At 11,500 acres, the combined McDonald-Dunn Research Forest is the largest of Oregon State University’s research and demonstration forests. Located approximately 15 minutes north of OSU’s Corvallis campus, the McDonald and Dunn forests support instruction, research and applied learning across a wide range of disciplines.

The forests are actively managed and, like all OSU Research and Demonstration Forests, are financially self-sustaining through revenue generated from timber harvests conducted in accordance with the forest management plan. Active management creates the diverse forest conditions neecessary to support education, long-term research and the development of practical solutions for public agencies, private landowners and the forest industry.

The McDonald-Dunn Research Forest also welcomes more than 200,000 recreational visitors each year. While many people enjoy recreating in the McDonald-Dunn, the forest is not a park. It is a teaching and demonstration forest — a place where students and scientists can test ideas, study long-term change and explore how forest management choices affect ecosystems, communities and economies — and to prepare the next generation of forestry and natural resources leaders for the variety of management scenarios they may experience in the field.

The McDonald Forest is also home to Peavy Arboretum, which serves as a gateway to the forest and showcases a diverse collection of tree species. The OSU Research Forest Business Office is located at Peavy Arboretum.