This botanical garden has become a traditional stop while traveling along highway 101. It's a perfect 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! read more

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If you are headed to Honeyman or Heceta, this reserve is just one minute off the side of Highway 101 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. read more

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Just a quick jaunt from the car to check out these curiously unique plants. And they are funky and interesting no doubt about it. There's a vault toilet and a few picnic tables on site, as well as a decent amount of parking. The short path is paved up to a boardwalk section around the Darlingtonia. While the surface is a bit bumpy I'd assume it to be generally accessible to most anyone. read more

Darlingtonia State Botanical Wayside - Darlingtonia State Botanical Wayside - Parks Near Me - Florence, Oregon

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I love this place! The part that you can walk around in is small, but a beautiful walk for sure. If you love unique plants, this is a must stop. The boardwalk is kept pretty clean and we actually passed by many people who were checking out the plants. This is dog friendly (with leashes) too! read more

Totally with a brief stop to see these unique and rare plants. It's just a few hundred feed off 101 to reach the parking area, and from there, a few hundred feed to see these cool plants. There's even a bathroom. read more

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It's a quiet place, just off the highway. So you stop there, just for a bit. Leave your car and stroll along the boards placed over this rustic marsh. And you stare, in quiet. You see the pitcher plants and watch, hoping to see a bug fly into one. You take some moments gazing and breathing, and you are at peace. read more

Darlingtonia State Natural Site is unique within the Oregon State Park system. It's a state botanical park that's focused on the preservation of a particular plant, known as the cobra lily (Darlingtonia is the botanical name), and the only state park in Oregon that has such a focus. Cobra lilies are a carnivorous plant, too. (Check out the website for this park; whoever wrote the information about it had fun!) This may be the most aptly-named plant known to mankind--it 100% looks like a cobra rearing up and preparing to strike! (Which honestly makes it a bit creepy to me, since snakes freak me out.) I've only stopped here once or twice--I think I learned about it and visited with my sister. In all the times we've been to the coast, having grown up an hour away, we never came here. It's a fairly small park, not terribly hard to find, so you could be in and out within 10-15 minutes if you like. I think it's interesting to see the plants so it's worth a short stop to me. It's pretty accessible, more so than some of the other parks in the area that are largely beaches; this one has wooden walkways built throughout, since the "ground" in which these strange plants grow is little more than a swamp. There's not much here besides the plants, though, unless you're looking for a place to picnic. When I've been here there was no one besides us, but maybe we got lucky. read more

What a unique marvel of nature!! Very accessible and quick and easy stop while on a drive or as a field trip. read more

Darlingtonia State Botanical Wayside - Parks Near Me - Florence, Oregon

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Nice little pullout, we thought the walk would've been more given the advertisement of 18 acres.

This is a small preserve set aside for a member of the pitcher plant, Darlingtonia California, better known as cobra lily. There is a relatively large parking lot, restroom facilities and a small picnic area. We followed a short boardwalk trail that led to a small bog with hundreds of these carnivorous plants. read more

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Super short loop that can be walled I just a few minutes. The path is flat, so easy access for all folks. I think it's worth stopping by because you can view super rare cobra lilies. Worth seeing. read more

I absolutely love the Darlingtonia State Wayside just north of Florence! My parents are from Florence, so whenever we would come for a visit when I was little, we would always stop and look at the carnivorous plants! They are so awesome, what an amazing specialized plant, and like James mentioned in his review, they are only found on the Oregon Coast and in parts of Northern California! Everyone should come and see the wonderful Darlingtonia! The site itself is very well set up, with a trail/boardwalk leading out to the main bog. There is a boardwalk of sorts there, so you can look at the plants, but not touch or trample them (good design!). There is also an info board there too, explaining a bit about them. Like Philip mentioned as well, NO PLANT COLLECTING! The Darlingtonia are a wonderful natural treasure and should be preserved for all to enjoy! Once you get back to the parking lot from the main trail there is a bathroom, and also off a little trail from the main one there is a picnic table for those that like to pack lunch! This really is a beautiful little spot on the Oregon Coast that definitely deserves a stop! The amazing Darlingtonia are worth it enough, but its also a great little wooded tract of land for chilling and enjoying the rest of nature as well! read more

Alien world right at your feet. Seriously, just a quick turn off of the 101 and you can see the most amazing garden. The botanical reserve is just about 500 yards from the highway - don't drive past it (I did!). A short hike to the u shaped boardwalk takes you through the bog and you are surrounded by the strangest plant life you'll ever see. These plants are unique to this area, and are worth the side trip. Also a plethora of insect life: dragon and damsel flies, a few misquitos (oh well!) and various other bugs: food for the plants as they are carnivorous. Worth the time. read more

Can't add much to James L's write-up. Small though it be, I'd give this place 5 stars if it weren't for the constant road noise and pit toilet. Since it looks like the State is only using about a quarter of its land holding here, it would be nice if they could develop a trail or boardwalk that would take you further from the highway after viewing the cool Cobra plants. Also ... no plant collecting! I know it's tempting, but it's illegal. Not to mention bad for the plants. read more

Darlingtonia State Botanical Wayside is an unusual state park... but that's Oregon for you. These carnivorous pitcher plants are found only this area of Oregon. It's a lot more natural&laidback than the California Carnivores nursery in Sebastopol (California) that has the feel of a B movie set. There's a pleasant walkway among the pitcher plants; a relatively easy hike. It's a great reason to go to the Pacific Coast. It's a beautiful little bog. read more

Short but nice walk through some trees. Thought it would be a bigger site, but not really.

A must see! Only takes you minutes off the road. It's natural big with meat eating plants!

Must see the unique carnivorous plants in this park .Great trail to stop and stretch your legs . The walkway goes through the old growth forest . You cross over bridges on the wooden decks .You can look right into the plants and watch them eat .They do have a restroom make sure you have Clorox wipes and hand sanitizer . read more

Interesting place. If you are a geocacher, there is an earth cache plus a regular cache at the site. Wish we could have been here during a more active time so we could see the plants in full bloom read more