If you are traveling in the southern Oregon Coastal area, you may want to try Alfred A. Loeb State Park. I recently stayed a few nights there, and here is some information about it for you.

Loeb state park is nestled in the trees approximately 8 miles up the Chetco River from Brookings Oregon. Actually, the official brochure states that it is ten miles, but my GPS gave it as 8.3.

It is a state run park, so it does contain side by side lots. Unlike many that I have been to, however, there was at least a little breathing room. Of course, for you camping purists out there it will not do. I, having grown up with the Cascade mountain range outside my back door and the ability to go up into the mountains any time I want and go camping for free, have always been a little iffy on the whole idea of paying for a camp site. But I have managed to make a little concession over time.

The Park contains 53 units, including 3 cabins. Standard camp sites ran $16.00 at the time that I went, and all included electric and water hookup. Cabins were running at $35.00

There was a simple ¼ mile riverside hiking trail which led to a Redwood Nature Trail. Unfortunately at the time I went the Redwood trail had been closed to prevent a dangerous fungus from getting spread into the vulnerable area.

At the time I went, the river its self was low, do the time of year. Near the Park it was slow moving with algae growing along the bottom. I have no doubt that at other times of year it is much better and I do not want to sell it short for that reason.

The best news is that it is less than ten miles to the Pacific Ocean and Harris Beach where the rates were $22.00 at the time. So for a short drive to the ocean you can get a better price and really the best of both worlds - both mountains and ocean.

The down side is that the standard sites are first come first serve and even on the last weekend of September there were only about four or five sites not full.

Though the season is close to over for the year, getting out and camping and hiking again got me fired up and looking for special deals on Camping and Hiking gear. Be sure to check out my eBay store at http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Inner-Wisdom-Gifts__W0QQ_armrsZ1?refid=store for some great deals before they go away!