Popcorn Swale

Please observe the following visitation guidelines:

• Do not collect plants, insects or other species or disturb soil, rocks, artifacts or scientific research markers.
• No dogs. Preserves harbor ground-nesting birds and other wildlife that are extremely sensitive to disturbance.
• No bicycles or motorized vehicles. Native plants and research sites are easily trampled.
• No hunting, camping or campfires.
• For groups of 10 or more, please contact us before visiting (a volunteer naturalist guide may be available).
• Please bring a bag and carry out any trash you find.
• Please report to us any problems you observe (e.g., camping, plant removal, hunting, off-road vehicle damage, etc).

What to See: Plants

Popcorn Swale is home to one of few existing populations of rough popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys hirtus), an endangered plant that only grows in the Umpqua Valley. Other notable species include great white camas, Douglas’ meadowfoam and Cusick’s checkermallow. The rare plant red-root yampah can also be found here, as well as several native grasses including tufted hairgrass, one-sided sedge and meadow barley.

What to See: Animals

Columbian white-tailed deer thrive here, and elk move through the area. Other large mammals sometimes spotted are bear and cougar.

Plan Your Visit

The best time to visit is in the spring, when the flowers are in bloom. But the preserve is not signed and there is no official trail.