Azalea
Park - From the south, turn right at Constitution
Ave. past the Chetco River overpass on Hwy 101; Turn left on North Bank
Chetco River Rd; Park is on the right.
Botanical
Garden - On Hwy 101 just NW of the Chetco River
overpass at Constitution Way.
Harris
Beach State Park - 1655 Hwy. 101, (541) 469-2021.
On U.S. 101 just north of Brookings.
Kalmiopsis
Wilderness Area- Siskiyou National Forest From Hwy
101 in Brookings, follow the North Bank Chetco River Road about 10 miles
(past Loeb State Park) to the Siskiyou National Forest.
(Alfred
A.) Loeb State Park - 8 miles NE of Brookings on
North Bank Chetco River Rd. (541) 469-2021
Redwood
Nature Trail - 1/2 mile past Loeb State Park on
North Bank Chetco River Road.
Sporthaven
Beach - between the ocean harbor -accessed by
entering the Beachfront RV Park on Boat Basin Rd.
Directions
Lodging
Restaurants
Recreation
Attractions
Parks
History
Calendar of
Events
Fishing
Shopping
The
Weather
Introduction
Brookings - Harbor Chamber of
Commerce
P.O. Box 940
Brookings, OR 97415
(541) 469-3181
(800) 535-9469
Fax: (541) 469-4094
Email: chamber@wave.net
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The
Siskiyou National Forest towers as a fitting signpost for
a Brookings park system that stretches in all directions. Known
primarily for its 350-foot tall ancient redwoods, the forest is home
to the 180,000 acre Kalmiopsis Wilderness
Area, a natural stretch of land characterized by its
geographic diversity.
The wilderness area's elevation ranges from a mere 400 feet
above sea level to a majestic 5,100 feet above. Juxtaposed within
this rise and fall of scenic beauty are rough canyons, sharp rock
ridges, and clear rushing streams and rivers. As one might imagine,
such an ecosystem also gives rise to a diverse wildlife population,
not to mention a wide variety of native vegetation. In fact, the
Kalmiopsis Wilderness Area is
actually named for a unique shrub that pre-dates the ice age.
This ancient shrub, known scientifically as Kalmiopsis
leachiana, reflects the wilderness area's timeless beauty. Also
rooted in the elite company of southwest Oregon's rarified climes is
the insect-eating Darlingtonia Flycatcher plant, Brewer's weeping
spruce and the economically valued timber species, Port Orford
Cedar.
If you hike about five miles into the Siskiyou National
Forest, you'll stumble upon the Little
Redwood Campground, a clearing large enough for 15
drive-in campsites. The campground has bathrooms and a picnic area
and, perhaps more important, it provides direct access to the Chetco
River, which, along with the nearby Winchuck River, is teeming with
salmon as well as steelhead and cutthroat trout.
Loeb State Park, located
just eight miles northeast of Brookings, also provides access to the
Chetco River. Loeb Park features free day parking and accommodates
campers with 53 electrical sites scattered throughout an old-growth
myrtle wood forest. The park's much-traveled Riverview Trail
eventually connects with the even more popular Redwood Nature Trail,
a one mile loop that even a beginning hiker can navigate without too
much trouble.
If you're roughing it, you may also want to consider pitching
a tent at Harris Beach State Park,
Sporthaven Beach, or Clifford
Kamph Memorial Park. Harris
Beach State Park is open year-round and serves as a dump
station for RVs. It features wheelchair accessible campsites while
accommodating the general camping population with four yurts, 66
tent sites, 52 electrical sites and 34 trailer spaces with full
utility hook-ups. The park also features a hiker/biker camp, and
showers are available to all campers.
Sporthaven
Beach sits between the ocean and Brookings and is fronted
by the Beachfront RV Park on Boat Basin Road. The grounds offer
plenty of free parking, and there are campsites and picnic areas at
the RV Park. Sporthaven Beach has emerged as one of the regions top
surfing venues. It may also be the best whale-watching beach around.
A close second would be Harris Beach, which also attracts the surf
crowd.
Clifford
Kamph Memorial Park is located right on the Pacific's
shores, just across the state line in California. The park charges
only $5 a night for tent camping. Better yet, there's no charge to
use the park during the day, and there are several nice picnic
areas.
Samuel
H. Boardman State Park sits four miles north of Brookings
Harbor and offers a 11-mile stretch of Oregon coastline thought to
be the most scenic and spectacular in the state. The best way to
enjoy that coastal stretch is to chart the seven-mile Oregon Coast
Trail, which is highlighted by the vistas of House Rock Viewpoint
and Whalehead Viewpoint. Boardman Park also is known for its
tidepooling. During low tide, you'll most always find a mixed batch
of starfish, sea urchins, crabs, sea anemones and other ocean
creatures scattered amongst the rocks.
| Outside the camping arena,
Brookings' most popular park is Azalea
Park. Smothered in the colors of its namesake flora,
Azalea Park is home to the annual Azalea Festival and Parade,
the Southern Oregon Kite Festival, and the ever-popular Sunday
Afternoon Concert in the Park Series, which is staged in a most
acoustical natural amphitheater. Azalea Park also has softball
facilities, restrooms, picnic areas, and an elaborate playground
known as Kid's Town. |
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