Nestled along the sparkling Willamette River on the eastern edge of the Oregon Coast Range, Corvallis is one of Oregon’s most charming – and often overlooked – college towns. And springtime, with its wildflowers in bloom and baby farm animals, might just be the perfect season to explore this special area.
Corvallis is home to Oregon State University and combines small-town charm with plenty of outdoor adventure. The city sits in the heart of the Willamette Valley and is about 90 miles south of Portland and about 45 miles northwest of Eugene by car. Over the years, we’ve wandered its lush family-friendly trails and – more recently – visited some of the area’s farms and wildlife sanctuaries. Lace up your hiking boots, grab the family, and hit the road to explore a few of our favorite farms and hikes this spring.
Farm Experiences Near Corvallis
Goat Yoga and More at No Regrets Flower Farm & Sanctuary
When Lainey Morse, founder of Goat Yoga, began inviting others to join in on her nightly farm walks with her rescue goats, she had no idea that a nationwide wellness phenomenon would emerge.
Her farm, No Regrets Flower Farm & Animal Sanctuary, is located in Monroe, Oregon, about a ½ hour drive south of Corvallis and roughly 45-minutes north from Eugene and offers goat yoga, goat happy hour sessions, and other sanctuary experiences with friendly rescue goats and animals.
If the thought of hitting the mat with sweet rescue goats brings you joy, you can sign up for a goat yoga class in Monroe or elsewhere in the country, and if you’d rather keep your farm animals and workouts separate, you can join in on a private “Goat Happy Hour” instead. We’ve taken part in two of the goat happy hour experiences now, first with the whole family, and second as a special mother-daughter outing. During a private Goat Happy Hour, you’ll stroll the beautiful grounds together with a menagerie of adorable goats and have plenty of opportunities to interact with the goats. You’ll leave lighter and happier after a session with these adorable therapeutic animals.
Also at the farm are some special creative events. Last spring, my daughter and I loved attending a Mandala Rock Painting Workshop, where we enjoyed a Goat Happy Hour experience and tour plus a guided craft workshop and plenty of snacks. This spring, the farm is offering several stained glass classes with more crafty experiences to come soon. Classes are offered year-round in the historic barn, but spring makes an extra-special time to visit this area. Children 10+ can participate in the Goat Yoga experiences.
Leaping Lamb Farm
Leaping Lamb Farm & Farm Stay is a working farm in Alsea, Oregon (about 37 minutes by car from Corvallis) with tours, animal interactions, and a farm-stay option nestled in a valley along a brook in the Coast Range. The area also has a historic homestead with structures from 1896 and 1930 and a century-old orchard. The farm offers small group tours in spring, summer, and fall, and you can also book the farm cottage or farmhouse for a longer stay.
On your tour, adorable baby lambs and kids are just the beginning; you’ll meet and mingle with a menagerie of animals. (During our last visit, much to our surprise and delight, we actually saw new baby lambs being born on our farm tour.) Memorable characters we’ve met include “Chip” (Chipotle), the Mediterranean donkey; Elton, the flamboyant peacock; and the late Gandalf the turkey.
Tour guests are invited to stay at the farm until 3 p.m. to roam freely with the animals, take a hike into the nearby forest, relax by the stream, or enjoy a picnic in the meadow. Don’t miss a stroll across the footbridge over the stream and up into the forest to visit “Merlin Tree,” a 200-year-old Bigleaf maple, mostly hollow at the base but also a mother tree to all the ferns and plants growing off of it.
Tours by appointment only.
Hours: Sun-Thurs at 11 a.m.
Cost: $60 for up to 4 guests (children two and under are free), $10 for each additional guest (minimum $40).
Picnics welcomed!
Address: 20368 Honey Grove Road, Alsea, Oregon
Favorite Family-Friendly Hikes in Corvallis
Alsea & Green Peak Falls
Serene Alsea & Green Peak Falls, located in a tranquil forest managed by the BLM, just about a 40-minute drive from downtown Corvallis in the Coast Range, is the perfect outing for families because it boasts two pretty waterfalls within an easy shaded trail. The short Alsea Falls and Green Peak Falls loop trail, only ~2.4 miles and 295 feet of elevation, meanders along the South Fork of the Alsea River with plenty of peaceful picnic spots and shallow accessible pools to frolic in when the weather warms. (They also have campsites available from May to September.)
Wildflowers generally peak from late April to May. Keep an eye out for rhododendrons, dogwoods, trillium, tiger lilies, and more.
Beazell Memorial Forest & Education Center
Beazell Memorial Forest & Education Center is a 586-acre temperate forest preserve about a 20-minute drive from Corvallis in the Coast Range foothills that is popular for bird watching, hiking, and more. The area also has a historic barn, other historic buildings like the (creepy) 1875 Plunkett House, and a footbridge.
It is the largest park maintained by Benton County and offers a network of simple loop trails, including the pleasant Plunkett Creek Loop Trail(~1.3 miles) that’s perfect for families. While the area was on my winter excursion list, it’s a great place to visit year-round, including the spring months when wildflowers like white fawn lilies and Western trillium abound. In the stewardship plan, it is noted that the front meadow is to be maintained for wildflowers, so click for more.
Mary’s Peak
Mary’s Peak is the highest peak in the Oregon Coast range (4,097 feet) and is only 30-40 minutes from Corvallis. Here, you’ll bask in spectacular 360-degree views, which extend all the way to the ocean on a clear day. There are multiple ways to enjoy the peak:
- The strenuous route, Mary’s Peak East Ridge Trail, is 6+-miles and 1,571 elevation and suitable for older children and fit adults. Or..
- The much shorter Summit Loop Hike, at an easy 1.3-mile (345 feet elevation), is perfect for younger children or mixed abilities groups.
From late spring on, Mary’s Peak is known for its spectacular wildflower displays, blanketing the subalpine meadows and summit areas. There’s a great diversity of species and they generally peak from about mid-May to the end of June.
William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge
Located about 10 miles south of Corvallis, the William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge spans over 5,700 acres of prairies, oak savanna, wetlands, and forest habitat and was established to protect wintering grounds for dusky Canada geese. This unique and tranquil area is home to countless species (including 6 rare or endangered species).
There are more than twelve miles of trails, crossing diverse habitats from native oak savannah to wetland, mixed forest, and prairie. In spring, prairie wildflowers like camas, Oregon grape, and golden paintbrush can be abundant. The refuge is open dawn to dusk daily and free to visit, and the visitor center and boardwalks also offer great interpretive views (visitor center hours vary and may be seasonally limited).
My favorite trial is the Cheadle Marsh and Pigeon Butte Trail (~3.6 miles), which leads toward the historic 1900-era Cheadle Barn, located on the south end of the preserve. It was constructed for the stabling and care of work and saddle horses, and – while you can’t go in – you can walk around the periphery of the barn and enjoy the barn swallows and other critters that live here. The short trail also loops through meadow and wetlands that are bursting in lupine and other wildflowers if you plan your visit accordingly (often late May – early June).
I hope that this lineup of ideas inspired you to plan an outing to Corvallis this spring. Please share in the comments your favorite Corvallis-area excursions.
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