Booth State Scenic Corridor

🏆🏆🏆🏆 Scenic corridor along the Row River near Cottage Grove — gateway to covered bridges. Lane County has 20 historic covered bridges — more than any other county west of the Mississippi!

Visitor Information

About Booth State Scenic Corridor

Booth State Scenic Corridor preserves a beautiful stretch of old-growth forest along the North Umpqua River in southern Oregon. Towering Douglas fir and western red cedar trees shade this peaceful section of Highway 138, which follows the river upstream toward Crater Lake. The corridor is named for Robert A. Booth, an early Oregon lumber baron and conservationist who helped establish the state park system.

Things to Do

The corridor offers excellent riverside picnicking beneath ancient trees. Anglers prize the North Umpqua for its legendary summer steelhead run — considered one of the finest fly-fishing rivers in the Pacific Northwest. The 79-mile North Umpqua Trail passes through the area, offering world-class hiking and mountain biking through old-growth forest.

Getting There

Located along Highway 138 (North Umpqua Highway) approximately 30 miles east of Roseburg in Douglas County. Free to visit with pullout areas for stopping.

About Booth Corridor

Booth State Scenic Corridor in Lane County preserves old-growth forest along the North Fork of the Middle Fork of the Willamette River — protecting towering Douglas fir trees along one of Oregon’s most scenic river canyons. The corridor provides a green buffer along the highway, preserving the wild character of the Cascade foothills.

Things to Do

Driving through the old-growth forest corridor, stopping at pullouts for photography, short hiking, and enjoying the massive Douglas fir trees that define Oregon’s forest landscape.

Insider Tips

Old-growth drive: Booth State Scenic Corridor on Highway 18 passes through a magnificent stand of old-growth Douglas fir. Pro tip: Stop at the pullout and take the short trail into the trees — the silence is profound. Photography: Foggy mornings create cathedral-like light beams through the canopy — bring a tripod.

Best Time to Visit

Fall/winter: Fog and rain create the most atmospheric forest conditions. Spring: Trilliums and other wildflowers carpet the forest floor. Summer: Coolest spot on a hot day — old-growth forest is 10-15°F cooler than surrounding areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old are these trees?

Old-growth Douglas fir in Oregon can exceed 500 years and reach 300 feet tall — among the tallest trees on Earth. Only 10-15% of Oregon’s original old-growth forest remains, making these stands irreplaceable.

Wildlife & Nature

Booth State Scenic Corridor preserves a strip of ancient old-growth forest along a central Oregon highway — protecting towering Douglas fir, western red cedar, and bigleaf maple from development. These remnant old-growth strips provide important wildlife corridors connecting larger forest blocks. The enormous trees — some exceeding 200 feet tall and 6 feet in diameter — support canopy-dwelling species including red tree voles (rodents that spend their entire lives in the treetops, never touching the ground) and northern spotted owls. The old-growth understory supports diverse fern communities — sword fern, maidenhair fern, and licorice fern carpet the forest floor. Banana slugs — the Pacific Northwest’s iconic invertebrate (reaching 10 inches) — feed on decaying vegetation.

Nearby Attractions

The central Oregon coast highway corridor offers numerous state parks and natural areas. Cape Perpetua Scenic Area features the Spouting Horn and Thor’s Well — dramatic ocean formations. Sea Lion Caves — the largest sea cave in America — houses wild Steller sea lions. Heceta Head Lighthouse is one of the most photographed lighthouses on the Pacific Coast. Darlingtonia State Natural Site protects cobra lily (carnivorous pitcher plants). Florence offers old-town charm and sand dune recreation.