siuslaw national forest

you can see the Pacific Ocean to the west and the high, snow-capped mountains in the Cascades. The dog and I walked to the top on a sparkling, clear, sunny and dry day. The views are magnificent.

We had three days in Corvallis. Went to Marys Peak the first day and hiked to the top. Loved it so much we went back the last day to hike the Meadow Edge Trail from the Camp Ground to the Peak. We couldn't get over how beautiful the forest and the cloverleaf fields were. Ate a lot of hand-picked berries there.

You can see Mt Hood and many others to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west and of course Corvallis down in the valley...each year the forest service has to replace trail signage due to vandals which is unfortunate...steep uphill gravel road hike to the top (or you can take side routes or longer routes)...definitely take an alternate route thru the woods on your way down...wildflowers everywhere especially in may, june, and july...20 degrees cooler at the peak than in the valley but during summer, that just means it is refreshing.....this is a must see when living in or visiting Corvallis

This is a great place to find information about our Federal Forests. There are so many things to do that people don't even think about; hiking, sight-seeing, cutting wood, camping, looking for wild flowers and mushrooms, climbing trees, bird-watching. The Siuslaw National Forest Service office in Corvallis has maps and books and people who can personally give you information about the Forest. There are many things for kids to do and cool posters they give you too! Next time your kids say they are bored or you are bored, drive up to Mary's Peak! It's beautiful!

If you have time for only one thing to do in the Corvallis area and it's not raining or the middle of the night, drive and hike to the top of Mary's Peak. It's only 25 miles to the top and on a clear day you can see from Mt. Rainier (250 miles north) to Diamond Peak (150 miles South) and beyond. In between there are 11 volcanoes). On a clear day you can also see Waldport (55 miles West). With binoculars you can see the bridge in Waldport and waves crashing on the beach. In the spring and summer you'll see flowers on the Peak found only in very high elevations or nowhere else in the state! You'll also see what money burning a hole in the pocket of some federal agency and a corrupt agency head can do to screw up the environment, but that's another story.

There are trails, dirt roads, places to get away from town. There is a lot of poison oak and invasive blackberry too. I prefer to visit in the rain when there are few people in the woods. Find a deer trail and follow it.

Siuslaw forest like all forests is one of a kind. centered along the central Oregon coast you don't have the steeper places like you do in the cascades or farther north but i's cool in the summer and has some wonderful hiden spots to explore.

National forests are for mixed use. And hiking is a wonderful way to appreciate the nature of the area. There are trials for people of mixed abilities.

This is a well maintained National Forest, and that includes the roads. There are lots of opportunities for outdoor activities, including camping, fishing and hunting.

The Siuslaw National Forest covers many thousands of acres and stretches from the ocean inland up into the coastal mountain range. There is far more to it than just Mary's Peak, although that is a popular hiking spot for people from Corvallis.We live on the coast, and like to drive the many gravel roads that go through the SNF. If you plan to do this, make sure you stop into a Ranger station first, though, and get a Forest Service map. Also be sure to fill your car up, and bring along some water - just in case! Many of the back road areas are "dead zones" for cell phone communication.There are a number of campgrounds throughout SNF. We've visited several along the Alsea River. They do not have hookups and some are closed in winter. In the summer, the Alsea River is a great place to swim and there are several places to launch boats as well.Since this is a multi-use forest, expect to see hunters during hunting season, as well as ATVs and possibly horses along the back roads. Wildlife abounds and we often see deer, elk and a variety of smaller critters. We've seen black bear on several occasions, including a mama and three cubs.There is a lot of private property scattered all through this area so if you are hiking, please respect "no trespassing" signs and close any gates after you go through as there is domestic livestock all around :-)

The drive up to Mary's Peak is a must detour anytime one is in the Corvallis area. Off Highway 34, it's about a 9 mile drive (all paved) to the top of the highest peak in the Coast Range. On a nice day, you can see for miles. We went on an interesting day. Leaving Corvallis, it was still dark and cloudy. By the time we got to the top of the peak, it was sunny. Even though we couldn't see for miles, it was very awesome to above the cloud line. It was like being in an airplane. After parking the car, one can walk the short trail to the very top which we did. There is a picnic table on the top if you bring your lunch. The view is about the same as from the parking lot, but you do see more. The area is the only spot in the Coast Range where one can see alpine meadows. Hiking trails and campsites are available. A NW Forest pass or another Federal pass is required to be at the top. I hear the view is different each time one goes up and I believe it. Maybe next time I'll see the ocean and Mount Hood.

Anytime of year this is an excellent place to visit. Great camping and hunting.

This is such a well maintained trail/area that I am sure it must be one of the most popular hikes in the area. We found it well worth the trek. We took the East Ridge Trail from Conner's Camp up to the Summit Loop. Chose to hike on a chilly but clear December day, and were rewarded with amazing views of the pacific ocean, north to Mt Hood, east to Mt. Jefferson and the three sisters. The trail was marked and maintained, a single track for multi purpose use (hike/bike). The hike was shorter than we anticipated, so we added the meadowedge loop and again found the trail in great condition. Maps were available at Conner's Camp. And for those that are not hikers, the road goes almost all the way to the summit with a short (less than a mile) walk up a dirt road to the top. Views are definitley worth it. I know people complain about the towers on the top of the peak, but honestly you won't be looking at the towers, you will be looking in the opposit direction no matter where you are standing.

Oh my, Mary's Peak, the highest mountain in the Oregon Coast range, is so close to Corvallis, but in National forest. The East Ridge and North ridge trails are fantastic single-track hiking and mountain biking trails. get ready to climb! Superb technical sections, and a nice view at the top. You can drive to the top as well, and sometimes on a clear day you can see as far north as Washington on one side, and see the Pacific ocean on the other side. (road can be gated/closed due to snow in winter; parking fee or NW forest pass).