I make sure to ride this trail about 3 times a year. (spring, summer and fall) I love looking at all the different terrains and covered bridges. If you continue on the road where the trail ends and then take a left at the fork you can ride to Wildwood Falls (about 2-3 miles). The park there had a picnic table and port-a-potty. There is a swimming hole and a pretty waterfall.

ROW RIVER TRAIL

COTTAGE GROVE, OREGON

The Row River Trail is a scenic ride set in the low timbered mountains around Cottage Grove, Oregon. It comes complete with a dam, a lake, a river and two covered bridges to investigate.
It is a well executed rails-to-trails conversion project some 16 miles long that runs from Cottage Grove, Oregon, up the Row River, climbs to Dorena Dam, runs along the shores of Dorena Lake and upstream to a former logging mill site at Culp Creek. The trail bed is smooth blacktop, eight feet wide, with a gravel horse path along side. The trail heads allow you to break the trail into segments as desired.

COTTAGE GROVE TO MOSBY CREEK TRAIL HEAD
This is a tour of the back yards and driveways of Cottage Grove. Heed those little YIELD triangles on the backs of the No Motorized Vehicles signs at the crossings. You may be crossing a driveway. You may be crossing a street. Go blazing along and you may become the hood ornament on a pickup. This section can be avoided unless you want some BTDT credits.

The trail starts in an industrial area. There is no trail head with dedicated parking. There is a sign, a pergola and two new shelters that do not appear in Google Earth and a bike trail heading out. From the pergola, the trail heads southeast to the Mosby Creek Trail Head. Much of it is shaded. There are occasional park benches. GPS: Cottage Grove trail end @ N43d 47.841’ x W123d 03.463’.

MOSBY CREEK TRAIL HEAD TO DORENA DAM TRAIL HEAD
Mosby Creek Trail Head is what we would like all trail heads to be: spacious, landscaped, lots of parking, picnic tables in the trees, water, toilets (vault), and a full time live-in Trail Host. It is a few hundred yards from the historic wooden covered bridge at Mosby Creek. Bike over for a look.
This trail head has the only water on the trail, so plan accordingly.

A nice Up and Down is to go to from Mosby Creek to the Dorena covered bridge on the Row River above the lake and back down.

From Mosby the trail heads out across meadows and through woods to climb up to Dorena Dam. The next stop is the Dorena Dam Trailhead (GPS: N43d 47.350’ x W122d 57.171’, gravel parking lot, vault toilet, bench, picnic table, view of water). A short climb up a gravel road leading off the trail cut takes you to the dam. Walk out and snap some pictures.

DORENA DAM TRAIL HEAD TO DORENA SCHOOL INFORMATION KIOSK
From the dam trail head you bike along the shore of the reservoir with very little gain in altitude. Much of the trail is shaded. There are picnic tables and benches spotted here and there. Sit down and enjoy the views. A nice place to stage out of is the Harms Park Trail Head (GPS: N43d 46.935’ x W122d 55.411’, paved parking, boat ramp, picnic tables, vault toilet, views of lake) on the lake shore at Rat Creek.

The trail breaks out of the forest (vault toilet here) and runs along the marshes at the upper end of the lake, then crosses over the corner of Bake Stewart Park (GPS: N43d 44.995’ x W122d 53.509’, trailhead facilities are further down the road, in the park.) and heads up the Row River Valley to end at the Culp Creek Trailhead (GPS: N43d 42.299’ x W122d 50.917’ parking, picnic table, vault toilet, no water).

This section traverses the pastures and back yards of rural Oregon. Dull. A logical point to stop is the Dorena School information kiosk (GPS: N43d 44.324 x W122d 53.509’). Head down the gravel drive, past the school and backtrack on the Row River Road until you see the Dorena covered bridge (GPS: N43d 44.324’ x W122d 52.720’ parking, vault toilet) at the “Y”. Check it out.

From here you can make a loop by using Shoreview Drive (not that many views) on the western side of the lake (shoulders appx. 24”), go back to the “Y” and head up the Row River Road you came in on to intersect the trail at Bake Stewart or return to Dorena School and catch the trail back from there.

PLANNING AND LOGISTICS
The Schwartz Park Campground (Corps of Engineers) is located on the banks of the Row River, a few hundred meters below the dam spillway (GPS: N43d 47.111’ x W122d 57.493’). It has flush toilets and hot showers and trailer hookups. It’s always nice to have a full service campground located about halfway along a rail trail.

Another nice full service campground is Baker Bay, over on the southern shore of the reservoir. It is run by the county. Full facilities and you can check out the waterfront sites on the web. They have pix posted.

PICTURES
You can check out pictures of the Row River Trail on my flickr page:
www.flickr.com/photos/toolbear/

This is a fantastic and beautiful trail that goes from Cottage Grove out east along Row river and Dorena lake with beautiful views of both. I cycled one day heading east. Walked the next day heading west.

Trail Amenities:
freshly paved trail
well marked path
benches and picnic tables at view spots
beautiful views all over
restrooms at regular intervals

There are 3 covered bridges near this path, I visited 2. These are a short distance from the main trail and worth seeing, although the maps are not very clear on where they are. It is well worth the little effort it takes to find them. The two I visited are are NO longer open to vehicular traffic but are open to the public and you can walk or ride into them. One was from the 40's and the other from the 20's.

There is a great car camp site just a mile away with good amenities and it is ADA accessible. Specifically, hot water showers, bathers well lit at night. You can car camp, RV, group camp. There are good sites right next to the river.

http://www.recreation.gov/camping/Schwarz_Park_Or/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=73394&topTabIndex=CampingSpot

This was a mini vacation that refreshed us greatly. I highly recommend it.