Family Outings in Oregon: Tillamook Forest Center

My family and I stopped in at the Tillamook Forest Center on our way to a camping trip on the Oregon Coast, and were impressed by the interactive exhibits and activities available!

The Forest Center is about an hour's drive from Portland on Highway 6, and just 22 miles east of Tillamook and Highway 101. It's clearly marked by highway signs. Visitors pull into an ample parking lot in the shadow of a functional fire lookout tower. Yes, you can climb up the tower! It's set up just like the old fire lookouts scattered around Oregon.

Next, cross a bridge over a small pond into the main exhibit hall. Here, you'll find a number of interactive exhibits. My children enjoyed dressing up as both firefighters and pioneer settlers, and exploring a pioneer cabin and tree planters' camp. In the back of the building, kids can get inside a model stream to learn about the salmon life cycle! There's also a fascinating exhibit showing the different stages of forest growth, and the plants and wildlife found in each. It's displayed in layers, and you have to pull out drawers to view each layer of the forest. Finally, for very small children, there are forest-themed toys and puppets to play with in the rear of the exhibit hall.

The forest exhibits indoors are excellent preparation for what you'll see outdoors. West of the exhibit hall is the Demonstration Forest, which has loop trails .2 miles and .4 miles in length. Here, you'll see many of the trees, plants and wildlife shown in the exhibit hall. Forest Center staff frequently offer guided walks of this area.

In addition to the Demonstration Forest, there are hiking trails on the east side of the building and along the Wilson River, which runs behind the exhibit hall. There's a suspension bridge leading from the rear of the building to the other side of the river, joining up with the Wilson River Trail, which runs 20.6 miles from Elk Creek to Keenig Creek. You can easily hike to both the Smith Homestead Day Use Area and the Jones Creek Campground on these trails. Or, just head across the bridge to enjoy your lunch next to the river!

There's even more to see that we didn't get to'" an award-winning film about the Tillamook Burn, reminiscences from early settlers and people who helped replant the forest after the Burn, and displays about the native peoples. The center recommend that groups with children plan to spend no more than 30-45 minutes inside the exhibit hall, but history and forest buffs may enjoy a longer visit.

Getting there: From Portland, take Highway 26 east, and then take exit 53 onto Highway 6 toward Banks and Tillamook. The Tillamook Forest Center is 29.1 miles down Highway 6, just past the turnoff for the Jones Creek Campground. From Tillamook, take Highway 6 east; the Forest Center will be on the left soon after milepost 21.

You can also take WAVE public transit to the Forest Center from either Tillamook or Portland.

Other Information: The Tillamook Forest Center is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the summer, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during spring and fall. The center is closed during December, January and February due to winter weather conditions. There is no admission charge, but donations are encouraged. There is a gift shop and snack/beverage vending machines on-site, but no food service.

Other things to do:

• Bring a picnic. There are several designated picnic areas on-site.
  
• Hike 1.7 miles downriver to Wilson Falls.
• Stay the night, and camp at the Jones Creek Campground.
• Continue to Tillamook and tour the Tillamook Cheese Factory.