Photos by Cheryl Landes

Peavy Arboretum is a beautiful, quiet escape for outdoor lovers who want to immerse themselves in nature any time of year. In the fall, the changing colors are a beautiful treat, no matter what you do.

There’s a lot to do here, too. Maybe you prefer spreading out a blanket to relax in a meadow or enjoy a picnic under a tree.

Or maybe sit on a log bench at Randall Pond to savor the serenity of a pond and listen to the birds sing.

In the fall, the colors of the leaves reflecting in the pond are simply breathtaking, like a Monet painting.

Or it could be a walk along a forest trail for a half hour or a few hours.

The trails here are mostly flat and pass a variety of tree species, from grand sequoias to willows.

The arboretum is part of Oregon State University (OSU) College of Forestry and has served as a teaching lab for decades. It’s home of OSU Research Forests Business Office and George Brown Logging Sports Arena.

Across the road at the OSU Research Forests Business Office is a field of poles. This is a pole farm. Professor T.J. Starker founded the pole farm in 1928. It’s among the largest and longest operating utility pole preservation treatment projects in the U.S., along with the oldest research project in the OSU Research Forests.

The poles in this field are treated with wood-preserving chemicals periodically to determine their effectiveness, longevity, and environmental impact.

The arboretum is located on NW Peavy Arboretum Road, eight-tenths mile west of U.S. 99 West. Admission and parking are free. Hours are 5 a.m. until 9 p.m. daily.

For more information, visit cf.forestry.oregonstate.edu/our-forests/arboretum or call (541) 737-4452.

Download a brochure and map of the Peavy Arboretum Exploration Tour and ideas for family-friendly hikes at the arboretum (both in PDF).