exists, you ll learn a lot of things about nature. They maintained it really well and once you walk out from the other end, you ll see a very pretty bridge with water flowing. And there are couple of small trails outside of the forest center. There's a light house just right outside to experience the beautiful place from top. Overall, we really enjoyed visiting this place. Definitely a must visit if you are around. read more

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Reopened...FINALLY!! The center hasn't been open since we moved to Oregon. We've driven by so many times wondering what was behind the gate...will we ever know? But HOORAY, last weekend the gates opened and we got to check it out. We actually heard an announcement as we were heading towards the building from the parking lot and decided to join a Tillamook Forest tree information walk first thing. A very pleasant employee, Abby, gave us a brief intro into the surrounding trees, their history and importance within the park. After the tour we wandered over the Wilson River bridge and back into the center to meander through the exhibits a bit. There are so many interesting educational items to read and look through inside, as well as a theater and gift shop...and a few trails to take around the vicinity as well. Our first visit was pretty brief, but we were happy to leave so much to explore during future visits. Fabulous and fun spot to learn about the beautiful Tillamook Forest! read more

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Took three years to reopen but was glad to stop here along the way to the coast for rock hounding. The main attraction is the fact that this center is FREE. Yep, 100% free. There is a large clean museum with well curated displays, gift shop, fire watch tower, bridge and several walking trails. Everything was clean, new and everyone I interacted with was friendly and accommodating. Restrooms are located both outside and indoors, though the outdoor restrooms appeared to be closed when I visited last weekend. Tons of parking and on a Sunday afternoon there was barely anyone visiting. The surrounding countryside and river are absolutely stunning, and it's fun to just stand on the bridge and watch the water run. Please note; the gift shop is cash only for the time being (they said their card reader was out of order.) read more

I'm all for educational places both indoor and outdoor, and was pleasantly surprised when stopping at Tillamook Forest Center for a picnic lunch while leaving Tillamook on our way to our next destination. Relatively new interpretive and educational center with a small theater showing a 15 minute documentary "Legacy of Fire" retelling of the Tillamook Burn and reforestation story. Dramatic and powerful history, and very well done (apparently it was award winning). Lots of information and hands on interpretive telling of Oregon's forests and of the Tillamook State Forest. There is a climbable 40-foot tall replica of a forest fire lookout tower and a dramatic 250-foot-long pedestrian suspension bridge. They also have a small area with two picnic tables near the parking lot or you can sit at one of the outdoor tables with umbrellas located at the back of the center. read more

Great stop on the way to the coast. There are a lot if great hikes accessible from this stop. We did the Wilson river trail to the waterfall. The visitors center doeant open until 10 so we did a bike first and stopped at the center on the way back. The exhibits were very engaging for the kids and they even have a smokey the bear scavenger hunt for the littles. If they find him they get a prize! read more

Tillamook Forest Center - Inside - Parks Near Me - Tillamook, Oregon

When I'm on the way to the coast, its pretty hard to get me to stop along the way. The goal is far to much fun, so I avoid being held up by a mediocre pit stop along the road. Getting my butt in a chair on a sandy beach with an cold brew next to me, is far better than the tourist traps that suck so many in. However the Tillamook Forest Center is far from a mediocre pit stop and well worth the stop if your passing by. I recently had the opportunity to chaperon my daughters 5th grade class to the Tillamook Forest Center located on hwy 6 on the way to Tillamook. It was a great trip and I learned as much as the kids. I love the forests. Not just for the reason of preserving natural area's and trees, but also because I love outdoor activities. I love to hunt, fish, hike and camp and just enjoy the outdoors. The center has a maze of trails to explore, a watch tower to climb, and a great indoor exhibit hall and museum that includes history on the forest, logging, the Tillamook burn and so much more. Everything is interactive and kid friendly. Our trip included a guided tour and classes on tree identification, forest preservation, the burn and more. The elk use this property like a playground and you might get a glance while you visit, also the Wilson river that flows right by the center, has some great places on property to watch Salmon and Steelhead spawn up the river. So your asking what could make this any better of a place to stop for a quick picnic in the park, or and exploration of the grounds and exhibits. Well simply said........its free. Well not completely, as it was pointed out to me, our tax dollars are hard at work here. Still there is no cost to enter and see all the center has to offer. Give it a try if your in the area or passing. You won't be disappointed. read more

Tillamook Forest Center - Parks Near Me - Tillamook, Oregon

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Awesome stop on your way to Tillamook. You can climb the tower, learn about the history, and then make sure to go out the back to the Wilson River. There are some really nice trails that are peaceful and serene. On your way out stop by the little gift shop. Megan was really accommodating and knowledgeable of the area. If you don't want to buy anything they take small donations which is great!!! Don't miss this stop, it's worth it and breaks up the drive to the coast. Be aware of their business hours before you go and plan accordingly. read more

