What to do on the People’s Coast
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Tillamook Forest Center
503-815-680045500 Wilson River HwyTillamook, Oregon 97141Be among the first to visit the brand new Tillamook Forest Center, a beautiful-and sustainable-interpretive center built along the Wilson River on a landscape that was once devastated by a series of fires in the 1930s and 40s (known as The Six Year Jinx). Through interactive exhibits, a 40-foot tall replica of a fire lookout tower, classroom areas-even a movie theater-the Center shows us the many ways our lives connect with the forest. Surrounding the center are walking trails, benches and picnic areas, as
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Tillamook Rock Lighthouse
Off Hwy. 101, 2 miles north of Cannon BeachCannon Beach, Oregon 97141West of Tillamook Head, this lighthouse was constructed on top of a rock 1.2 miles seaward off Tillamook Head in 1881. The construction of this particular lighthouse was thought to be incredibly risky, but its five workers beat the odds. Because this lighthouse was built on a rock, it is not accessible to the public. However, visitors can easily see it and a beautiful view of the surrounding ocean from Ecola State Park and Seaside. This lighthouse stands 133 feet above sea level with 62-foot-high tower on basalt rock islet. Exposure to storm waves led to the nickname "Terrible Tilly." It was replaced by a whistle buoy in 1957 and is the only privately owned Oregon coast lighthouse on the National Registry of Historic Places; now used as a columbarium, a storage place for ashes of the deceased.
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Umpqua River Lighthouse
Reedsport, Oregon 97467541-271-4631This lighthouse has a 65-foot tower, which started in 1890. It is located near Reedsport and Umpqua Lighthouse State Park. First illuminated in 1894, Umpqua River lighthouse gives off very distinct red and white flashes. Visitors can check out the inside of the lighthouse, nearby park, or Lake Marie.
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Wildcat Creek Covered Bridge
Florence, Oregon 97439The Wildcat Bridge is located on a small winding road a short distance from Highway 126. From the bridge site where Wildcat Creek flows into the Siuslaw River, Stagecoach Road hugs the hillside until it drops into the narrow plain at Swisshome. Stagecoach Road was the original road to the coast, but was bypassed after the Linslaw Tunnel and Mapleton Bridge were built in the 1930s. The nearby Austa boat ramp provides access to the river for fishermen on the Siuslaw River. The bridge was closed for repairs several times in the 1980s and in the autumn of 2000, when the structure was strengthened. HOW TO GET THERE: Travel 33 miles west of Eugene on Oregon Highway 126 to Whitaker Creek /Clay Creek Recreation Area turnoff. Exit the highway on the south side and follow the road back under the highway and railroad tracks (north) a short distance to the bridge.
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Yachats Covered Bridge
Yachats, Oregon 97498503-986-4200The Yachats Covered Bridge was built in 1938 over the North Fork of the Yachats River in south Lincoln County, and was also built by Otis Hamer. It was Hamer’s last bridge and is one of the shortest in Oregon, measuring 42 feet in length. The timber construction of this bridge is of Queenpost Truss style, and its flared sides result from the buttresses underneath the siding. The Yachats Bridge also features ribbon openings under the roofline to allow light to enter inside, at the center of the bridge. The bridge was rebuilt buy Two G’s Construction and rededicated on Dec. 16, 1989. The renovation included updated construction techniques, new concrete piers and footings, and zinc strips on the roof to prevent the growth of moss. Though open to vehicles, the Yachats Bridge is closed to large RVs and trucks. The weight limit is 15 tons. HOW TO GET THERE: from Yachats drive east seven miles on Yachats River Road. Turn left just beyond a cement bridge. Then drive for two miles up the north fork of the Yachats River and you will come to the bridge.
Brought to you by OCVA in association with Travel Oregon & Wildernet