HELLO! THIS REVIEW WILL CONTAIN DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO FIND THE SECRET HINSDALE GARDEN…read moreAKA RHODODENDRON GARDEN. We were only able to find this place after having help from a local and had driven for miles already. If you make a right turn out of the elk viewing area a few hundred yards down the road on the left is an unmarked wooden gate. Park on the right side of the road and cross the highway and you should see benches and trees, maybe flowers just past the gate. This is how you will know that you are in the right place and not someone's property. Also, you can find directions to this garden via google maps, but it will ONLY show up if you google 48043 State Highway 38. It will NOT show up if you google Hinsdale Garden or even Hinsdale Rhododendron Garden. Pictures are included to help identify the area. The garden itself is not too big, but nice and there are bathrooms (porda-potties) if needed. My family just went there and it was completely private yet beautiful since there were still trees in bloom. I hope this helps anyone else trying to find the garden! :)

This location is absolutely stunning in the springtime, when the 700+ varieties of rhododendrons,…read moreazaleas, and camillias are in full bloom. The history of this spectacular creation is also fascinating. At present it is only open a few days a year for tours -- and spring 2019 is past -- but is very visible from the highway and you can still park at the gate and take a walking tour. Since 1994 it has been owned by BLM, but is in the process of being restored and maintained in partnership with the "Friends of Hinsdale Garden." Here is their website, which includes an informative video, comprehensive journal articles, and visitation schedules: http://www.hinsdalegarden.com

The waterfalls are flowing!! I haven't been since summer 2019 and I was amazed by the volume…read moredifference. Both trails are fairly flat. If you're not with small children I would definitely recommend the upper trail. There's steep drop offs at the top which could be dangerous.

After reading reviews, we were hesitant to take the drive to these falls. There was mention of 8…read moremiles of gravel road with potholes that leads to the trail heads. But go we did. Turns out it is 5 miles of gravel road with the aforementioned potholes. Very slow going and dusty. It took over an hour to drive from Coos Bay. Which would have been okay if the falls were overly impressive which unfortunately they weren't. It has been very dry so there was very little water in the falls. There are massive rocks that the falls trickle over. If you want to get a little closer to the falls you will need to climb over fallen rocks. The trails need maintenance as the brush is intruding and parts of the trail are crumbling away. The area has a jungle like feeling with all the trees, ferns and other greenery. There are three trails. One to Silver Falls, one to the bottom of Golden Falls, and one closer to the tops of the falls. We hiked all three and it took about 1 1/2 hours. There are restrooms at the trail head, and an information stand. Personally, I would skip it unless the falls were full of water. Not worth getting the car dirty and challenging the suspension!

This was such a cool lighthouse! For $8 you can get a tour of the lighthouse and the museum, and…read moreyou even get to go to the top of the lighthouse and stick your head up in the lens. Our tour guide today was Ryan and he was fantastic! He was very personable and knew so much about the lighthouse and its history. We learned SO MUCH about the lighthouse and loved every second of it!

We stayed one night here recently. The campsites are really in 3 levels. We ended up with a site in…read morethe small middle yurt section, and happy we did. The sites in the lower loop seemed fairly tight with limited privacy. The upper loop seemed a bit more private. Lots of shade throughout, facilities were clean (no dump station). We took the Lake Marie loop trail that evening. There seemed to be a few trees down recently, but the trail itself was in pretty good shape. You could also take the trail away from the lake to the dunes. Speaking of those, they're definitely close enough that the sounds of the buggies often reverberated through the entire campground into the night. It didn't keep us up, but it did affect the serenity of the lake.

This is a lovely tiny park that offers a wonderful view of the Umpqua River near the Umpqua Scenic…read moreByway. There is a well paved parking lot, big enough to fit about twenty vehicles. There is a park host that does an EXCELLENT job at keeping this place maintained. There are two very clean restrooms equipped with flushing toilets, a sink with soap AND a mirror! But the best park part about this park is the VIEW!!! My GOD, the VIEW!!! It's like having a front row seat of the beautiful Umpqua River! Now if you know the beauty of the Umpqua River, you know what I'm talking about! There are gentle roaring rapids washing over large slabs of basalt rocks, covered in moss in many places along this river. There are willows, myrtles, pines that dot the banks. It's just beautiful I tell ya!