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Anyone visiting the coast, I highly recommend a stop at the Tillamook Forestry Center. We'd always driven past it but stopped today when one of our kids got antsy. First off, it's free ($5/adult suggested donation), exhibits are kid-friendly, educational and really well done. Great views, friendly staff, picnic areas, and there's even a fire tower you can climb up! Oh, and a kid-safe suspension bridge! read more

Absolutely impressed with the education offered here. Very child friendly with wonderful volunteers. Please take the time to watch the short, but informative video offered. You will be happy you stopped here. They also have various trail heads here. Make sure you pack a lunch as you are going to stay longer than you expect! It's just a beautiful facility! read more

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If you're on your way to or from Tillamook, or looking for a nice day-trip destination, this is a great, and absolutely free option! My 11 year old LOVED climbing the lookout tower and taking photo's. Apparently, you can't camp in this one, but they do have a book that features fire lookout towers that you CAN climb up into and camp in! The lookout tower and an old truck are the first things you come to when you arrive at the Tillamook Forest Center. Inside there's a mini museum and a ton of information the history, and historical fires in Tillamook Forest. The bathrooms are very nice, clean, accessible, flushing and provide a place to diaper babies for both men and women. There are different 'events' everyday and a movie that begins every 30 minutes. Outside there are family friendly walking trails, a picnic area on a suspension bridge, and snack machines. There are no other food options, so if you're planning to eat here, you'll want to pack a basket. Everything here is free, outside of the gift shop, but there is an opportunity to leave a donation. read more

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I nearly forgot - since I am the sort to constantly notice names, just wanted to mention 2 that struck me as coincidental (??) in regard to the Tillamook Forestry Center (Herb Caen is chuckling...): Harlan Woods Burrell Birch Could you ask for better named guys to work in forestry? Reminds me of a doctor I worked with in Berkeley - Dr. Pane...(I'll let that one go...) By all means, if you're headed toward the coast, stop here - it's a great day trip. read more

What a gem. This place is a real treat and quite beautiful if you make it out on a sunny day. The fact that it's free and family friendly is top notch. It makes for a great stop on the way to the coast. read more

Wow! If you are driving from Portland to the coast, even if you aren't headed to Tillamook, you should take the most scenic route possible through the Tillamook State Forest. Amazing scenery as you drive through the area. The Forest Center is a good place to stop, too. There are plenty of trails and the Wilson River is right there as well. read more

This is a must stop if you're in the area. Go in the fire watch tower, the view is amazing. The gift shop is really cute the prices are reasonable. They have a museum attached to it. Don't forget to get your picture taken with Smokey Bear. I will definitely be back I want to check out some of the trails and camping in the area. read more

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We had seen the signs for the Tillamook Forest Center a few times heading back and forth to the beach, and we finally planned to make a stop. Check the website if you're planning on stopping by for a visit as the hours and days open vary through different times of the year. Free admission, but there is a $5 recommended donation. It looks like they gave out little wood circles with a picture of the Tillamook Forest Center burned into them if you did do the recommended donation. Additionally, if you want to get fancy, it looked like if you donated $75, you could get your name on a little metal tree that is permanently affixed to the metal walls out in front of the center. The inside of the forest center definitely has bathrooms (I'm guessing most people stop into this place as a rest stop) and local brochures / maps, but the majority of the building is taken up by a museum. The targeted demographic is children, but the displays are something that people of all ages could enjoy. The exhibits and layout were very high quality. I was even more impressed with how nice it was considering the fact that it was free to the public. There were interactive exhibits for kids where they placed magnetized pictures on different circles as a game, auditory exhibits where you could listen to people gives their accounts of different aspects of the Tillamook Forest history, drawers you could pull out, signs you could read, buttons you could press, a video about the Tillamook Burn, an interactive computer game on how to care for a forest, and more. You could easily spend an hour or two inside of the building with young kids if you go through everything. Out front there is a tower that you can climb. It is an example of a forest fire watch tower with a mock-up of living quarters at the top, complete with a cot, cookware, written accounts of people who worked the job, and an insulated stool that the people who lived there would stand on in the event of an electrical storm to prevent electrocution. Behind the forest center is a suspension bridge over a river. There is access down to the river if you want to go play around the stone outcroppings. Additionally, there are a few 2-3 mile hikes that signage points to out back. Between the building and the bridge, there are tables you could eat a packed lunch at, and there were also a few vending machines. There is a gift shop located indoors as well. Overall, I was just impressed with this facility. If you're thinking about making a stop here on the drive to the beach, do it. You won't be disappointed. read more

