Tuesday, October 11, 2022

Eugene Park Tour: Orchard Point Park

Dale and I found a local gem in Orchard Point Park. This huge 58 acre regional park is managed by Lane County. It sits on the northeast point of Fern Ridge Lake, a local reservoir that's just a few miles west of town.


We chose to check out this county park when we drove past it on our last country ride in the convertible. We thought it was about time to check out something other than one of our city parks on today's Tuesday Travels. At first, we feared it was closed because of the locked gate. But when we drove down Clear Lake Road about another quarter mile, we found the entrance to the marina open.


This was a very cloudy, gray morning, so we didn't see the park in its best light. The docks and the acres of bbq pits are locked up for the season. But it's unmistakably apparent how magnificent this park must be in the Spring and Summer when the lake level is high. There's miles (it seems) of swimming spots with nearby picnic tables.


There's a small play structure for the little kids, and an open field with soccer goals.


This pretty bridge spans some shallow water in the warmer months. Then, it's another swimming area. Now, it's a meadow.


The bridge leads to a path that skirts the entire point. On one side we saw acres of picnic tables, bbq pits, open space, and restrooms.


The other side of the path has a concrete slope down to the water with many more swimming holes.


On the far end of the park are some horseshoe pits. There's even a spot for a game of beach volleyball. 


But our eyes kept being drawn to the water, the birds, and the hills beyond.


We are looking forward to returning here over and over.


#tuesdaytravels

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