first-timers – Oregon Paddling

Dexter Reservoir

Dexter Reservoir is located along Hwy 58 just 19 miles east of Eugene and the water levels are maintained year-round. It’s a popular place for boaters, water-skiers, and even the UO rowing club. First-timers and kids enjoy coming here to play near the swimming beach and more secure paddlers can venture out further. You can also visit early mornings or after the peak summer season for a calmer paddle.

The reservoir is a reregulating dam that captures the cold water discharged from Lookout Point Dam during power generation. Together, the two reservoirs generate hydroelectric power and prevent flood damage downstream from the Middle Fork Willamette River.

Route length– 2-5 miles out and back
Fee – none
Restrooms– flush toilets (at Lowell SRS), vault toilets (at Dexter SRS)
Cellular signal– excellent
Best times to go – May- Oct

There are two Oregon state recreation sites (SRS) that allow access to Dexter Reservoir. Lowell SRS has the swimming beach, flush toilets, and a play area for kids. It is also a shorter paddle to get to the covered bridge, if that is your goal. Dexter SRS, on the other hand, is conveniently located right off the Hwy 58 and it has a disc golf course and trails leading to Elijah Bristow State Park.

Directions:

Lowell State Recreation Site

Dexter State Recreation Site

At Lowell SRS, launch anywhere along the swim beach area. Start out by paddling left towards the covered bridge. You will pass a few private homes behind the no-wake zone.

Dexter SRS is located on the southwest corner of the lake. If you launch from here, you will be paddling alongside the Hwy 58 and end up on the side closer to the Lowell Covered Bridge.

Turnaround when you get near the bridge if you want about a 2-mile paddle starting from Lowell SRS or 3-mile paddle starting from Dexter SRS.

Want more paddling?

Continue under the bridge towards the Lookout Point Dam. This would add up to 2 more miles to your paddle route.

Check before you go:

Toxic algae blooms: This temporary condition occurs at some of the area lakes in the summer and may affect your health if water or fish is consumed during these conditions. Get more info on how to tell if algae is harmful and watch for water advisories but also use common sense if you see water that doesn’t look right.

Water advisories

Water temps: Here is a graph of the water temperature trend during an entire year, just to give you an idea of what to expect in case you take a splash.

The actual water temperature appears to run 0-3F higher than the readout from the water monitor.

Current water temp

Wind: waves can get choppy here, check on wind conditions

Events: there are some large events held here, such as the Covered Bridge Regatta in April and the CBDA drag races in the summer. The Oregon Association of Rowers keeps a calendar of events and row practices that you can check here.

Events Calendar

Additional things to do:

Fish hatchery
Disc-golf
Hiking trails

Lowell community events

Cleawox Lake

Cleawox Lake is a coastal dune lake just 4 miles south of Florence. You can spend an entire day at this 87-acre lake paddling, swimming, relaxing on the beach and of course, charging up that giant sand dune. This is a good coastal lake for first-timers and kids to practice in the wind-protected, shallow and warm waters by the beaches. Another plus, no high speed motorboats or water-skiers to avoid here.

Length– ~1.7 mile main loop, 2+ mile out and back north arm
Fee – day use fee or Oregon State parks pass; or camp at Honeyman.
Restrooms– flush toilets
Cellular signal– excellent
When to go – open year-round

Directions: from Florence, take Hwy 101 south, make a right at Jesse Honeyman State Park (between MP 193 and MP 194). Then, either turn right for Cleawox Day Use area or left for Honeyman Day use area.

Parking: There are some options for parking depending on the amenities you want to be close to. Both day use areas require a day pass and have restroom facilities and swimming beach areas. Parking at Honeyman will get you closer to the sand dune while parking at Cleawox will be closer to the summer boat rentals and may be less crowded.

Aside from a few surface streams, most of the water comes into the lake via seepage. As such, the water quality is very good. The water temperature is about 70F in the summer and it is clear enough to view the fish darting around below.

Paddling around the entire main area of the lake can take less than an hour but you can view the forested arms and wildlife on the northeast end in contrast to the sand dune and beaches on the south end.

For additional paddling and a quiet escape, locate the opening immediately to the left of the Girls Scouts camp area to enter the northern arm of the lake. The sand dune is encroaching on this inlet and you will need to paddle through the pondweeds and lily pads in order to reach deeper and clearer sections of this mile-long arm. Cellular phone reception appears to be limited in this arm.

Check before you go:

Watch for winds and wind gusts, which usually pick up in the afternoon. It is generally advised for beginners to paddle when winds are less than 10mph.

Park status and weather

Download a map and track your paddle:

This is a geospatial-enabled PDF map of the paddle. You can use these special PDFs with the mobile app Avenza to follow the route or track your own paddle distances and times. Please note that the routes are just general guides. The best path may vary based on water level or new obstructions in the water.

cleawox-lake-1 Download

Alton Baker Canoe Canal

The Alton Baker canoe canal in Eugene is a calmer side channel of the Willamette River which allows for a fun out-and-back experience. Only have an hour or two? This place is a popular in-town option for a quick paddle and connecting with nature session.

Route length– 2.3 mile out and back (~1 hour paddling time)
Fee – none
Restrooms– at nearby Alton Baker park
Cellular signal– excellent
Best times to go – May-Oct

Directions: Navigate to Leo Harris Parkway in Eugene. Park in the small unmarked gravel lot across the street from the Autzen stadium “O”.

Gravel parking lot across from Autzen stadium

This is a primitive launch site, so there is no dock or ramp here. Just find the opening at the end of the gravel path, ease your watercraft in and go!

Start out by paddling left against the mild current. You will traverse a narrow passageway lined with trees and then go under a wooden footbridge. It just might bring back fond memories of the Jungle Cruise ride for some of us.

It then opens up to a pond where you can stop for a bit, explore, or practice paddling techniques.

This area can get busy in the summertime with -SUP’ers, kayakers, anglers, maybe a SUP yoga class, and some friendly mallard ducks and testy Canada geese- but it is just large enough for you to find your space here.

I’ve spotted 3 tree stumps in this pond. Can you find them too?

Continuing beyond the pond, you will pass by private residences and resident ducks lining the canal. The water is clear and you can easily see fish swimming around. Also, watch for underwater snags here (I’m looking at you, trees).

And finally, you’ll see the I-5 freeway bridge. Slip under the low footbridge here and practice with a bit of whitewater if you wish, or turnaround and enjoy the current assist on your paddle back.

Want more paddling?

There is a slough on river right where the private residences are that can be paddled for a short distance. You can also continue downstream from the launch site. If you go far enough in that direction, you will eventually encounter a total of two takeout spots and end up at an open pond. Just save some energy for the paddle back.

Check before you go:

Game Days: Considering that the parking lot is right across the street from Autzen stadium, it may be inaccessible during the Oregon Ducks games. You can check here for upcoming games.

Oregon Ducks schedule

Water temps: Here is a graph of the water temperature trend during an entire year, just to give you an idea of what to expect in case you take a splash.

Current water temp

Download a map and track your paddle with GPS:

Alton Baker Download

Additional things to do:

There are plenty of other things to do at Alton Baker park while you are there. One really cool and unique feature is the solar system placed to scale along the multi-use path. (Getting to Pluto is about 3.5 miles away though).

Alton Baker Park