Access: From Coos Bay, drive 24 miles south on US 101 to Bandon.
Continue south past Bandon 5 miles to Croft Road.
Turn right (west) on Croft Road.
Continue down road until you reach a “Y” intersection in 1.5
miles (road turns to gravel). Take
the right fork past the cranberry bogs, passing through a gate and around
a bend to the New River BLM interpretive area/greeting center.
Maps and trail information are located at the kiosk next to the
site host. Setting and Attractions: New River is an 1100-acre Area of Critical
Environmental Concern (ACEC), an area that the Bureau of Land Management
has determined requires special attention for entire ecosystems, plants
or animals. New River offers
excellent opportunities for visitors to experience an appreciation for
coastal habitats and species within them.
A careful observer to the area may see a bald eagle, western lily,
peregrine falcon, western pond turtle, a western snowy plover, or numerous
other species. Trail Description: The East Muddy Lake trail begins on the left side of the River Road if
heading west from the Greeting Center.
After you cross the bridge, you will enter several different plant
communities: an open meadow, a coastal shore pine forest, and finally out
to the edge of a freshwater lake. The
trail turns into a packed gravel path once you are at the lake.
This portion of the trail is wheelchair accessible from here out to
the River Road’s west entrance. There
is handicapped parking at the junction of the trail and road.
Also on this portion of the trail, you will find an access road
that leads to an excellent spot to view birds along the river.
The River Road and Muddy Lake trails are also an excellent loop for
bicyclists. For
more information, trail conditions and maps contact:
Coos Bay District BLM at (541)756-0100 or visit their web site at
www.or.blm.gov/coosbay/
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For a map of the trails click
here. |
