Photo courtesy of Nichole Martin

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Boating: Linn County has water for every taste

Linn County offers great boating opportunities for nearly every kind of fresh-water craft, from high-end white-water kayaking on our mountain rivers to plenty of more placid water for houseboaters and canoeists who aren't necessarily looking to get soaked, but who want to enjoy our beautiful lakes and rivers.

Our lakes include: 3,600-acre Detroit, located about 45 miles southeast of Salem on the county's northern border;  3,720-acre Green Peter, located on the Middle Fork of the Santiam River nine miles east of Sweet Home; 1,220-acre Foster, located at the junction of the Middle Fork and the South Fork of the Santiam River, directly at the east end of the city of Sweet Home; and Clear Lake, in the mountains along Highway 126 between Tombstone and Santiam passes.  Our rivers include the Willamette, the North and South Santiam, the Calapooia and, in the north county, Roaring River, which is unusual in that it empties into Crabtree Creek near the Larwood Covered Bridge, the only river in the U.S. to flow into a creek –an oddity in U. S. geography that was featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not.

Access to the rivers and larger lakes is easy, as Linn County Parks and Recreation Department offers boat ramps to the Willamette River, Green Peter Lake, the North and South Santiam rivers and Foster Lake.

Motorized boats are not permitted at Clear Lake, but rowboats, kayaks and canoes are welcome and there is an boat ramp area at which most boaters put in.

Put-in is easy at Foster Lake with Sunnyside Park, Gedney Creek and Caulkins boat ramps, and a dock is available at Lewis Creek Park.

At Green Peter Reservoir, boat ramps are available at Thistle Creek and Whitcomb Creek Park.

Detroit Lake Marina offers boating access to the largest lake in the county.

Ramps to the North Santiam River are John Neal Memorial Park and Lyons/Mehama Boat Ramp in Lyons and Stayton Bridge Boat Ramp and Buell Miller Boat Ramp in the Scio area. At the Santiam Rest Area off I-5 there is a hand launch ramp. 

South Santiam River ramps are at Waterloo Park in Lebanon and River Bend Park east of Foster.

Willamette River boat ramps are McCartney and Harrisburg Park boat ramps in the Harrisburg area, Peoria Boat Ramp on Peoria Road in Shedd, Bowman Park in Albany and Takena River Landing across the river.

Boat ramps for the Roaring River are at Roaring River Park and Larwood Wayside, both near Scio.

Although there are no actual boat ramps for the Calapooia River, McKercher Park and the Crawfordsville Covered Bridge Wayside in and near Crawfordsville, and McClun Wayside south of Holley offer good access to the river.

For more on boat access points, visit www.co.linn.or.us/parks/parks/a-ramplist.html

Kayaking and Canoeing

East of Sweet Home, Linn County offers great adventures for white-water enthusiasts, as well as plenty of opportunities for those just interested in getting their craft into the water for some peaceful paddling. The upper South Santiam is a magnificent run of nearly 20 miles after a substantial rain or snowmelt. North of Green Peter Lake, Quartzville Creek has some challenging runs, including some class 5 waterfalls above Galena Creek. The Middle Santiam River above Green Peter offers the only Cascade wilderness run, accessed from the Upper Soda area, with class 3 and 4 rapids spicing things up. Below Green Peter Dam is a two-mile run to Foster Lake that offers some of the best white-water summer action in the area.

For the really serious adventurer, Canyon Creek offers a challenging run during rainy season above the junction with the South Santiam River, along Highway 20. Wiley Creek, a tributary that flows into the South Santiam at Foster, just below the dam, offers class 3 and 4 rapids on a beautiful run that flows through a moss-covered canyon.

The upper Calapooia River above Holley provides some great runs with class 3 rapids during the rainy season.

For kayakers looking for a more leisurely paddle, the lower South Santiam River, the Willamette River and Green Peter and Foster lakes are terrific for wildlife and scenery, with lots of put-ins and take-out locations. Below McKercher Park on Highway 228, between Albany and Sweet Home, the Calapooia flattens out and provides a serene, gorgeous run as it winds through the valley farmlands, past brush-covered banks – perfect for a meandering canoe or kayak float.

For canoers, look no further than the lakes – Foster, Green Peter, Clear Lake – for miles of great paddling.