I love this park! 25 minutes outside of Eugene sits Dexter State Park. You can swim, boat, kayak,…read morepicnic, and play disc golf here! This is a day use park and there's a boat ramp in the lower parking lot. Speaking of parking lots there is a ton of parking space. You can bring your leashes pups here, heck bring the whole family! Big open fields, tall trees and picnic tables makes this place perfect for an afternoon in the sun. You can swim here but there are only a couple spots where you can access the water and they are a bit rocky. They have bathrooms here and there's a little trail that walks around one side of the reservoir. Sometimes I miss the turn from the main road but just remember when you're coming from Eugene it's right after Elijah Bristow State Park.

This park is located about 20 minutes south east of Eugene, Oregon in Dexter, OR. The park has…read morebeautiful coniferous and deciduous trees, a large dog run, hiking, biking and horse riding trails. There js a parking area for equestrian trailers and an area to saddle horses. There are several trails of varying lengths around the marsh and streams running off the Willamette river. There are wheelchair accessible picnic areas and bathrooms. Some of the trails look even and compact enough for wheelchairs but we didn't venture down any this time. I would definitely come back here again for some trail walking, biking, fishing and wildlife watching. There are heron and turtle here.

We love Hendricks Park in Eugene. On this visit we took a leisurely walk throughout the…read morerhododendron section and then a drive through the wooded section. If you're in Eugene or visiting Univ of Oregon (Sco Ducks!) be sure to take a moment and visit this park.

A Beautiful Return to a Place Full of Nature and History…read more Both my wife and I had visited this spot before when we lived in the area, so with a little time to spare before lunch nearby, we decided to revisit it with her son and daughter-in-law. Nestled on a forested butte just east of the University of Oregon in Eugene, this area is absolutely stunning. The rhododendron garden is especially beautiful, offering a peaceful and scenic escape that feels tucked away from the city. Beyond its natural beauty, the area is steeped in history. One of the most notable connections is to Steve Prefontaine--a legendary runner and seven-time NCAA champion for Oregon. He trained in and around Hendricks Park and tragically passed away in a car accident on a winding road just below the park. His legacy lives on not only in the running world but also in the early success of Nike, where he became the brand's first sponsored athlete and helped elevate it to global prominence. Whether you're a nature lover, a history buff, or just looking for a quiet place to explore, this area is well worth a visit.

Bohemia Park is a great space for getting together with family and friends, for walking and for…read moremusic. Several years ago we had a Hills family reunion breakfast at one of the parks nice picnic structures. The ample parking was close to the picnic area so it was easy to set up our breakfast. Everything within the grounds of the park are wonderfully maintained, and provided a very pleasant outdoor space. The park is also located conveniently to town, the Coast Fork Food Stand, and the Mining Museum. Go have a fun day in Cottage Grove!

This park is beautiful. It is a wonderful addition to Cottage Grove. The fountain and the…read moreamphitheater are amazing. I love coming here for concerts during the summer. It is so nice to sit outside and eat food from a local food truck and listen to local bands. The play structure is so unique and fun. All of the kids in my life love coming here. The bathrooms are incredibly clean and nice. The park is really amazing. I hope the town can keep it this way. Pick up your trash and don't vandalize.

850 N. Shore Drive, Lowell, OR 97452 43.9230° N, 122.7966° W…read more Located about 21 miles southeast of Eugene, or 17 miles from Springfield, Lowell State Recreation Site has become one of our favorite recreation spots in the area. For those coming from out of town who don't necessarily want to camp, its location also makes staying at a motel in Eugene or Springfield and making this a day trip very practical. Our first visit was July 3rd. The parking lot was busy, as you might expect going into the holiday, but we were still able to find parking. We liked the area enough that when we returned for several days in August, Wednesday through Sunday, we purchased the $60 annual pass rather than continuing to pay the $10 day-use fee. During our August visits, there was plenty of available parking. The recreation site is well maintained. The flushing restrooms were clean during our visits, and we observed friendly park employees greeting guests and answering questions. There are mature trees providing some welcome shade, open areas, a playground, and a few places to sit. There aren't enough shaded benches that I would depend upon finding one, however. We brought our folding camp chairs and found our own comfortable spot under the trees. For getting onto Dexter Reservoir, there are two concrete boat-launch lanes with floating docks. There is also a rocky shoreline area that works for launching kayaks. You can unload reasonably close to this area, but not directly at the water's edge, so be prepared to carry your kayak and equipment the remaining distance. See the photos for a better idea of the layout. For us, kayaking is what really made this location worth returning to. The reservoir is beautiful, with forested shoreline, surrounding hills and some wonderful views from the water. From Lowell, my map measurement put Dexter State Recreation Site at approximately 0.9 mile across the reservoir. Other destinations around the reservoir make it possible to do more than simply paddle around immediately in front of the boat ramp. We are novice kayakers and were able to paddle from Lowell to Dexter State Recreation Site and back without difficulty, even with some recreational boat traffic on the reservoir. Obviously, conditions can change with wind, weather and boat activity, so our experience shouldn't be taken as a guarantee of what another day will be like. And, for anyone wondering about the August water temperature away from shore: it's cool. I can personally verify that after flipping my kayak and unexpectedly going for a swim. Thankfully, I was wearing my life jacket. After visiting once in July and then returning for several days in August, we came away liking Lowell State Recreation Site even more. Clean facilities, plenty of parking during our visits, good water access, beautiful scenery and enough reservoir to explore that we haven't become bored with it. We bought the annual pass for a reason. We'll be back.

