Elijah Bristow State Park

Elijah Bristow State Park
Elijah Bristow State Park
Type	Public, state
Location	Lane County, Oregon
Nearest city	Eugene
Operated by	Oregon Parks and Recreation Department

Elijah Bristow State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Oregon, administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. It has several miles of well maintained trails along ponds and the Willamette river, through forests of oak and pine. The trails are open to horses, and there is a large parking area for horse trailers, with holding pens, a round pen, water, restroom, and picnic area.

The park was named for one of the first pioneer settlers in Lane County and is comprised of 847 acres of scattered meadows, woodlands and wetlands. Elijah Bristow has more than 10 miles of trail for hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians. Part of the trail system includes a portion of the Pacific Crest trail. Salmon and steelhead trout abound during annual runs in one of the few stretches of the lower Willamette with fast-moving white water. Unique wildlife nesting and habitat areas fill the park`s islands and sloughs.

Channel Lake, a land-locked river channel that meanders through the park, eventually empties back into the Willamette. The lake and a short stretch of Lost Creek are home to a diverse community of plants and wildlife. A dense canopy of broadleaf and evergreen trees with a lush understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants provides an excellent area for nature study and outdoor education. Osprey, great blue heron, bald eagles and beaver live in and near the park. Elijah Bristow is also home to several threatened species, including the Western pond turtle and the Oregon chub.

Elijah Bristow has three reservable picnic areas complete with picnic tables, water, electricity, restrooms and fire rings. There area also individual picnic areas. A separate equestrian staging area has tables, water electricity and a restroom.

Location: From Eugene, go 17 miles southeast on OR-58.