What to See and Do
Hiking and Biking
Mossy Maple Trail
Located in the beautiful Thurston Hills Natural Area, this trail offers scenic views of the surrounding area.
Length: 4.4 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Dorris Ranch Loop Trail
This trail, which is open all year, is perfect for viewing the area around the scenic Dorris Ranch Living History Farm.
Length: 1.9 miles
Intensity: Easy
Mill Race Path
Located in Springfield, the closest town to the Shotgun Creek OHV Staging Area, this paved trail is excellent for walking, running, or biking.
Length: 5.3 miles
Intensity: Easy
Ribbon Trail
Located in Hendricks Park, this trail climbs a slope to the top of Floral Hill.
Length: 1.6 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Thurston Hills Hike
This trail can be a bit rough in some places, but it offers beautiful views of the Jasper Valley.
Length: 2 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Fishing and Boating
Dorena Lake, also called the Dorena Reservoir, is a great place for fishing enthusiasts to catch rainbow trout, bass, brown bullhead, crappie, yellow perch, and bluegill. The nearby McKenzie River also offers excellent trout fishing, and anglers can also catch chinook salmon during the spring and steelhead during the summer.
Wildlife Viewing
The Shotgun Creek OHV Staging is an excellent place to spot wildlife during a quiet moment. The area is home to bald eagles, spotted owls, mule deer, black-tailed deer, elk, wolverines, voles, black bears, and mountain lions. Visitors can also stop at the nearby Weyerhaeuser-McKenzie Natural Area Park to see many different plant and animal species.
Picnicking
Douglas Gardens Park in Springfield is a well-maintained park with picnic tables, paths, large grass areas, and a basketball court. Dorris Ranch, which is a public park, also has beautiful picnic areas with tables and bathrooms, and visitors can explore the ranch’s orchard or the living history village.