The Beauty of Nature on the Nestucca River Back Country Byway

Lichen Covered Wonderland (OR) [1]

Drive the Nestucca River Back Country Byway from Carlton to Beaver and be enveloped in a sea of nature. Filled with lush green and blues, this coastal area of western Oregon is considered one of the richest biomasses in the world.

Start your trip on nearby Carlton, located about five miles east of the beginning of the byway. Stock up on all the provisions you’ll need for your day on the road. Incorporated in 1899, today's Carlton is home to 1,755 citizens and remains surrounded by the picturesque Oregon landscape.

Dark Woods (OR) [2]

Wind your way through Oregon’s awesome old growth forests, where two-hundred-foot Douglas firs tower overhead. Moss hangs from the branches due to the coastal climate, creating living green castles out of the ancient trees. The forest near this byway is considered a temperate rain forest because of the 120 inches of rain it receives annually.

The Nestucca River, an Oregon State Scenic Waterway, flows within easy distance of the entire length of the byway. The river canyon is lined with weathered cliffs made of seafloor sandstones and basalts. Its walls are covered by lichens, worts, and mosses. Reach the river from many access points along the byway and get close to nature at many picnic sites or campsites. Try your hand at fishing for some salmon or steelhead on the river, or throw in your line at either Haskins Creek or McGuire Reservoir near Carlton. Looking for more active adventure? Try a wet and wild tubing trip down the river.

Into the Woods (OR) [3]

Finish your day with a quiet moment beneath the ancient old growth forests. Smell the wildflowers and forest loam, and hear the wind blow through the trees high above you. Return home refreshed with memories of your time spent on the Nestucca River Back Country Byway.