Fernhill has a visitor center (open by appointment), picnic area, and one-mile loop around Fernhill Lake. It is home to beavers, coyotes, raptors, waterfowl and more than one million native wetland plants. There is no river access in Fernhill. Dogs are not allowed in Fernhill.
The 700 acre Fernhill wetlands are an important part of Clean Water Services’ water resource management system. During the summer, 5 millions gallons of water are first cleaned at the Forest Grove Water Resource Recovery Facility and then released into the wetlands. The wetlands naturally filter and cool the water before it flows into the Tualatin River. In the summer, this takes an average of five days.
400 yard gravel path from the parking lot to the Fernhill Lake view. There is no river access in Fernhill.
Paddling upriver is not recommended due to the large number of log jams. Log jams are hazardous. Do not cross.
Persistent log jam (River Mile 51.0)
4.0 miles (2 hours paddling time)
Log jams are hazardous. Do not cross.
