Perkins Peninsula Park, Coyote Creek Canoe Access, Shore Lane Park,
Orchard Point Park, and Richardson Park Campground

Fern Ridge Lake (or Reservoir), located 12 miles west of Eugene, stands as the largest reservoir in the Willamette Valley and a premier destination for flatwater paddling. Created in 1941 when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dammed the Long Tom River to control chronic regional flooding, the 9,000-acre basin replaced a sprawling complex of marshy lowlands. Historically, this area was the homeland of the Chelamela (Long Tom) band of the Kalapuya people, who managed the wet prairies for millennia before Euro-American settlers arrived via the Applegate Trail in the 1840s. Today, the reservoir is a critical stopover for over 250 species of birds and offers diverse paddling environments. Canoeists and kayakers can launch from sites like Perkins Peninsula Park to explore the main lake’s open waters or utilize the Coyote Creek Nature Trail for a sheltered, motor-free experience through serene wetlands. Because the lake is drawn down significantly after September for flood storage, paddling is best enjoyed during the summer "full pool" months (May through September). Paddlers should remain cautious of the lake’s notorious winds.