Cottage Grove in Lane County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)

Stand By Me

1986

— The Oregon Film Trail —

Stand By Me Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, April 11, 2026

1. Stand By Me Marker

Inscription. Around the bend on this trail was the location of the well-known campfire scene where the four young boys shared their hopes and dreams. Emperor of the North’s (1973) opening scenes were also shot here, with Dorena Lake in the foreground.

Did You Know?
Only 50 miles north of this spot, historic Brownsville stood in as the location for Stand By Me’s fictitious 1950’s town of Castle Rock.

Erected by Oregon Film, OregonMade Creative Foundation. (Marker Number 33.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the Oregon Film Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1986.

Location. 43° 47.324′ N, 122° 57.218′ W. Marker is in Cottage Grove, Oregon, in Lane County. It can be reached from Row River Trail (BLM). The marker is located along the Row River Trail, a former railroad. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 35205 Row River Trail (BLM), Cottage Grove OR 97424, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

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It is also on the American Pacific Coast,

in the Pacific Northwest,

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Cascade Range,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Moved a Town to Build the Dam (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Stand By Me (approx. 2.2 miles away); Liberty Bell (approx. 5 miles away); The General (approx. 5 miles away); Hiroshima Peace Tree / Peace Pole Project (approx. 5 miles away); Bohemia Mining Museum / E Clampus Vitus (approx. 5.2 miles away); Billowing Steam to Bicycles (approx. 5.2 miles away); Stewart and Hinds Building (approx. 5.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cottage Grove.

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, April 11, 2026

2. Stand By Me Marker

View of marker looking SW along the Row River Trail (former railroad) and towards the bend and site where the movie scene mentioned on the marker was filmed.

Stand By Me film site image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, April 16, 2026

3. Stand By Me film site

Above movie still from Stand By Me depicting the boys at a campsite along the railroad tracks and photo below showing what the area looks like today. The former railroad is now the Row River Trail. The OFT marker is located about two-tenths of a mile SE of the film site.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 16, 2026, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. This page has been viewed 37 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 16, 2026, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.