Albany State Marine Reserve

This park near Albany is a quiet oasis for boating, paddling and hiking. It's made up of a north and south parcel, with parking lots at each.

The Luckiamute River meanders through the 615-acre north tract, flowing into the Willamette River from the west and just a stone's throw from the Santiam River confluence from the east. Travelers paddling the Willamette Water Trail can camp at the boater-access-only site. Hikers can park at the North Trailhead and take the 3-mile trail along a meadow and through a riparian hardwood forest of Oregon ash and bigleaf maple.

The 300-acre south parcel is a great place for wildlife viewing and fishing (although the pond is not stocked). Park at the South Trailhead and take a half-mile walk to the West Pond. See if you can catch a glimpse of Western pond turtles at the north end. The pond is an old gravel pit, but good habitat for turtles. An Oregon native, the turtle is dark green or brown with cream and brown flecks on its neck and head. The population of western pond turtles is declining because their native habitat is disappearing. The turtles are included on Oregon's Sensitive Species List.

Habitat is a key reason why Luckiamute Landing exists. Low-impact activity like paddling and hiking complement the effort to restore natural flood plains. You might not see them, but the park has remnants of abandoned river channels and natural levees, wetlands and native animals and plants. Work is under way to restore how the floodplain functions and connects the habitats of native fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals.

State Parks Tagged With: Albany