Dexter State Recreation Site
Also known as Dexter State Park
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- stateparks.oregon.gov(541) 937-1173
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Dexter State Recreation Site is a recreation area in Lane County, in Lowell.
Visitors come for golf, horseback riding, disc golf, canoeing and kayaking, and boating. Water access includes a boat ramp.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| The park’s wording doesn’t give clock times — see the official wording below. | |||
Official wording
Open for day use: year round
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Los Angeles).
Fees and passes
'Oregon State Parks waives day-use parking fees at more than 150 parks'. Campers' receipts count as a permit. Oregon Coast Passports sold in 2026 are not accepted.
Statewide fee rule from Oregon's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Oregon park passes
- 12-month day-use parking permit — $60 Oregon residents; $75 non-residents. Day-use parking at parks that require a day-use parking permit Details
- Daily parking permit — $10 per day per vehicle (residents); $12 (non-residents). Parking for the day at any state park that requires a day-use parking permit Details
From the Oregon state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveAmerica (oregonstateparks.reserveamerica.com)
- Phone
- 800-452-5687
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed
Does my dog need to be on a leash? Leashes are required for all pets when you are visiting Dexter State Recreation Site.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
Can we camp at Dexter State Recreation Site? No, Dexter State Recreation Site is a day-use only park. Dexter Shores is a private camp across the highway from the park. Fall Creek State Recreation Area, including Cascara Campground is approximately 30 minutes from Dexter State Recreation Site on Fall Creek Lake. Black Canyon, a United State Forest Service campground, is 20 minutes east along Hwy 58.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
Canoeing and kayakingBoatingGolfDisc golfFishingHikingHorseback ridingWildlife viewing and birdingSwimmingBikingPicnicking
Trails
Is there a place to hike? Yes, there are hiking trails that start below the dam and provide access through Dexter State Recreation Site to Elijah Bristow State Park. Both the River Trail and Angler's Trail travel through riparian forests, past ponds and sloughs, and provide ample access to the Middle Fork of the Willamette River.
Fishing
Is there fishing at Dexter Lake? Yes. Fishing is popular at Dexter Lake and below the dam on the Middle Fork of the Willamette River. There is shore access for fishing, though most use the launch ramp to fish Dexter Lake from boats. An access road from the park leads below the dam to a popular salmon and steelhead fishing area operated by the Army Corps of Engineers. For fishing regulations, please visit Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's webpage at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/fishing/.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Vault or pit toilets
- Picnic areas
- Parking
Water
- Boat ramp
Recreation
- Golf course
- Disc golf
- Horse trails
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
This page offers images of Dexter State Recreation Site with descriptions of accessible areas. Our hope is that this information will help you as you plan your trip here and that you can determine whether the park's facilities meets your accessibility needs. Accessible amenities: Vault Toilets
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Nearest town
- Lowell
- Coordinates
- 43.9181, -122.8159
- Phone
- (541) 937-1173
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Oregon State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026; page says updated Feb 24, 2026
- Oregon State Parks park finder JSON (services/park.cfc?method=getAll), used by the Find a Park page
- Wikidata
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology