Bolon Island Tideways

State Scenic Corridor near Florence, Oregon, United States

This park is a quiet place with a hiking trail that extends half way around the island. The shoreline along the Umpqua River side of the park has been home to hundreds of Double Crested Cormorants since 1988.  The birds nest close together, each pair building a platform of sticks in the trees.  Such rookeries are usually too remote for easy viewing, which makes Bolon Island Day Use area so unique! The trail also provides a nice view of the Umpqua River.

This park has no restrooms or potable water.

mdi-white-balance-sunny Open for day use year round mdi-cellphone Call for info: 800-551-6949
Call for park info: 541-271-4118
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Amenities and features

Questions

mdi-help-circle-outline General

Why do the trees appear to be "dead" on the river side of the day use area?

The shoreline along the Umpqua River has been home to hundreds of Double Crested Cormorants since 1988.  The birds nest close together, each building a platform of sticks in the trees.  Such rookeries are usually too remote for easy viewing which makes the Bolon Island Day Use Area so unique!

mdi-help-circle-outline About Camping

Is overnight camping available at Bolon Island?

No.  Bolon Island is a day use area only and is free of charge.

For more questions, review our statewide FAQ

History

The wayside was a gift to the state from William L. and Jenny Chamberlain in 1934 in memory of their children. Once an island in the Umpqua River, the shallow area on the north and west was filled in for sawmill and dock facilities. Jedediah Smith made the first recorded overland trip by a Euro-American, from California along the Oregon coast to Fort Vancouver in 1828, which is recognized by a marker within the park. Bolon Island was a traditional occupation site of the Native Americans. It was named in the period of Euro-American settlement for an early settler in the vicinity. Tideways was a name used by the Chamberlains for their portion of the island. To avoid confusion, the name Bolon Island Tideways was adopted.

Brochures and maps

mdi-file-pdf-box 2024 South Coast Tide Tables

Photos