Check out the covered bridges in this gateway to multiple national forests.
Just off Interstate 5 at the southern end of the Willamette Valley, Cottage Grove is ideally situated near the Umpqua, Deschutes, and Siuslaw national forests. This part of Oregon offers plenty of rivers, creeks, lakes, and reservoirs, making it a popular spot for summer camping, and it's close enough to the Oregon Coast to make day tripping out to the Pacific a viable option. While many people just stop off in Cottage Grove to pick up supplies before heading out to the woods, it's worth checking out the area's six historic covered bridges first.
Along the McKenzie River
A tributary of the Willamette River, the McKenzie River and its surrounding areas offer around 90 miles of opportunities for rafting, fishing, hiking, and soaking in natural hot springs.
In and Around Eugene
A short drive north from Cottage Grove, Eugene is Oregonâs second-largest city, with plenty of biking and hiking trails as well as museums and performance venues. It also has an excellent food scene, and is home to many of the stateâs most celebrated wineries and breweries.
Oregonâs Central Coast
Cottage Grove is directly west of the Oregon Coast, and there are plenty of dunes, hiking trails, and viewpoints under a two-hour drive away.
The Cottage Grove area gets plenty of rainfall throughout the year, though the months of June through September tend to be the warmest and driest. Due to its relatively low elevation, it doesnât tend to get too cold here in the winter months, and many of the areaâs campgrounds are open year-round. Just make sure you have a good rain cover for your tentâthis is Oregon, after all.