This is a clothing optional Hotsprings, we learned this the hard way after driving 5 hours my…read moregrandson was not so pleasantly surprised lol. So we immediately left..our bad. Oops....But the host was so friendly gave us recommendations on when to come back without him. What the best times are and nearby campgrounds. $12 a person 12 and up. Short walk from the parking lot up to the springs. Pack it in pack it out, porta pots in the lot. We will be back.

My partner is a hot springs enthusiast and always seems to have this on his list for how he wants…read moreto celebrate his birthday. The drive out from Portland is long, but after you get here the trip is really enjoyable, we often try to plan a night somewhere closer. It's 12$ for a 2 hour visit, they do take credit cards. We tend to be here mid week mid day so we have not had any issue with parking. There are always other people present, but it has never seemed overly busy. The staff we interact with are always very pleasant. There is a bathroom in the parking lot. It's a short walk up to the hot springs, I'm confident mostly anyone could do this. It's nice to feel like you are in nature. I imagine this was a much more beautiful area before the fires, but I am thankful that it did reopen and is usable. Do make sure you bring some water to stay hydrated while hot springing. Do be aware that sometimes people are unclothed at hot springs. Also know that hot springs are hot and this may not be how you want to spend a hot day. There are multiple pools of multiple sizes which do vary in heat. There is a small stream with cold water running nearby. There are places to sit where you can be partially in the water. If you are planning to walk around a lot you may want water shoes as these rocks can be hot on your feet. We always have a nice time and leave feeling rejuvenated. I keep meaning to look into camping options nearby. I'd love to experience this with some friends on my next visit.

Every trip, we try to go on a few hikes and this year one we chose was Skinner's Butte in Eugene…read more It's easy to get to with plenty of free parking in the parks surrounding it. There are easy walking paths and multiple trails going up and down different sides. It was a cloudy day, but pleasant for walking. At the top are different lookout points with benches, picnic tables, etc., perfect for great views as you explore the area. The most fun part was the natural climbing wall on the one side. It has its own dedicated lot as well. Portions are closed, but most have permanent fixture points for climbing rope. Definitely a fun free activity if you're into climbing. This is a great free and active activity on your next trip here.

Skinner's Butte is a neat city park that offers a variety of activities including rock climbing,…read moreshort hikes, and a gorgeous overlook of the city and cokes with sufficient parking by any of the activities. During sunset, you'll find the viewpoint rather busy with all sorts of people hanging with their friends or loved ones eating, drinking, or blazing. A cool part of the city for sure.

Unfortunate to have to say anything negative about small family owned business. Used to love the…read morechicken strip basket but either something changed or a mistake was made. Paid $24 for two baskets and got a bag with 2 cheap chicken patty things and a handful of fries. Honestly ruined my night going home and finding this atrocity in my bag.

As far as parks go, they don't get much smaller than this. Colliding Rivers is a little turnout,…read moreviewpoint and short nature trail overlooking a pretty damn stunning confluence of two rivers. There's nary a section of the North Umpqua that's not scenic as hell. And if you're traveling east up the river, Colliding Rivers is your first real glimpse of the goodness to come. The wife and I stopped in here on a recent road trip around Oregon, and it's worth the short detour. There's really not much going on here, but the rivers are beautiful and I hear tell that in higher water seasons, it can get kind of exciting. As it stood we ventured by in a historically dry and hot year, so while the pools and cliffs were enticing (I really wanted a swim) we simply took in the views, snapped some photos, walked the short nature trail, and read up on the history of this confluence. Oregon is full of great scenic byways, and spots like this are peppered along this specific one. If you're cruising by, take 5 minutes and check out this beauty.

Beware! Linn Co. Parks is now charging $9 per day to park. There's a $75 annual option, but that's…read morenot available at the park itself.

Visited for one night Oct 2025. Nice park. Loop B closed for the season. Few people here which is a…read moregood thing as spots are closer together than I like. But my biggest issue was the deep rumbling noise at night starting around 3am. Haven't a clue what in the area would make that noise but haven't been able to fall back to sleep. Early Monday crew working?

It is close to home and Mary's River Runs Through It! There are some smallmouth bass and crawdads…read morein the river! Nice park nice trails and the Rose Garden! Lots of places for picnics and a playground for the kids! Great place to spend time with your family!

Highway 20? Not a whole lotta rest stops. Corvallis? Not so much either. But right off the freeway…read moreis Avery Park--an enormous grassy area with roses and fields and speed bumps...and a Honey Bucket. No. 1 jumps out of the car and runs for it. Nos. 2-7 meander out and into the humid park air. No. 1 returns, and No. 2 heads for the Bucket. Then No. 3. Nos. 4-7 stare at each other with icky faces, and when all have returned with Purelled hands, we stand in a circle next to one of the cars. Quiet. Awkward. We jump from face to face and then stare at our shoes. The other car, with its door open, and we listen to Stevie Nicks. A tan and perky lady walks by...she's inevitably going to share the germ-invested fate of 1-3. "How's the Honey Bucket?" she asks, and laughs. "Well," says No. 4, "it's always better with Fleetwood Mac."