To find the trailhead, drive 15 miles east of Florence or 46 miles west of Eugene to Mapleton. Go over the bridge and turn west (right) on Sweet Creek Road. Follow this small, paved road for about ten miles and turn right into
the parking lot for the Homestead Trail. A short section of this path is fairly accessible and makes for a lovely creekside pause. Then the trail begins in earnest, although it never becomes steep or difficult. Keep children in view; the creek is tempting but flows quickly. Small dogs may need to be carried on the catwalks, as their little paws can catch in the decking. Watch alongside the path for a wide variety of ferns and wildflowers. After a little over a mile, this trail ends at a final waterfall; return the way you came. Since this is such a short hike, be sure to bring your camera and linger at the many viewpoints. It seems impossible to take a bad photo here.
The Forest Service provides some trail information on this link. If you wish to combine this hike with a trip to the coast, be sure to check out the main Siuslaw National Forest site for campgrounds and activities. Florence is a fun town to visit any time of the year, and Dunes City (just south of town) offers sand-based entertainment in the form of OHV rentals and sand boards. Fishing, hiking, and boating are also popular in the Florence area, and it will doubtless appear in many future postings on this site.
We have been looking for close hikes we can do in just a day. This fits the bill perfectly! It even sounds like I can enjoy part of it with my walker. Thank you, Sally and Austen!
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