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5 Reasons to Visit Mary’s Peak

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Do you live in Oregon? You might just want to take a bit of an adventure and head to Mary’s Peak in the Siuslaw National Forest. This awesome gem of the Pacific Northwest sits at the highest peak in the Oregon Coast range mountains and oh my gosh it is an amazing place to go if you love a good view.

Mary’s Peak sits at approximately 4097 ft. above sea level in the Siuslaw National Forest and part of the Oregon Coast Range mountains. Our family visits the Mary’s Peak Day Use area often, mostly because we love the views here. We have also visited Mary’s Peak to hike, sled, play in the snow and even to watch fireworks on the 4th of July!

Mary’s Peak is also only about an hour and half away from the coast (depending on which route you take you can get to Waldport or Newport in about that time frame). This is a fun day trip idea if you are planning a coast trip!

5 Reasons to Visit Mary’s Peak

I definitely recommend that anyone local to Western Oregon should take the opportunity to visit the area! All you really need to do is look at the photos to see why you may want to visit, because it is so beautiful! If you still aren’t convinced, here are 5 reasons to visit Mary’s Peak:

The View is Unmatched

I have been to many, many beautiful places throughout Oregon. Despite this, I can confidently say that I have never seen a view quite like the one you will see at Mary’s Peak. On a clear day, you can see multiple different mountain peaks, all with a naked eye.

  • Mount Hood
  • Mount Rainier
  • Mount St. Helens
  • Three Sisters Mountains
  • Mount Adams
  • Mount Jefferson
  • Mount Bachelor
  • Diamond Peak 

I’ve never tried it, but I would bet that if you brought some good binoculars up, you could see even more peaks.

To the east, your view is equally stunning, but definitely different. You have a great view of the coastal range mountains, and although we had heard rumors that it could be done, we were still surprised that on one particularly clear day, we actually saw the Pacific Ocean.

The nighttime views are second to none too. If city lights are more your thing, you are going to love Mary’s Peak after sunset. You can clearly see lights from the nearby cities of Philomath, Corvallis, and surrounding areas (honestly it’s more than that, but since I am TERRIBLE at directions and distances, I don’t want to be wrong in the cities I am naming).

On a side note, a couple of years ago we even spend the 4th of July at Mary’s Peak and saw many, many fireworks shows!

There are Miles and Miles of Hiking Trails

If you like to hike, Mary’s Peak is a great place to go! There are 7 named trails in addition to countless connecting trails and walking paths throughout.

  • Meadowedge Trail
  • Conner’s Camp Trailhead
  • Tie Trail
  • East Ridge Trail
  • North Ridge Trail
  • Summit Trail
  • Woods Creek Trailhead

Several of these trails are suitable for mountain biking as well.

Find trail information here.

Mary’s Peak is a Great Place to Camp

In case you were wondering, yes, Mary’s Peak has camping available! There is not a lot though (only 6 sites available), and you can’t make reservations, so if you are a first come first serve kind of camper, you will love it!

Each of the campsites does have it’s own fire ring and picnic table, although there is no drinking water available.  

It has a Great Sledding Hill

Do you love the snow? Are you looking for a place to take the kids sledding? Mary’s Peak is a great place to take the family for a fun day of sledding! During the snowy wintertime, once you reach the day use area parking lot, you will be greeted by a fabulous snow covered hill that is just right for some seriously fun, but not too extreme that you will stress about your kids sledding on it.

On our recent visit, I took a picture of the great sledding hill as you can see, there were lots of people taking advantage of the snowy day. I’m going to have to have my family remind me to take my actual camera with me so I have better pictures for you!

Wildlife Viewing

Are you a nature lover? Wildlife and Nature viewing at Mary’s Peak is excellent! While you do occasionally see deer and other animals, what it is really good for is birding and viewing wildflowers. Mary’s Peak is one of my favorite places to break out the camera and take pictures.

Your Questions About Mary’s Peak answered here:

How do you get to Mary’s Peak?

This page offers excellent directions to Mary’s Peak.

Is the road to Mary’s Peak maintained?

The road to Mary’s Peak is paved and easy to navigate during the warmer months, however during the winter months, it is not plowed or sanded so it is best if you have 4wd or chains for your tires.

It’s also worth noting that this is a steep winding road. For those that get motion sickness, be prepared!

Does it cost anything to go to Mary’s Peak?

As it is a National Park area, you do need to pay the day use fee of $5 to park and spend time at the park. I am fully okay with a day full of fun for $5!

Are there bathrooms available at Mary’s Peak?

No matter where you are coming from, the trip to Mary’s Peak is likely a long drive. If you are anything like me, you probably need to know about the bathrooms (hey..I like to be prepared). Yes, there are bathrooms, but they are vault bathrooms with no running water, so be sure and bring your hand sanitizer or cleaning wipes with you.

Similar Posts You Might Like:

A Fun Trip to Thor’s Well

Planning a Trip to the Oregon Coast on a Budget

The Best Campgrounds in Oregon for Kids

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