Maud Williamson State Recreation Site

About

Maud Williamson State Recreation Site is a peaceful 24-acre day-use park set on the flat edge of cultivated Willamette Valley farmland. The property was bequeathed by educator Maud Williamson around 1933 to honor her mother, Ruby T. Williamson. The land features a canopy of second-growth Douglas fir, hemlock, and cedar trees, creating a serene retreat from the surrounding agricultural landscape. The park offers a covered picnic shelter that can accommodate groups of up to 25 people and is available by reservation. Day-use amenities include restrooms, picnic tables, volleyball courts, and horseshoe pits. Admission is free, though shelter reservations require a fee. The historic Charles S. Williamson House, built in 1890 in Queen Anne architectural style, stands on the property but is not open to visitors. Spring visitors are treated to abundant wildflower displays, particularly trilliums blooming throughout the forest floor. The park falls within Yamhill County's permanent quarantine zone for ash, olive, and white fringe tree materials, so visitors should not transport firewood from outside the immediate area.

Directions

Maud Williamson State Recreation Site is located on the west side of the Salem-Dayton Highway (OR-221) at the junction with Hopewell Road in Yamhill County, Oregon. The park entrance is across from Wheatland Road, which leads to the Wheatland Ferry.