A DAY
WITH THE
FISHES
Discover Willamette Hatchery
in Oakridge BY WILLIAM KENNEDY
ou can almost listen to the entirety of Taylor Swift’s album 1989
on the way to Oakridge. If you’re the parent of a 7- or 8-year-
old — and particularly a girl — you know what this means. For
the rest of you, in case you weren’t aware, Oakridge is about
45 minutes southeast of Eugene, past Pleasant Hill and Dexter
Reservoir on the way to the mountains.
And located near Oakridge — a Lane County town with so
much untapped tourist potential — is a little gem of a getaway
spot for families called Willamette Hatchery. “Seen one fish
hatchery, seen ’em all,” you might say. But odds are you haven’t been to a hatchery like
this — called Oregon’s best by roadtripsforfamilies.com, and for good reason.
So why is this such a great
and easy way to pass a summer
afternoon with the kids? First
of all, Willamette Hatchery is a
whole lot more than the fishes.
Yes, you can toss food to writhing
masses of beautiful Chinook
salmon or steelhead as well as
some whoppin’ white sturgeon.
You might even see a great blue
heron swoop low over the water
looking for a snack.
Next, check out the museum
and interpretive center. See stuffed
representations of animals native
to Oregon: cougars, coyotes, foxes
and wolverines. Use the guide to
help identify species with your
little one. Do you know what a
ringed-tailed cat is? Neither did
I before I went to Willamette
Hatchery.
And bring a picnic because
Willamette Hatchery has lots of
great places to sit and eat; one picnic area is demarcated by a carved statue (one of many
statues dotting the hatchery grounds) depicting a bear with a picnic basket. Get it? So
classic. There’s also an interpretive trail, easy for all ages, with signs identifying different
native plant species along the way. And don’t miss the viewing area full of beautiful upland
game birds.
But the real crown jewel is the 9-hole mini golf course. Play golf while learning about
the salmon lifecycle, complete with Oregon landmarks: Journey with the salmon downriver
to the ocean, dodging predators and fisherman and then travel back upstream to spawn. I
managed to get a hole-in-one.
Not that you should keep score, turning a nice family outing into a competition. I totally
kept score and was robbed on several holes.
After your time at the hatchery, stop by Brewer’s Union Local 180 on your way back
through Oakridge for a refreshing adult beverage. Just one; you’re driving. And minors are
welcome. Think to yourself about all the fun you had at the hatchery and, other than the gas
it took to get there, it was all totally free.
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Willamette Fish Hatchery is open all year, but summer is the best time to visit. To get to the hatchery: From
Oakridge Take Highway 58 to Salmon Creek Road. Travel one mile on Salmon Creek Road to the hatchery. Salmon
Creek Road is 1.7 miles east of the stoplight in Oakridge.
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eugeneweekly.com • June 1, 2017
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