Alfred A. Loeb State Forest Park

The Portland Garden Club joined with Save-TheMyrtle Woods Inc. to purchase 160 acres of land from Alfred A. Loeb along the Chetco River for the purpose of protecting outstanding native myrtle trees. The Umbellularia californica, locally known as the Oregon Myrtle, flourishes along the Pacific Coast and grows to heights of 100 feet. This grove of virgin forests of myrtle features some trees that are well over 200 years old. Some trees are columnar while others are of fantastic shapes – wide spreading, forked or deformed with burls.

Ten years after the Founders Fund Award, the land was gifted to the State Board of Forestry. Additional tracts of land were added to grow the park to 320 acres. Visitors to the park may camp overnight, fish, swim or hike the self-guided Riverview nature trail. Fall and winter salmon and steelhead fishing are popular.

With the help of the Founders Fund, these special trees may be able to reach their full maturity which could take a century.