Living in the Pacific Northwest, it’s natural to want to spend time outdoors. Some folks won’t want to get out of the house for extended periods of time again until we’re through the winter months but there are also a good number of people who enjoy the outdoors even if it’s a little chilly outside.
Last year, The Philomath 5 series featured separate articles on parks. In January, we featured five city parks located on the north side of town. And in September, we gave you five Oregon State Parks sites closest to Philomath.
In this installment, we turn out attention to properties that are operated by Benton County Natural Areas and Parks. Below are the five county sites located closest to Philomath. The mileage figures that are cited were calculated from Philomath City Hall.
Here then are five Benton County recreation sites closest to Philomath:
1. Crystal Lake Cemetery: 7.2 miles
It may seem strange to include a cemetery in a list of recreation sites but some folks see such spots as a way to find needed moments of relaxation and reflection. Plus, Crystal Lake Cemetery offers a fascinating history. The cemetery started out in 1850 as a burying ground on Joseph Alexander’s donation land claim back when Corvallis was still known as Marysville. Benton County Natural Areas and Parks took over cemetery’s operations and management in 2001. Some of the county’s most prominent citizens are buried there.
2. Fitton Green Natural Area: 8.8 miles
The Fitton Green Natural Area encompasses 308 acres in the area west of Bald Hill City Park in Corvallis. Opened in 2003, the area features trails that connect with the Cardwell Hill Trail that leads you to Kings Valley. It has three public access locations and environmental interpretation information. The area was acquired with funding assistance from Greenbelt Land Trust founders Charlie and Elsie Fitton Ross in 1988. Benton County and Greenbelt work together on its management.
3. Jackson-Frazier Wetland: 9.3 miles
Established northeast of Corvallis at the north end of Lancaster Street in 1992, the wetland protects the natural features of the area and allows for education, research and public use. A wooden boardwalk that is two-thirds of a mile in length winds through the wetland to allow visitors to see various plant communities and habitats. Interpretative signs explain the park’s natural history and watershed.
4. Beazell Memorial Forest: 9.7 miles
After Fred Beazell died in 2000, the 586-acre property was donated to Benton County with the namesake hoping that the forest could “provide habitat for wildlife and be an example to visitors of good land stewardship.” The Henry Plunkett family barn, constructed in the 1930s from lumber milled on site, was renovated to become the Beazell Forest Education Center. Visitors can do some hiking on very scenic trail loops.
5. Fort Hoskins Historical Park: 12.6 miles
Benton County purchased the Fort Hoskins site in 1991 and the park opened for public day use during the summer of 2002. A 130-acre site, it offers accessible restrooms, picnicking, educational interpretive displays and self-guided trails. There is also a group picnic area shelter (with picnic tables, serving counter, electrical outlets, sink, cook top, etc.) that can be rented. The original Fort Hoskins was constructed in 1856-57. The site includes the historic commander’s house.
(Brad Fuqua is publisher/editor of the Philomath News. He can be reached at News@PhilomathNews.com).
