Agency: Oregon State Parks Location: 8 miles east of Brookings, Oregon and U.S. 101 on North Bank Chetco River Road. Difficulty: Easiest Distance: 2 miles (round trip) Updated: Jan 1997 Season: Year round

In 1948, Save the Myrtlewoods, Inc. acquired 160 acres of land from Alfred A. Loeb to protect what is now known as the Loeb Myrtlewood Grove. The biggest tree here is 72" in diameter, and 128 feet tall. Later acquisitions from the BLM and Elmer Bankus grew the park to 320 acres. It sits beside the Chetco River, whose clear water in summer riffles musically over smooth stones, then empties into holes deep enough to encourage diving from rocks on the opposite bank. It's obvious from the number of people who come to cast from the shore that trout and steelhead can be caught here, and perhaps salmon.

The campground amenities are excellent, which probably explains why this park has few vacancies in summer. The showers are among the most satisfactory you will find at any park. People come up from Brookings and stay for a week at a time, checking in at home periodically. Your best bet is to contact Oregon State Parks to inquire about availability.

Perhaps the best time of year to visit Loeb Park is autumn, when the crowds are less, and fallen myrtle leaves give off a resin that fills the air with sweet perfume. You may be tempted, as I was, to collect a bag of leaves for an air freshener.

Riverview Trail

Follows the north bank of the Chetco an easy 3/4 mile through a myrtle grove to a crosswalk which connects with the Redwood Nature Trail. Since this trailhead is within the State Park, no Forest Service Trail Park permit is required.

Redwood Nature Loop

A 1 mile loop on a steep, heavily wooded hillside. Passes through the northernmost stand of redwood trees in the world. Crosses streams at four scenic points before returning to the trail head. Best maintained of the two trails at Loeb.

Campground (Updated 7 Mar 2005)

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