South Slough Reserve is open to the public most days of the year. Visitors can walk or hike one of our many trails, meander by kayak or canoe down a water channel, marvel at native species, learn about the history of the area, and even
volunteer to help protect and maintain the Reserve.
Community classes are also available.
Cell service may be nonexistent in the South Slough, so plan accordingly.
The Reserve is a diverse environment made up of forests, salt marshes, mudflats, and channels of weaving waterways. All these elements play a crucial role in the estuary ecosystem, sustaining food webs which allow native plants like eelgrass, saltgrass, and pickleweed to thrive and provide for animals like crabs, salmon, reptiles, birds, and mammals big and small.
During a visit you may spot beavers and river otters around streams, a rich assemblage of moss and fungi along the forest floor, deer or elk along the banks, or migratory birds nestled among the salt marshes.
Visitor Center and Restrooms
Stop by the Visitor Center to learn or rest around the fireplace. Exhibits help visitors understand the habitats and wildlife in the Reserve, the history of people in relationship to this land, and the research and stewardship activities occurring at the Reserve. Trail maps are available at the Visitor Center and Reserve staff are there to answer your questions.
The Visitor Center and restrooms, handicap accessible and located just outside the Visitor Center, are open Tuesday–Saturday from 10a.m. – 4p.m.
Accessibility Recommendations
We want all visitors to enjoy the Reserve's beauty. For safety and accessibility, we recommend motorized wheelchair users, and those using other mobility assistance devices, stay on the Big Cedar Access Trail* and Railroad Trail*. These trails offer the widest paths, gentlest slopes, and fewer obstacles, though no Reserve trails are fully ADA-compliant. Other trails in the system may present significant challenges, such as narrow widths, steep slopes, rocks, tree roots, and uneven surfaces not recommended for mobility devices.
*Access is through a locked gate. Users can check out a key from the Visitor Center Front Desk, Tuesday - Saturday between the hours of 10 AM - 3:30 PM. Please note: The gate access key is reserved for persons with mobility disabilities only. Call the Front Desk if you have questions: 541-888-5558.
Current Trail Conditions
- The Oregon Department of State Lands enacted specific
trail and forest closures as a public safety measure due to hazards from boardwalk construction and use of heavy equipment. Closure dates: August 11-22, 2025 and again September 1-October 1, 2025.
- The
South Trail system, including the parking area and road from Hinch road, will be closed during the above dates.
- Hinch Road and associated watercraft launch will remain open and accessible.
- All forest activities (e.g., hunting map hunting, and mushroom picking) along Hinch road and south to Wasson Creek will not be allowed during closure dates. From August 1, 2025, to January 30, 2026, no forest activities are permitted in the Wasson Valley, including
hunting and mushroom harvesting.
Additional Information
The
Big Cedar Trail (0.25 mi.) is wheelchair accessible (with assistance) and leads from the lower parking lot to the marsh observation deck.
Accessibility Recommendations
We want all visitors to enjoy the Reserve's beauty. For safety and accessibility, we recommend motorized wheelchair users, and those using other mobility assistance devices, stay on the Big Cedar Access Trail* and Railroad Trail*. These trails offer the widest paths, gentlest slopes, and fewer obstacles, though no Reserve trails are fully ADA-compliant. Other trails in the system may present significant challenges, such as narrow widths, steep slopes, rocks, tree roots, and uneven surfaces not recommended for
mobility devices.
*Access is through a locked gate. Users can check out a key from the Visitor Center Front Desk, Tuesday - Saturday between the hours of 10 AM - 3:30 PM. The gate access key is reserved for persons with mobility disabilities only.
Call the Front Desk if you have questions: 541-888-5558
Dogs are allowed at the Reserve and must be kept on a leash at all times. Pick up after your dog’s waste and dispose of it in the next available trash can.
Recreational mushrooms and berry gathering is allowed in the Reserve. Make sure to use a field guide or consult an expert when gathering for eating. Visitors may gather up to one gallon of edible mushrooms a day per-person, for personal use only.
Recreational fishing is allowed at the Reserve. Hunting is also allowed in certain parts of the Reserve; however there are some temporary closures which can be viewed on the hunting map here.
All fishing and hunting must follow Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations, including requirements for licenses and tags.