Alsea River Adventure - Day 1

Jeanette scanning for birds at Mill Creek Park

  

 On Wednesday we set off on a 5-day trip to the Oregon Coast in our Winnebago Solis Pocket camping van, with the goal to take advantage of a three-day window of a good weather forecast for Thursday thru Saturday. Our first day was spent driving Highway 34 down the scenic Alsea River to Waldport. This is a trip we love to take, stopping at every boat ramp, picnic spot, and campground to check out the bird life.

Our first stop was Clemens Park, a Benton County Park, 21 miles west of Corvallis. Light rain greeted us at a muddy parking lot filled with pick-ups and cars of fisherman plying the Alsea for late returning Steelhead. We elected for a pass, and journey on. No cell service here.

Next stop was Mill Creek Park, another Benton County Park, and probably our favorite. Besides the parking lot, boat launch, and restroom, there is some picnicking area and short trail up the river. Here is our bird list. 2 - 3 bars of cell service

 

Close by is the next boat launch, Campbell Park. Very similar to Mill Creek with parking lot, boat launch and restroom, just minus the extra picnicking area. Here is our bird list. 1 -2 bars of cell service

The last of the Benton County Parks was the Salmonberry Park and Campground.  The campground was closed for the winter, but there is a nice Day Use Area out front with parking, rest room, and boat launch. Here is our quick bird list. There is no cell service. 

Missouri Bend Recreation Site is a Bureau of Land Management park with river access. We zeroed on birds here. There is no cell service.

River Edge Campground is a Siuslaw National Forest operation, with a poorly maintained Day Use Area with river access, and a large seasonal, reservation only, group camping area.  We zeroed on birds here. There is no cell service.

Blackberry Campground is another Siuslaw National Forest Campground. It has a resident host. There is a boat launch. Here is our Bird List. There is no cell service.

Mike Bauer Wayside is a Siuslaw National Forest Day Use Area. No overnight camping allowed. Fishing access and restroom. We zeroed on birds. 

The end of our Alsea River journey ended in Waldport at the Lower Alsea Bay viewpoint. Here is our bird list.