Highlights:
- South Santiam River, Foster Reservoir, Green Peter Reservoir
- Three Private Campgrounds and two County Campgrounds
- Day Use areas with swimming and picnicing
- Popular boating, water skiing and fishing lake
Located in the beautiful Willamette Valley, Sweet Home is the gateway to the popular South Santiam River, and Foster and Green Peter Lakes. The South Santiam River flows out of the Cascade Mountains and is regulated by Green Peter and Foster dams and continues on past Sweet Home and Lebanon. Both lakes provide boating, swimming and picnicking opportunities. The dams provide flood control, irrigation, power generation, recreation and improved navigation downstream.
Foster Lake is usually maintained near full pool level for boaters and anglers while Green Peter will draw down over the summer. Foster gets fairly heavy use during the weekends. There are three boat ramps located on Foster at Sunnyside Park, Gedney and the new Caulkins Park Boat Ramp. Caulkins Park was built in the summer of 2008 and is located at the junction of Highway 20 and Quartzville Creek Road.
Camping:
There are three private RV parks and two county RV parks on and near Foster Reservoir. The three private parks are located along Highway 20 on the south side of the lake. Other amenities include a restaurant and a bar. Of course Sweet Home is only 4 miles away.
Boat Ramps:
There are 3 boat ramps on the lake.
* Gedney Ramp on the north side of the Lake
* Caulkins Park Boat Ramp (NEW) at the junction of Highway 20 and Quarztville Cr Rd
* Sunnyside Park about 1.5 miles up Quartzville Creek Rd. Also has a limited amount of moorage for campers.
* Lewis Creek Park(Day Use) has some day use docks as well as picnicking and swimming.
Services:
There is no fuel or supplies on the lake. Sweet Home is nearby.
The lake can get windy on some days. Many boaters will go under the bridges at either the South Santiam Arm or the Quartzville Creek Arm where there is protection to sun and swim. There is also a swimming platform in the middle of the lake that gets some use.
Visit the Sweet Home Chamber of Commerce
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Edgewater RV Park and Marina (Private -
866-695-0932)
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The BoatEscape.com crew stayed at the Edgewater RV Park & Marina and had a wonderful time. The Edgewater is a brand new up-scale RV complex at the junction of the dam road and Highway 20. It includes not only the new RV park with all the amenities you could ever want, but condos along the lake. A marina and restaurant are planned for 2009. There is also a popular day use area at this location with swimming nearby.
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The Edgewater RV park area is located across the dam road from the lake and the condos are located right on the water. The planned marina will be directly in front of the condos. There is boat trailer parking at the park. Future expansion includes a restaurant/bar and a pool, in addition to the marina.
Each space had a concrete pad, fire pit, picnic table and full hookups. Restrooms/Showers were very clean. WiFi is available throughout the resort. There are also large fire pit areas where people can gather and horseshoe pits. |
There is a paved walking path along the lake in front of the condos down to the Shea Point interpretive display.
The Managers, Heyward and Carol and the owner, Steve, really look after you to make sure your stay pleasant. They have occasional BBQ's and ice cream socials for the RV'rs. The park caters to dogs and there is a real family atmosphere.
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Foster Lake RV Resort ( Private
800-562-0367 ) |
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Foster Lake RV Resort is a well maintained park across Highway 20 from the lake. Nearby is a restaurant and a bar. They have a large clubhouse with game room, a small store, outdoor heated pool, playground, camping cabins and a condo.
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Country Star RV Park ( Private
541-367-3331 ) |
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The Country Star RV Park has 25 full hook up spaces and a B&B on site. It is right next door to the Foster Reservoir RV Park.
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Sunnyside Park ( County 541-967-3917) |
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Sunnyside Park is a Linn County Park located at the head of Foster Reservoir. From Highway 20, turn left on Quartzville Creek Road and travel 1.5 miles to the park on your right.
This popular campground offers 130 campsites with electrical and water hookups as well as 35 sites without hookups. Showers, picnic shelters and a dump station are also available. |
Camping and group reservations are accepted for the campground and day use area. The campground opens the first weekend in April and closes in early November. Day use facilities are open year around and include a playground, volleyball court, boat ramp, moorage, picnic shelter and group picnic shelter.
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River Bend Park ( County 541-967-3917) |
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This NEW Linn County campground is located on the Santiam River 3 miles east of Quartzville Creek Road on Highway 20. It will contain 90 campsites when fully built out. Currently there are 35 electric hookups and 10 tent sites. There are 2 restroom/shower facilities, a large group shelter and a smaller shelter with a stone fireplace next to the river.
Other amenities include: Fishing, Hiking, Picnicking, Restrooms, Showers, Swimming, drinking water, Large covered gazebo picnic shelter, Enclosed shelter with stone fireplace, Group camping, Playfield, Playground, River access and a Dump station.
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Gedney Boat Ramp ( County 541-967-3917) |
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Gedney Creek Boat Ramp is an improved ramp on the North side of Foster Lake. There is a nice dock for loading and unloading.
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Caulkons Park Boat Ramp ( County 541-967-3917) |
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Caulkins Park Boat Ramp is a new, double lane ramp (2008). It is located at the junction of Highway 20 and Quartzville Creek Road. There is a nice dock for loading and unloading and plenty of parking. This ramp will take a lot of pressure off the other ramps on the lake.
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