Chapter 15. Row River
Table 15-1. Path Data
| Distance | Cities | County | Maps | End1 | End2 | Setting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16.1 mi. | Cottage Grove, Dorena, Culp Creek | Lane | K, V | 10th St. & Main St, Cottage Grove | Culp Creek | Rail to Trail |
Table 15-2. Path Data
| Path Surface | Internet |
|---|---|
| 8-12 ft asphalt | http:://www.edo.or.blm.gov/rec/Row_trail/ |
Getting There: Take I-5 Exit #174 and head west on the Cottage Grove Connector. Go for about one mile then turn left (south) on Highway 99. Go for 2 miles and park near Main Street.
Snuggled in the beautiful rolling hills of the south end of the Willamette Valley, this path features a nice mix of canopied trees, lake side bluffs, open meadows, swampy bogs, old railroad trestles and rustic covered bridges. The name Row comes from a land dispute quarrel in the 1850's but oddly enough its pronunciation rhymes with "cow". It's both one of the longest and prettiest paths in the state. One of the few rails-to-trails in the state, it started its life as the Oregon, Pacific and Eastern Railway in 1902 and was subsequently acquired by the BLM in 1994.
Beginning in Cottage Grove, the path goes by several retail shopping areas before heading out of town. After passing the Dorena Dam, the high point on the very gently sloping path, the path skirts the east side of beautiful Dorena Lake. It then goes by Harms Park, the best place for a picnic. From here, you will go past Bake Stewart Park and then Dorena. Just before the end at Culp Creek, you will come across the only chance for a drink outside of Cottage Grove, a small market on the other side of the road.
