S Slough National Estuarine Reserve Interprtve Ctr

One of my favorite places in the Coos. South Slough NERR is an amazing spot, and one that people visiting the area (AND people that live there) should not skip. It is not the easiest to find (take a left instead of heading out to the beach as you leave Charleston and take the windy road halfway to Bandon), but is worth the trip. Whether you are there to check out the interpretive center, go birding, or marvel at the massive skunk cabbage during a short hike, this place has something that will interest people of every age.
Mornings are best for wildlife sightings, and the outdoor area is open even when the interpretive center is closed. The restrooms have outdoor access so I believe you can use those as well when the interpretive center is closed. Near the restrooms you can grab a map so that you can find your way, and if you need to, you can get a gate opener from the front desk of the interpretive center to access the lower areas of the grounds. The forest is actually new growth (it was logged formerly and even used by locals as a hunting ground prior to the founding of the NERR), and on one trail you can even make out the remainders of the train tracks used to transport logs out of the slough. Free parking, and free access to this wonderful resource– can’t beat that price!

Awesome trails, very well maintained. They were all clearly marked also. Overall cool place to hike.

The trail were very well maintained and marked. There were lots of educational signs. So if you like nature walks then this is the place to go.

Amazing place to spend time, especially with children. Excellent trails and interpretive center. It’s a walk on the wild side, where you may see a wider array of critters than you previously knew existed!
For field trips, home school days well spent, or any other reason… Everyone should take time to visit the South Slough National Estuarine Reserve!
Beautiful, and an amazingly scenic walk. Folks are helpful and knowledgeable.
Highly recommend it!

If you like viewing wildlife species, especially birds, in their natural habitat (or as natural as it gets without packing for days into a wilderness area) you need to see this place. The network of trails, open year round, take you right into several different unique habitat types… upland forest, riparian, freshwater stream, salt marsh, tidal mudflat, and saltwater slough are examples.
And when I say the trails take you right into the habitats, I’m not kidding. There is a raised boardwalk so that you can stroll right over streams and marshes, not just cross them briefly or view them from a distance. The Sloughside Trail is a peninsula that juts right into the slough so that you are only a meter or two from water’s edge.
The photo ops are endless. I’ve seen lots of great blue herons and western grebes but never been able to get so close and observe them. The trails are well-​kept and good for hikers of all ages and ability levels. I’m glad I made the trip out to the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve.