Inn at the 5th Staff Picks

Twenty-two native fish and more than seven non-native fish swim this ultra pure, spring-fed river. The McKenzie River is also one of the most stocked rivers in Oregon with trout from the Leaburg Fish Hatchery and spring chinook salmon from the McKenzie Fish Hatchery. Both are a short drive from the Inn at the 5th. The latter raises and releases 1.2 million spring chinook salmon each year. Visit and discover 30 ponds and a fish ladder. Enjoy interpretive signage and a picnic area. Guided tours are available to groups with advance notice. Visiting hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 am through 4:30 pm with May through October being the best time to visit. Leaburg Fisch Hatchery, built in 1953, is the largest trout hatchery on the West Coast, producing more than one million rainbow and steelhead trout every year. Visitors are welcome daily during daylight hours. There is a wheelchair accessible viewing platform overlooking a stream where spring chinook salmon spawn. In the Japanese garden show ponds, guests can feed the fish and see rainbow, cutthroat, steelhead, sturgeon and chinook.

If you prefer to go straight to the river where the fish are stocked, know the McKenzie River watershed covers a huge area with 1,300 square miles of tributaries, streams and lakes through a varied terrain. In addition to the fish hatchery populations, fish include wild trout, spring chinook and summer steelhead, sturgeon, sculpin, lamprey, whitefish and more. Where is the best place to find them? Whether you are fly fishing from the shore or casting from a world famous McKenzie River Drift Boat, you really can’t go wrong. Regulations on how many fish you get to keep, however, varies widely depending on season, which section of the river you cast, and which type of fish you reel in, so it may be helpful to review the Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations when purchasing your fishing license. Rather not do the research? Fishing with a local guide can be a fun and easy way to find the river's top fishing spots, stay within the guidelines, and catch your fill.

If fishing isn’t your thing, but you like the idea of visiting the river, consider charging Martens Rapid in a kayak, and watch the steelhead leap through the surf. Or, hike or bike along the riverbank on the McKenzie River National Recreation Trail after driving the scenic river corridor along Hwy 126 where you’ll find three dams on the main stem and two covered bridges.

Of course, that’s not to say you can’t enjoy the luxury of your own suite when you stay at the Inn at the 5th. Whether or not you spend your days on the river, you get to end your day by coming back to unwind at the Inn at the 5th in the privacy of your suite with a built-in fireplace, spacious bathroom, walk-in shower, and private balcony. It would be our pleasure to help you plan your river adventure, and to host you for the night once you’ve caught your fish. We can’t wait to hear your fish stories!

Eugene has honored Bike Month since its nationally recognized birthday in 1956. Throughout the month, new riders and experts hit the road to participate in any number of scheduled activities designed for riders of any age and ability. We call them do-it-yourself tours offering visitors to Eugene the convenience of riding at any time, once you’ve rented a bike through one of our easy breezy Bike Share programs. Here are a few ideas to get you on the road:

The i-Spy 13th Avenue DIY Ride guides bikes on a stress-free tour of Eugene’s downtown while sticking to 13th Avenue’s two-lane designated bike lane. What will you see along the route? Start at the intersection of Lincoln Street.

Beginning downtown on Broadway and Oak, the Downtown Mural DIY Ride will send you on a loop past some of the city’s famed artwork. It’s one of our favorite routes since Eugene and neighboring Springfield are decorated with dazzling scenes from the imaginations of talented muralists from around the world. Whether it’s the mastodon on West 2nd, the Pied Piper on East Broadway, or the “Discussion About the Red” on Willamette Street, murals in Eugene help tell the community’s story. And the story has only just begun; twenty new murals were added in Eugene in 2021 alone!

The Solar System Trail DIY Ride takes you on a 9-mile round-trip excursion through the first ever scaled solar system trail in the country. Pass alongside the Willamette River as you discover more about our Sun and our planets, and even the dwarf planet, Pluto! The trail originated in 1990 when Jack Van Dusen and his son, Ben, painted the sun and planets along a bike route near their home. An enthusiastic response from the community led to a more permanent installation in 1997. In 2018, The Eugene Science Center collaborated with the Eugene Parks & Open Space division and Jack Van Dusen to adopt and upgrade the trail.

The 30 Bridges in 30 Miles DIY Ride is worth packing a lunch for. Start at the Frank Kinney Bridge and pedal over 29 other ped/bike only bridges in Eugene. See our waterways on wheels!

Don’t have a bike? No problem! Local bike shops are making it easier than ever this month to participate; bike share or more traditional bike rental options are on discount in some places to make even a quick ride affordable if you’re tight on time or money. Check the WeBikeLane website for all links and details you need. Make your reservation at Inn at the 5th today and explore Eugene on a bike!

Just minutes from downtown Eugene, Hendrick’s park is great for both quick evening excursions and lazy Sunday afternoon picnics. Any sunny day, you can stroll the park’s terraced gravel paths buzzing with spring. Located on a hill, the paths are steep but well compacted for wheelchairs. But it’s not every day that you can see the rhododendrons. And park history reveals they aren’t native species.

The rhododendron garden was planted in 1951 through a partnership between the American Rhododendron Society and the City of Eugene; the city provided the irrigation and the Rhododendron Society provided the flowers. Park spokespeople attest the park was being used for animal viewing at the time with elk, deer, and bears in cages so people could drive through and look at the animals. Eventually, though, the deer cages were moved and the rhododendron garden was planted.
The James Barto bed was the first rhododendron bed planted in Hendricks Park thanks to his extensive collection of rhododendrons and azaleas that, according to a 1930 Register-Guard article, had been aquired from the Royal Botanical gardens in Kew-Surrey, England, and Edinburgh, Scotland, along with gifts from China, Japan, Korea, India, Siberia, Mongolia, and the Himalayan mountains. Now, there are thousands of varieties of rhododendrons in the park, only a few of which are native.

Rhododendrons happen to be pretty well suited to Eugene’s climate. Also deer don’t eat them, and their leaves stay a shade of green year ‘round. If you get a chance to take a close look, you may notice some leaves have a metallic underleaf, some are soft and fuzzy, and others are white on the underside. Leaf coloring ranges from dark to light green, and flower shape ranges from small cups to large blooms.

With everything well labeleld, the garden is intended to be as educational as it is beautiful. But for most–and we expect for most of our visitors, it’s simply a place to explore. The park boasts extensive and well-maintained garden trails, forest trails, and running trails, too. An extensive volunteer network is largely responsible for keeping the park looking so nice.

Each year the park’s long bloom season begins early in February with witch hazel and small bulbs like daffodils, followed by the giant pastel magnolia blossoms. Peak rhododendron time, as we mentioned, is April and May, though some rhododendrons, like the smoky purple Rhododendron ririei, bloom in February, and others, such as the fragrant white Rhododendron auriculatum, bloom well into June.

Seeking more incentive? Hendricks Park makes for a lovely Mother's Day destination, too. More information about the rhododendrons is available from the Eugene Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society. Or check with the Friends of Hendricks Park for possible volunteer-led tours. We’ll see you in the park!

Salt Creek Falls
This is an ideal time to visit the waterfalls in Eugene, Cascades & Coast. Combine winter as our rainy season with early spring melt-off, and the falls are usually thundering with high volume flow. Plus, you and your traveling companions are more likely to have the whole wondrous place to yourself. Perhaps the most awe-inspiring winter waterfall is Salt Creek Falls. We love it for the snowcapped trees in the deep canyon, the towering falls (second tallest in the state), the dramatic icy basalt walls and the easy walk from the parking lot.

Make sure to bring your winter tires or chains and purchase your Sno-Park permit. For even more winter wonderland bliss, rent snowshoes in Oakridge for the hike to Diamond Creek Falls from Salt Creek Falls. The excellent team at the Willamette Mountain Mercantile offers rentals and can also tell you what gear is necessary to make the trek. Sometimes, your trusty pair of sturdy hiking boots will do the job! Also nearby is the Salt Creek Sno-Park where the whole family can enjoy tubing or sledding.

Haceta Head Lighthouse
Everyone loves the coast in the summer but true Oregonians know the magic of a wintery Oregon Coast, where winter storms create a spectacle of crashing waves. Fog blanketing the coastline makes everything feel mysterious and romantic and the occasional warm and sunny days make you forget it was unmistakably winter just the day before. And to observe it all from Haceta Head Lighthouse is perfect. There’s a protected cove beach ideal for tide pooling, a historic lighthouse shining into the fog with waves crashing on the cliffside below and easy access to the Oregon Coast Trail which leads through beautiful evergreen coastal forests.

Hot Springs Hopping
Choose between rugged, wild hot springs in the forest and floating in a clean pool filled with mineral-rich, hot springs water beside a cozy lodge. A couple of each we suggest are Terwilliger, where a short hike leads to six natural pools in a gorgeous waterfall setting, and Belknap Hot Springs Resort on the banks of the McKenzie River. The naturally occurring minerals in all hot springs are said to be great for the skin, sore muscles and hair - all of which tend to suffer during the winter months and could use the extra love. Some hot springs require fee for entry so bring cash and snacks.

Mount Pisgah
A beautiful bronze relief statue on the top of Mount Pisgah has vertical slits along its length through which the summer and winter solstice sun shines perfectly. Although visiting during the winter solstice is a special treat, this hike is wonderful all winter long. High above the fog, the summit has stunning nearly 360-degree views of the valley and beyond. The miles and miles of trails mean you can see something new hike after hike. When Eugene gets ice, this hike is extra magical as you gain elevation going through a variety of landscapes from oaky savannahs to fern forests.

5th Street Public Market
Finally, just outside your door, literally, enjoy the charming boutique stores and fine restaurants at the 5th Street Public Market and adjacent Market Alley where friends sip wine or hot cocoa on the veranda and children toss pennies in the fountain.
After you’ve enjoyed a decadent meal at one of the many cafes and restaurants and finished all of your shopping, submit to the urge to cuddle up and get cozy, inside Inn at the 5th, your ideal winter escape. Enjoy a room of luxury with your own fireplace to warm your bones. If you get hungry again, order room service from Marché and share it with someone special as the lights twinkle in the market outside.

We can’t wait to host you and share all the details to ensure your winter adventure is as easy and relaxing as it is beautiful. Call today to make your reservation at Inn at the 5th!

COASTAL STORMS
While clear sunny days can grace the Oregon Coast in winter, many visitors actually come to the ocean seeking stormy weather. The romance of rain against the windows, howling wind ripping down the beach and gigantic waves pounding the cliffs can be exhilarating. Feel the rain mixed with salt spray, watch for lightening out at sea and imagine what it was like when ships relied on stars and lighthouses to chart their course. But don’t get too wet; fog and clouds can swamp in the views, and suddenly, so find a cozy spot to wait out the storm. Cozy up in the window of a beach-facing cafe or bistro pub, and after the storm, when the fog has lifted, breathe in the fresh ocean air and listen to the gulls as they discover stranded crabs and other sea snacks. For treasure seekers and beachcombers, ocean storms wash up new and interesting discoveries in tidal pools along the beach. What natural treasurers might you find? Driftwood, seaweed, smooth stones, bits of shell, the skeleton of a crab, sea glass, a bird feather, or washed up jellyfish. If you’re fortunate you might pick up an agate, fossil, or piece of petrified wood. Rare glass floats are always an exciting find! And don't worry about any foam lingering as the water recedes; it is not soap or pollution, just organic material whipped frothy by the winds over the waves.

WINTER BEACH & FOREST HIKES
The coastal mountain range collides with the Pacific Ocean to make hiking in the region incredibly scenic. Trek to one of the highest viewpoints on the Oregon Coast at Cape Perpetua lookout or take an easy stroll from the forest to the beach by following the Siltcoos River on the Waxmyrtle Trail. The nearly four-mile trail from Heceta Head Lighthouse to Hobbit Beach is a stunning stretch with plenty of Instagram-worthy stops along the way, too. Perhaps the best part of hiking these trails in the winter is that there are fewer people. While most of the beaches in this area remain fairly uncrowded year-round, wintering beaches are the perfect place for solitude, reflection, and discovery. More about these hikes in a later post!

RIDE THE DUNES
Believe it or not, winter is also a great season to explore the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. The largest coastal dunes in the U.S., this otherworldly ecosystem is an ever-shifting landscape of sandy mountains and valleys home to unique coastal plants and animals. The dunes are easiest to access by buggy or wild ATV rides, but you can also ride out to the flat sandy beaches on horseback. Reserve a spot on the popular sunset horseback ride which includes a jaunt through forested dunes and the wide-open beach just as the sun dips into the Pacific. While you’re out, keep your eyes peeled for the tell-tale green flash and splashes of whales en route to Mexico. By buggy or by horse, this is a journey you won't soon forget.

WHALE WATCHING
Whale watching is at its best on the Oregon Coast in winter. From December through the end of March, approximately 18,000 gray whales migrate south from as far north as the Artic to warmer waters around the Baja Peninsula. Although some gray whales have made Oregon their permanent home and other whales, such as orcas, pop up at various times throughout the year, winter is the most rewarding time to catch glimpses of the giant creatures on their journey.
During one week in December and one week in March, volunteers turn out to count whales and share whale information with curious visitors. For optimal viewing, find a high place such as the viewpoints along Highway 101, the Sea Lion Caves, or Heceta Head Lighthouse. Spray from spouting whales is easier to see in the evening when the sun is low.

GOOD EATS AND ANTIQUES
Historic Old Town Florence is a charming riverside gathering place full of art, finery, and nostalgia. Plan to spend at least one full afternoon shopping in Historic Old Town Florence, or better yet, make a day of it by starting with coffee at River Roasters overlooking the Siuslaw River Bridge. In addition to the wonderful boutiques, explore the bountiful antique stores and art galleries you'll find on side streets. Grab some saltwater taffy to nibble on while you window shop. Buy a handcrafted wooden surfboard, art made from driftwood, and cozy new winter coats. For book lovers, nothing delights more than cozy bookstores like Books 'N' Bears. You'll find ample free parking, plenty of unique items, friendly shop owners and a festive atmosphere. Lunch at one of the great local restaurants and savor the smell of fresh-baked bread and warm, buttery clam chowder. Or, enjoy a full tea experience at LoveJoys after shopping for fine teas from around the world. Prefer wine over tea? Stop in to Bodega Wine Parlor for small plates and a stellar cellar selection of finewines. Florence is Oregon's coastal playground in every season. With the proper clothing and gear, you can enjoy this charming slice of the coast no matter the weather.

Pack to dress for every type of weather, and you’ll be ready to take on the coast during your stay with us at Inn at the 5th.