Redwoods in Oregon? (Portland, Hillsboro, Brookings: camp, beach, train)

[unfgrad94]

Hi,

I'm planning a vacation to Portland this summer and was interested in visiting Oregon's redwood trees. Is my research correct and that Brookings is the best place for this? It's approximately 6 hours from Portland and I was hoping to find someplace closer.

I'm from the east coast and it seems like it would be a shame to miss out on the experience of magical redwoods.

All advice is welcomed. Thanks.

[cdelena]

A walk through Hoyt Arboretum right in Portland may satisfy your needs. As I recall the Redwoods there are relatively young but it is still a nice stand, and the park overall is excellent. You can spend days walking the arboretum with nice examples at every turn and miles of trails.

The really inpressive stands of Redwoods are in northern California.

[backdrifter]

Yeah, the far southern coast is the only place you'll find Redwoods in Oregon as it is the extreme northern limit of the "Redwood Empire."

Like cdelena said, the impressive ones, like the Avenue of Giants, are further south in Humboldt County, CA.

[mdvaden]

Originally Posted by backdrifter

Yeah, the far southern coast is the only place you'll find Redwoods in Oregon as it is the extreme northern limit of the "Redwood Empire."

Like cdelena said, the impressive ones, like the Avenue of Giants, are further south in Humboldt County, CA.

Although a few experimental Giant Sequoia were planted in the Tillamook forest, Oregon's natural stands of coastal redwoods are extreme south near Brookings, and nothing in it is much bigger than 10' in diameter. I found one website stating there were redwoods like 20' in diameter, but it turned out to be a textual error.

But just a half hour from Brookings, are the world's largest redwoods...

World's largest Redwoods near Brookings: far north CA.

I make my base camp Harris Beach State Park due to electric in the sites and better showers. And hike Jed Smith redwoods, plus Prairie Creek Redwoods.

The largest known redwood is in Jed Smith Redwoods, plus the third and fifth largest. Prairie Creek redwoods has Iluvatar, the second largest.

There are at least 50 redwoods in that park, larger than Stout tree, which is still a marvelous tree and grove. Boy Scout Tree trail has some hefty specimens. Peaceful - peaceful - peaceful.

[mdvaden]

Here is a small pic of one tree referred to in my last post - Del Norte Titan. That's in Del Norte County / Jedediah Smith redwoods.

I also placed my Youtube video URL for that redwood tree on the page link provided in previous post too. 2 minute duration.

Interesting - even Portland folk can get to the largest redwoods in less time than most Californians, since the biggest redwood trees are barely 10 miles over the border. So the redwood forest giants are well within reach of folks from both regions.

[goozer]

The northern unit of Redwoods National Park lies about 10 miles south of the Oregon/California border. It is probably the best place to see redwoods in the entire country. One thought...if you have time and motivation to see the southern part of the state, you could combine some sort of loop where you visit the southern Oregon coast (Bandon is incredible, and the Oregon dunes just north of there is nice too), Crater Lake, and the Redwoods NP in northern CA.

[nancy thereader]

Here is a small pic of one tree referred to in my last post - Del Norte Titan. That's in Del Norte County / Jedediah Smith redwoods

Thanks for a gorgeous photo that really shows just how magnificent these trees are.

[jojo4]

There are 6-7(not sure of the number) redwood trees at the Hillsboro courthouse.
Washington County Courthouse*|*Hillsboro Historical Society

Of course this is not the same as going to the redwood forest, but if you have limited time, this might be your only chance. I think the diameter is 15+ feet. Not sure, haven't been there in a while. They have farmer market there on Saturday too.

[mdvaden]

Originally Posted by unfgrad94

Hi,

I'm planning a vacation to Portland this summer and was interested in visiting Oregon's redwood trees. Is my research correct and that Brookings is the best place for this? It's approximately 6 hours from Portland and I was hoping to find someplace closer.

I'm from the east coast and it seems like it would be a shame to miss out on the experience of magical redwoods.

All advice is welcomed. Thanks.

For a few extra hours, and since you could add the Oregon Caves and Oregon coast, it would be a shame to miss the biggest redwoods just over the border from Brookings. And Brookings is a lovely base of operations. Look up Jed Smith Redwoods on RedwoodHikes Dot Com - it has some of the best trail descriptions.

If you are at Brookings, look for Lone Ranch Beach a few minutes north. And maybe a Jetboat tour up the Rogue River.

Really, Portland does not make Portland - my opinion. It's what Portland is situated in that makes it a nice location.

[Leisesturm]

Originally Posted by jojo4

There are 6-7(not sure of the number) redwood trees at the Hillsboro courthouse.

They were the first thing I noticed when I got off the train at Hatfield Govt. Center. I think there are four trees in a tight cluster at the courthouse and there are a few more a couple of blocks away at Bagley park (2nd & Jackson). I wondered what kind of trees they were for weeks but was afraid to ask in case no one knew or was surprised that I didn't know. Then I read that they were "Sequoia Tree's". That made it a little clearer but Giant Sequoia, Coast Redwood, Dawn Redwood? Anyway, they are Redwood trees and they are big, very big. Back in the 70's I had a Time-Life book on Redwood's and more recently I read a book by Douglas Prestons (younger?) brother called "Wild Tree's" a very good read, many of the trees mentioned in the earlier post are cited there. My interest in these tree's goes back a long way as you can see but I have yet to actually see them in situ. This may be the year!

H