Administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, the day-use wayside covers about 76 acres (31 ha).

[2] The state acquired the land for the park from Lane County in 1931 and the Civilian Conservation Corps developed the picnic site in about 1935.

[2] Amenities include picnic tables, toilets, and a hiking trail along the Long Tom River, which flows through the park.

[3] Flora at Alderwood includes big Douglas firs, Pacific dogwoods and bigleaf maples.

[2] Smaller plants, especially lush in spring, include trillium, yellow violets, bleeding hearts, ferns and mosses.