One more free thing to do when you're in Tillamook. Not that you're ever in Tillamook because there's nothing here. But in case you are, go here. This place is OK. It's set right on top of the Wilson river (which I had never even heard of--go me!) and it's very very beautiful. There are nice trails that are very walkable and family friendly. Overall it's a small place but worth a visit if you're in the area. HWY 6 is a nice drive as well. read more

**Northwest Architecture Pilgrimage: Miller Hull** I love the drive to the coast through the Tillamook State Forest but always feel a bit rushed trying to fit in a weekend trip from Portland in less than 72 hours. Having passed by the eponymic Tillamook Forest Center enough times to make it a mental bookmark as a halfway point I finally stopped in on an design exploration. The building is a very cool and yet simple side by side wood truss structure that is a long space carrying the visitor through the display area and then out onto a suspension pedestrian bridge over the Wilson River. The displays are very detailed and tell the history and ecology of the forest and especially The Tillamook Burn and reverberations through the timber industry towards proper stewardship. Neither to environmentalist hippie dippie or pro industry clear cut the Forest Center does a good job of presenting all that the forest can and should be in an informative and interactive way. The outdoor areas are supportive and fun to explore as well including Observation Tower, Suspension Bridge, Native Plant Hiking, Weird Little Amphitheater, and the River of course. I also like that it is Free. read more

I LOVE this place! It is so educational! The setting is gorgeous. You MUST see the movie. It helps the history come alive. The volunteers are knowledgeable and friendly. The gift shop is unique and appropriately stocked. The prices are what you'd expect in a tourist-y shop. I cannot understate how well-done this is. It is fantastic!! You can climb a tower to see what it's like to be a forest ranger, get up close and personal with the tools of the trade and see history come alive. It is free, but please make a donation! They do such a great job. Every time I go I learn more. I am thrilled that my grandkids never get tired of going here. read more

Great place to spend an afternoon with the family. This was our last stop on our Coast trip 2014. It was the perfect place to tire out the kiddos before the drive home. My husband geeked out on everything and I got some cute photos of the kiddos playing around, trying on firefighter suits. This place is definitely worth checking out! read more

It's interesting enough. But if you have a large family or come with 10 people or more, they won't let you in. You must "pre-register" in advance...AND pay $5 per person! Not worth it. read more

So you're on your way to Tillammok, maybe a cheese factory, or a lazy drive up or down the coast. If you're not in a hurry as you meander hwy 6, keep an eye peeled for this forest center tucked in the trees just around one of many bends in the road. It's nestled in the trees, has it's own tower you can climb. (also a web cam on top). Inside you'll find the Tillamook forests rich history laid out for you. Camp life is set up for you to check out, short films and stills with captions inform at your own pace. As every place does, they have food available, gifts to peruse or even buy. Picnic areas are available if you like the weather. Hiking trails as well. In other words it will be easy to make this a destination of it's own and not just a stop by the wayside. Most of us around these parts know about the World Forestry Center by the zoo, and not to take away from it. But the Tillamook center is free, and normally not nearly as crowded . It is a hidden gem for those with curiousity to satisfy. Contact info and more in depth research before you go. www.tillamookforestcenter.org 503-815-6860 or toll free 866-930-4646 A word of warning before you hop in your car and head out, they are currently closed and aren't scheduled to reopen till 3'3'2010. read more

This is a neat attraction. We went originally because "nature was calling" (which are nice by the way). Smokey T. Bear is in the foyer waiting to great you (sheesh, he has put on some weight thru the years). Not sure of the square footage, but it's a relatively large building. It's full of the history on logging. (Even heard "real" loggers in the background, just like on the show Axe Men). There's equipment from "back in the day"...little rooms to get the feel for how it was. Also has pillars resembling trees that you can open to learn how critters burrowed in and stuff (kinda cool). There is also a kid area where they can crawl into a log and have a sock puppet play. You exit via the back door and there is a pretty good sized suspension bridge which goes over the river. At the end of the bridge are trail markers telling you distance to ____. If you want to stretch your lets, take the trail. I am very glad that we had to potty, because this place is really, really neat. read more

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Excellent interactive exhibit for children and adults! Much time and effort went in to the design and planning of this educational center. Definitely worth a visit! read more

This place was great! Not a huge museum, but the exhibits are well maintained and fun! Hands-on and great for kids, even my 2 year old. There are ADA trails around the building, access to the river bed, and a tower to climb up. Highly recommend! read more