If you have the opportunity to stop here for a picnic or a quick lunch or just to enjoy the Umpqua,…read moreI hope you enjoy this spot as much as we have, it's a great little park named after a great man.

Enjoyed the quaint little garden while staying at a nearby hotel. Flowers were in bloom and it was…read morea nice peaceful place to sit and read a couple of chapters from my current book.

October 2, 2024 Small, but beautiful and serene. We come…read morehere every time we stay at Twin Rivers RV Park. The garden is open to the public daily from dawn to dusk, and entry is free. The garden is organized into themed sections with pathways to follow to take you through the different garden areas. There is the Japanese Garden, the Butterfly Garden, the Children's Garden, and the Rose Garden, to name a few. Each visit is a little different, depending on the time of year and what is in bloom. On this visit, I was amazed by all the different dahlias, the beautiful roses, and the whimsical rock garden populated by gnomes.

Spacious and well-manicured River Forks County Park is great for daily walks and special occasions…read more The park is designed to have several large parties with enough privacy and enjoyment for all. There is a boat ramp, playgrounds with multiple bathrooms nearby, sports fields, and a gorgeous view of the Umpqua River. Many people enjoyed themselves here this past weekend, as did I.

Driving down and I could not help myself but to be enchanted. We decided to take a break and go…read morefishing! Why not! It was the perfect place, to take your loved one and just relax. The layers of lush vegetation can be a lot of fun identifying the local plants. My boyfriend and I had a beautiful morning just enjoying the beautiful site. One day we shall return because this is where our affair began and it is a marking point for both of us. It was clean and peaceful and I suggest to put it on your bucket list to explore. Just gorgeous!

One of my favorite parks in Oregon, it's absolutely beautiful, and I had the privilege of staying…read morein the cabin inside the park during their holiday lights as I had won the raffle about a decade ago. I absolutely love this park, tis beautiful, peaceful, and great. They do get really high waves, so you have to be careful and stay away from the edge and follow the safety guidelines. They do have an entrance fee which used to be $5, and its cash only

What a beautiful garden!! So much care and attention put in. It's so peaceful and with the seals…read moreand seal lions barking on the beach you feel as if your in an exotic location. One of my favorite places to view nature. We will be back in November for the lights!

Interesting park that has a course around it that my family played a mini golf game around the…read morepicnic area. It doesn't have a lot of shade, but it was a nicely maintained park.

This little park was a fun spot to take my daughter while we were in town. She loved seeing the…read moredifferent structures that the parks by us don't have --see-saw, etc. I would definitely caution that in general it seemed to be a little more slippery than other playground structures perhaps due to the older material...we went in the morning after it had rained the previous night so I guess that's on us!! It seemed safe and although we were the only ones on the actual playground that Saturday morning, people were out on their morning walks on the nearby paths and would say hello. If you want an additional playground spot to take your kiddos, the elementary school playground is also pretty awesome!

We love Hendricks Park in Eugene. On this visit we took a leisurely walk throughout the…read morerhododendron section and then a drive through the wooded section. If you're in Eugene or visiting Univ of Oregon (Sco Ducks!) be sure to take a moment and visit this park.

A Beautiful Return to a Place Full of Nature and History…read more Both my wife and I had visited this spot before when we lived in the area, so with a little time to spare before lunch nearby, we decided to revisit it with her son and daughter-in-law. Nestled on a forested butte just east of the University of Oregon in Eugene, this area is absolutely stunning. The rhododendron garden is especially beautiful, offering a peaceful and scenic escape that feels tucked away from the city. Beyond its natural beauty, the area is steeped in history. One of the most notable connections is to Steve Prefontaine--a legendary runner and seven-time NCAA champion for Oregon. He trained in and around Hendricks Park and tragically passed away in a car accident on a winding road just below the park. His legacy lives on not only in the running world but also in the early success of Nike, where he became the brand's first sponsored athlete and helped elevate it to global prominence. Whether you're a nature lover, a history buff, or just looking for a quiet place to explore, this area is well worth a visit.