ENJOYING THE OUTDOORS Linn County Parks LINN COUNTY PARKS DEPARTMENT 3010 Ferry St. S.W., Albany 541-967-3917 www.linnparks.com Linn County operates 31 parks and recreation areas. Details on rental rates and campground fees are available on the department’s website. A countywide map of park locations is also available online. Clear Lake Resort: This historic campground and lodge has come under the umbrella of the county parks system. Daily and hourly boat rentals are offered and the resort is a useful jumping off point for a variety of activities. For specific information email clearlake@co.linn.or.us. Freeway Lakes: This is a year-round fishing spot east of Interstate 5 on Three Lakes Road with bank fishing, a boat ramp and picnic sites. Larwood Wayside: Follow the signs toward Scio from U.S. Highway 20 and turn onto Fish Hatchery Drive. About six miles at the junction of Larwood Drive, you’ll find swimming, fishing and picnicking. The wayside also features the Larwood Covered Bridge. Gedney Creek Boat Ramp: Located on the north side of Foster reservoir approximately one mile east of Foster Dam this park offers a boat ramp, and 55 boat parking spaces and bathroom facilities. Lewis Creek County Park: This 40-acre park is approximately four miles northeast of Sweet Home on River Drive. There is a $5 fee from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The park is handicapped-accessible. McCartney Boat Ramp: Picnicking, fishing and boat ramp access to the Willamette can be found at this spot one mile north of Peoria on Peoria Road. Portable tables and restroom facilities are available during spring and summer months. McClun Wayside: Fishing, swimming and picnicking is available at this park. Follow Oregon Highway 228 through Holley to County Road 759 for approximately two miles. McDowell Creek Falls County Park: Site is approximately eight miles east of Lebanon on McDowell Creek Road. The park features three miles of hiking trails and beautiful scenery. 78
McKercher County Park: Located five miles east of Brownsville on Oregon Highway 228. There are plunge pools for swimmers as well as shade for picnickers. Fishing also available. Roaring River County Park: East of Crabtree at the east end of Fish Hatchery Road, this park covers 28 acres and features three separate picnic shelters. With a trail along the river, this park is great for fishing and picnicking.
Benton County Parks BENTON COUNTY PARKS DEPARTMENT 360 S.W. Avery Ave., Corvallis 541-766-6871 www.co.benton.or.us/parks Benton County maintains 14 parks, most of which are for day use. Park hours are dawn to dusk. Overnight use is permitted if a Special Use Permit has been submitted and approved by a Benton County Parks representative. Maps showing the location of the following parks are available in the “Parks” section of the county’s website. Adair Park: Take Oregon Highway 99W to Adair, go east on Ryals Avenue to the park entrance. Groups as large as 800 people have held picnic events here. Seating for 300 picnickers is available, which can be divided into two smaller areas for 120 and 180 picnickers. Reservations can be made at 541-766-6871. The park features two softball fields, two volleyball courts, two tennis courts and is a popular site for disc golf. Nearby, the Benton County Clubhouse in Adair Village is owned by the parks system and operated by concessionaire Valley Catering. Call 541-745-7455 for meetings, wedding receptions, holiday parties and other events. Anderson Park: At 26.2 acres, this park is accessible from Highway 99W by taking Stow Pit Road to Old River Road. It is northeast of Monroe along the west bank of the Willamette River. Beazell Memorial Forest: The largest of all the Benton County parks at 586 acres, it was donated to the county in July of 2000. Located on the Kings Valley Highway 223 five miles north of the Highway 20 turnoff west of Philomath, it features the historic Plunkett House, picnic facilities, re-
strooms, interpretive panels, the Beazell Forest Education Center and miles of hiking trails. Bellfountain Park: This is Benton County’s oldest park and is off Dawson Road in southeast Benton County, about four miles northwest of Monroe and 17 miles south of Corvallis. People have been gathering here for more than 100 years. There is covered seating for 120 picnickers at one of the longest picnic tables in the world. The park also features a softball field, sand volleyball court, play area, horseshoe pits, restrooms and plenty of wildflowers. Campbell Boat Landing: Located along Oregon Highway 34 west of Alsea, this park has great boating access on the Alsea River. Many people know it by its former name, Pink House. Clemens Park: The park features approximately one-half mile of Alsea River frontage 21 miles southwest of Corvallis on Oregon Highway 34. There is a self-guided interpretive trail, riverfront picnic sites and areas for water play. Fitton Green: This is a 308-acre site about one mile north of Philomath and about four miles west of Corvallis. The property lies west of Bald Hill, overlooking the Marys River and Willamette and Cardwell Hills valleys. Fort Hoskins Historical Park: The fort was established in 1856 to protect and monitor the new coastal Indian reservation. Benton County purchased Fort Hoskins in 1991 and it has been developed into a 130 acre historic park. Located in northwest Benton County west of the Kings Valley Highway, the park showcases its varied history, vegetation and scenic views through educational and interpretive displays and self guided trails. There are areas to picnic and to enjoy the vistas. Hyak Park: Seven miles northeast of Corvallis on the west bank of the Willamette River, with access from U.S. Highway 20, this park has a boat ramp and moorage, family picnic tables and river views. Irish Bend Park: This park is in southeast Benton county, three miles northeast of Monroe and 16 miles south of Corvallis on the Willamette River. It offers boat launch access to the Willamette River for nonmotorized boats. Boat access is hampered by a sand bar. It is an undeveloped site with no signage, parking, water or landscaping. OUR TOWN 2017 - 18