Regional Sports Center is Lane County’s largest indoor sports facility and
features new facilities including Virtual golf, Batting cages, and an Indoor
Rock Wall. Springfield
Parks - Camping - RV Campgrounds
Alton Baker Park, on the Willamette connects with Eastgate Woodlands in
Springfield to create the area's 400 acre park with numerous features
including a unique canoe water course, BMX Track, biking and running trails,
Pre's Trail and the 237 acre
Whilamut Natural Area.
Pine Meadows Campground on Cottage Grove Lake, with showers, dump station,
and playground. Enjoy
fishing, boating, swimming, hiking. $15
McKenzie River Corridor has numerous camping locations, along the river as
well as on
area lakes. Fees range from $8 - $18, with several Group sits and No
Fee tent sites. Catch & Release Fishing, very peaceful camping & hiking.
Hoodoo - in the Willamette
National Forest just minutes from Eugene, Hwy 126 to Hoodoo ski or 58 to Waldo
Lake. 5 ski lifts, autobahn tube park with 20 runs, nordic and
snowboard center in winter;
70
campgrounds, horse camping, hot springs, hiking and world class fishing in
summer;
this popular
recreation area offers some of the best Oregon has to offer, any season of the
year.
Harbor Vista is a 15 acre park near Heceta Beach. In Florence, Take 35th to Rhododendron, turn right, go about 3 miles to park sign. Park is situated overlooking the Pacific amid shrubbery and shore pine. $20
per night for site with water and electric; showers, playground, trails Lane County Park Reservations accepted (541) 997-5987
Lakes
Fern Ridge Lake - Where you can experience the great outdoors just 5 miles
from town. Camping and picnicking, swimming, sailing, playground,
volleyball, horseshoes, boat ramp, concession stand, showers, camping.
Dorena Lake - Great recreation spot just 30 miles south of Eugene, picnic
area, playground, volleyball, boat ramp, concession stand, showers,
Schwarz Park campground.
Waldo Lake - One of the purest large lakes in the world, this is the second
deepest natural lake in Oregon, carved from glaciers millions of years ago.
A favorite for non-motorized water activities, camping is best in late summer at
one of 3 large campgrounds.
Siltcoos Lake- 4 miles S. of Florence Fabulous fishing with many fishing cabins located around the lake. Fish for bass, trout, perch, crappie, catfish year round. Or try your hand during steelhead and salmon season.
Woahink Lake - 3 miles S. of Florence. Beautiful lake with lovely picnicking area. Boating, wind sailing, water skiing, bird watching, swimming, and fishing. During blackberry season, wade around the lake and "eat as you go"!
Hiking - Biking - Running
The Obsidians outdoors club has announced a schedule of 22 hikes for
visitors to this summer’s U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials and concurrent
Oregon Bach Festival. Outings include 12 coastal, forest and mountain hikes
and 10 urban hikes, presenting visitors an introduction to both the natural
wonders of western Oregon and the unique attractions of Track Town, USA.
Willamette River
Bikeway System
runs along both banks of the river provide 6 miles of
scenic
riding with 4 foot bridges for easy access across the river.
Skinner's Butte This hike is
great to get your bearings if you are a first-time visitor to Eugene. Accessible
from East 3rd Avenue, you can see the town laid out before you.
Mt
Pisgah
overlooking the
Willamette River’s Coast and Middle Forks offers over 2,000 acres of open space
for hiking and horseback riding. Numerous trails to choose from including
several winding, bark-chip trails, a 2-mile stretch of gravel road that takes
you to the summit and trails in the 200 acre
Mt Pisgah Arboretum.
Spencer's Butte (Eugene's highest point 2,052
feet),
a great hike with 360-degree views of the Willamette Valley and, on a clear day,
even the Three Sisters. Because of its proximity to Eugene, it is fairly busy,
especially in summer. No trip to Eugene would be complete without a hike up "the
Butte".
The runnable (yet rugged) Ridgeline Trail (5 miles) offers runners looks
at various trees and wildlife. Hendricks Park located at the
southeastern edge of the U of O campus includes several inclines (about
250-300m), perfect for hill repeats.
Amazon Trail located at Hilyard St. and 27th
Ave. The running surface is consists of impeccably maintained bark dust, which
is easy on the knees and other joints. The trail offers a 1000 meter base loop
with markers every 100 meters, with 1,200m, 1,500m and 1-mile extensions.
McKenzie River Hiking Trails
Johnny Creek Trail in the Fall Creek area on Hwy
58 offers an opportunity for the physically challenged to get outdoors, half
mile trail is paved with picnic tables and restrooms. Fall Creek has
numerous campgrounds, trails and excellent fishing for rainbow and cutthroat
trout. The 14 mile trail beginning at Dolly Varden leads to a magnificent
50 acre stand of Douglas Fir Old Growth.
River Sports
Join
Bob Stockdall,
your friendly
Oregon fishing
guide for a day of
fishing on the McKenzie, Siuslaw or Umpqua River. Bob will provide you with expert advise and friendly company when fishing
for chinook salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, trout and smallmouth bass.
Bob is one of the few guides in the area who also fly fishes and gives step
by step instruction. All gear provided, including lunch and beverage
on full day trips.
Alton Baker
Canal - Escape the city bustle to this pleasant paddle spot in the downtown
area, rent a canoe or kayak at the kiosk in Alton Baker Park.
From the heart of the Cascade Mountains, the
McKenzie River is a local favorite with cascading rapids and sparkling pools;
along Hwy 126. Choose from rafting, kayaking, canoeing, or outstanding
rainbow and cutthroat trout fishing.
McKenzie River Boat Ramps
Ocean &
Beaches
Beach treasures abound on the Oregon Coast at any of the
Florence beach accesses: Siltcoos
area, north and south jetties, Heceta Beach, Sutton Creek, and several miles north at Devil’s Elbow, Washburne Park and Muriel Ponsler Wayside or the gravel bar at Big Creek. Head to the beach during low tides and minus tides,
especially when they come early in the morning.
Surf fishing is a
favorite, the most common catch is perch and striped bass and can be caught year
round. Fish from shore or the jetties using a medium to light spinning or bait
casting setup.
Bring your shovel and your
pail and go hunting for clams. A $6.50 license is now required and you must
follow the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations. At low
tide, dig six to sixteen inches under the tidal flats in the estuary area north
and south of the North Fork bridge on Highway 126 in Florence.
Crabbing is an easy,
relaxing way to pass a few hours and meet new friends. You can rent the
necessary items at many Florence bait shops. The best time for crabbing is
an hour before or after high tide. Crabbing is best between July and October at
the south jetty dock.
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