McCartney Park

Rockhounding Eugene Oregon McCartney Park is your chance to turn a picnic into a full-blown treasure hunt. Forget frisbees—this park’s gravel bars hide agates, jasper, and petrified wood that make lunch sandwiches look boring. If you’re hunting things to do in Eugene, Oregon, planning a weekend rockhounding trip, or just want to explain to your friends why you carry buckets in your trunk, McCartney Park has the sparkle you’re looking for.

Getting There

McCartney Park is just outside Eugene, which means you can hit it faster than your coffee cools. The park sits right along the Willamette River, making it one of the easiest rockhounding spots to reach without packing survival rations.

• From Eugene: Head west toward Coburg Road, then meander along River Road/Highway 99. It’s about a 15–20 minute drive—just enough time to debate which playlist counts as “rockhounding music.”

• From Corvallis: Take OR-99 south about 45 minutes until you’re practically tripping over agates.

• From Portland: You’ll need around 2 hours. Consider it a road trip warm-up before you start lugging buckets of rocks.

Parking is straightforward—there’s a lot by the park. From there, it’s a short walk to the gravel bars where the agates hide. Pro tip: if you see someone crouched in the mud staring way too hard at a pebble, congratulations, you’ve found your people.