Dorena Lake and the outdoors in Cottage Grove
East of Cottage Grove, a reservoir and a rail trail share the same valley.
Dorena Lake
Dorena Lake is a reservoir on the Row River in Lane County, about 6 miles east of Cottage Grove. Wikipedia reports that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed Dorena Dam in 1949 as one of 13 dams in the Willamette River basin, and that the lake covers about 1,840 acres.
Recreation.gov describes Schwarz Park, a campground below the dam about five miles from Cottage Grove, with single and double family sites, six group sites, flush toilets, drinking water, showers and a playground, and no electric, water or sewer hookups. The page lists water sports, fishing, camping, boating, biking and visits to historic and cultural sites. It also says alcohol is banned on Corps Dorena Lake lands. Dates, fees and reservations are on the Recreation.gov page.
The Row River Trail
The Bureau of Land Management describes the Row River Trail as about 14 miles of paved, multi-use National Recreation Trail on a former Oregon Pacific & Eastern Railroad line, along the Row River and Dorena Lake. Highlights it lists include views of the lake and farmland, the Mosby Creek Covered Bridge, the trestle at Harms Park and Row Point, a remnant native prairie with spring wildflowers. Parking and restrooms are roughly every 2 to 3 miles. The day-use area is open dawn to dusk, there is no fee, and camping is not allowed. There is no food or water on the trail, so bring your own. The BLM warns people not to enter old mine tunnels, which are hazardous and on private property.