Alfred A. Loeb State Park
RV Guide

Introduction

Oregon is a state famous for gorgeous nature, hipster couples who run artisan shops, and many low-key farms where people go to live off the grid and escape the society. Oregon is also home to the gorgeous Alfred A. Loeb State Park, one of the most beautiful state parks on the Chetco River. Once you sit in your RV and drive into the park, the first thing you will notice is the enchanting fresh scent of the myrtle wood forest. Safely tucked in the grove of myrtle trees, many of which are over 200 years old, Alfred A. Loeb State Park is the perfect playground for nature lovers who want to set up camp somewhere far away, where they can forget about the skyscrapers, busy streets, and the constant rush of the 21st century life. You can spend your days here in your camper fishing, picnicking, and hiking. Come here to enjoy the great outdoors, explore the wilderness of Oregon, and have the time of your life by the pristine Chetco River.

RV Rentals in Alfred A. Loeb State Park

Transportation

Driving

Alfred A. Loeb State Park is located in southwestern Oregon in the Curry County, close to the town of Brookings. When coming from this town, you will have to cover about eight miles driving east. The town is located on the beautiful Oregon coast so the drive from it and to the park should be pleasant and picturesque. The drive is quite short and only takes about 10 minutes, so Brooking is a good place to stock up on food and other luxuries of the 21st century you may need. If you are coming from the north, you can drive down the beautiful coastline and then turn east to get to the park!

When it comes to parking, day visitors can leave their vehicle on the big day-use parking lot. Vehicles can also be left on the trailhead parking, or an extra parking by the self-registration area and the park’s main office. When you are parking your RV or car, make sure that you leave it on a paved area only, as parking on the grass is not allowed.

Parking

Public Transportation

Campgrounds and parking in Alfred A. Loeb State Park

Campsites in Alfred A. Loeb State Park

First-come first-served

Alfred A. Loeb Campground

The campground is located by the river and has 48 sites with water and electric hookups, but no sewer! You can book them on the first-come, first-served basis and enjoy the closeness of the water, fire rings, picnic tables, and grills. Hot showers and flush toilets are nearby, but the park does not have a dump station, however, you can find one about 10 miles away, at the Brookings Rest Area. The sites are comfortably spaced so you won’t feel like you have no privacy, but the neighbors will still be close enough so you can socialize. From the campground, you can walk a few minutes to the designated picnic area, and to the gravel bar by the river. Two walking trails lead through it which can be connected to the Riverview Trail that will take you to the redwoods.

Seasonal activities in Alfred A. Loeb State Park

Off-Season

Nature Viewing

Since the Alfred A. Loeb State Park is famous for its pristine nature, what a better way to learn about it than documenting the wonderful plants that grow here! Evergreen huckleberry is the most common shrub in the area that produces round berries that can be used for making jams and jellies. Tanoak is a true oak relative with brownish fuzz on the undersides of the leaves. Native Americans used it as a carbohydrate source since the acorns can be ingested. Oregon myrtle is one of the best smelling trees out there, and its scent reminds of eucalyptus or camphor. Native Americans brewed the leaves for medicinal purposes, mostly for headache and sinus pain relief. Redwood trees are the tallest in the world with some of them reaching over 300 feet and being over 2000 years old! Some trees here are as old as 800!

Learn About History

If traveling means expanding your knowledge and opening your mind to new ideas and cultures, then learning a bit about history is an absolute must when you visit the Alfred A. Loeb State Park. If you talk to the staff, you will learn that the park was bought from Mr. Alfred A. Loeb of Portland by the Board of Forestry and Save the Myrtle Woods Inc. The organization wanted to protect the myrtle trees and other plants that grow on the Chetco River, and in the honor of Alfred, the park remained named after him. If you are keeping a journal of all the state parks you have visited, you can jot down a few highlights of the history of this one as well. If you have children, teaching them about the importance of nature preservation is very important in this day and age when climate change is rapidly affecting us all.

Telling Campfire Stories

After a long day of exploring and adventuring, you can unwind with your friends and family right on the campground, with your cozy RVs just seconds away. You can roast marshmallows, sit by the campfire, grill the fish you caught during the day, and tell stories about your adventures. If you’re lucky, you will make friends at the camp who can join in and exchange RV advice, best ways of utilizing limited space, and the next must-visit destination in Oregon or some other state. If you look up, you can see the sky full of stars which is such a nice change from the non-existing stars on the city sky. However, make sure to spray yourself with a mosquito repellent – since the park is so close to the water they will attack mercilessly.

In-Season

Hiking

Hiking is quite a popular way to spend your day in Alfred A. Loeb State Park, as it offers a myriad of beautiful trees that provide cool shade on a hot summer’s day. The trail is well shaded and will require medium effort because some parts of it can be steep and wet due to the closeness of the water. A part of the trail can get washed away, in which case you will be rerouted. You can bring your dog along this 40-50 minute walk, take photos of the surroundings, observe the birds and the plants, and inhale the gorgeous scent of the trees. Since this park is not the most visited, you can enjoy a good hour of solitude, peace, and quiet while walking, and really have the chance to reconnect with yourself before you go back to the campground.

Boating and Fishing

Another amazing thing you can do in this park is fishing and boating since the Chetco River is large enough to allow both of them! The boat launch ramp is available for the campers who wish to propel their vessels onto the water. When it comes to fishing, anglers will be able to find some of the best fall and winter salmon and steelhead on the southern coast. Whether you decide to cast your bait from the bank or go on a drift boat and be a little more adventurous, you will surely have loads of fun doing so. Kayakers and canoers can also enjoy here, and even see some of the adorable otters frolicking in the river.

Swimming

There is no better way to unwind on a hot day than to have a relaxing dip in one of the most beautiful rivers in Oregon. The Chetco River is one of those “unpopular” destinations for tourists, which makes it perfect for a happy camper who does not want a lot of people around who will tarnish the pristine nature, litter the river bank, and pollute the water. Swimming is one of the most popular activities in the park during the hot months, so why not take advantage of the proximity of the water and dip your toes in one more river in America? Since you will be swimming in a river, you need to be careful and be aware of the river current that can pull small children when it is strong. Using common sense will be quite enough, but make sure to pay extra attention if you are not an avid swimmer who can get out of any sticky situation.