Luckiamute Landing In Oregon Is An Oasis For Hiking, Paddling, And Wildlife Viewing
By Catherine Armstrong|Published June 15, 2020
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Catherine Armstrong
Author
Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Catherine loves local bookstores, independent films, and spending time with her family, including Gus the golden retriever, who is a very good boy.
Nature lovers in Oregon enjoy 11 national forests, 11 national natural landmarks,17 national historic landmarks, and five national park sites (including Crater Lake National Park, two national monuments, a national historic site, a national historic park, and the McLoughlin House). In case that isn’t enough for a mile-long bucket list, the Beaver State also has 256 state parks!
Luckiamute Landing State Natural Area is one of the little gems in the state’s park system, and it’s an oasis for hiking, paddling, and wildlife viewing. Let’s explore this pretty area:
You'll find Luckiamute Landing Natural Area just south of Salem. It's located between Oregon Route 99 West and Interstate 5.
This beautiful area covers nearly 1,000 acres in two tracts. The Luckiamute River circles the north tract, branching off from the Santiam River and flowing into the Willamette.
It's perfect for an afternoon of paddling! Bring your kayak or canoe to explore the Luckiamute River, or visit this state natural area as part of a larger adventure along the Willamette Water Trail.
The north tract also offers a pretty loop trail so you can explore on foot. Three miles of trails take you through hardwood forests and a pretty meadow.
The south tract of Luckiamute Landing Natural Area is just as beautiful as the north, but it offers a few different attractions. Three ponds beckon, and you can fish in two of them.
The north and south tracts are separated by a swath of private property, so when you visit the south tract, you'll want to enter it from the highway.
West Pond is a pretty little pond where you're likely to spot wildlife. Take the half-mile trail to the northern end of the pond, where you'll find a viewing area.
This pond is a habitat for Western Pond turtles. They're included on the sensitive species list, but they're thriving here. Don't disturb the turtles, but feel free to hang out at the observation area and watch them sunning on logs.
Luckiamute Landing Natural Area is open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. There's no fee to visit the park.
Learn more about Luckiamute Landing State Natural Area on the Oregon State Parks website. Have you visited this little oasis? We’d love to read about it in the comments!
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