Willamette Mission State Park
One of the hidden treasures of the OPRD system, this large park was once the home of Jason Lee’s Methodist mission. A ghost structure stands today to mark the approximate site of the mission which once overlooked the mainstem Willamette River before the channel shifted during the flood of 1861. Today the park overlooks a lake. The old channel can still be seen, and portions of the park still flood nearly every spring and winter. Before it was a park, much of the property was in agricultural use, and a hazelnut orchard can still be seen today. Portions of the park are still leased out for agricultural production.
This large park is well worth a stop. Camping on the gravel beach can be arranged through the park manager, and the park offers ample room to explore. The area is replete with wildlife and is seldom inundated by people, although folks from Salem are becoming more aware of its excellent offerings.
Chris Aug 14, 2016
Two notes about this park if floating or rowing to this spot: Day use passes are $5, and if parking at the Filbert Grove parking lot, there is a short walk on a paved path through a disc golf course, and then a short unpaved path to the water, which could make carrying a kayak or canoe a hassle.
We floated on inflatable tubes from Spongs Landing to this park on 8-13-16, took 2.5 hours and was very calm and easy, just one or two tree snags to look for that I remember and both you could see way ahead of time. Even on a hot day, a very peaceful float: passed by one kayaker and could see a few canoers ahead of us.
Paul Manson Sep 6, 2022
There is a paddle in campsite up the back channel behind Windsor Island on the park property. If you view it on Google Maps it is where the Lone Tree Bar label is located. The site is next to the horse trail so you have some traffic but not much. There is a fire pit installed, but grasses have overgrown it so I would not use it until more fireproofing is done. There is a big meadow that is mowed and great for camping. You can find the site by following the arrow on the river mile 74 marker. Accessing the site requires either staying river right behind the small bar before the end of Windsor, or staying mainstem and then eddying up to the back channel.
Doug Decker Aug 15, 2024
We paddled into this site through the weedy channel, but felt it was too far removed from the river (which we missed after four nights out), so returned to the mid-river gravel bar where we pitched tents for the last night of this year’s expedition. Beautiful spot, full view upriver and lots of sky.