From McKenzie River Trust June 15th 2024
We’re celebrating the re-opening of the Finn Rock Landing on the McKenzie River. One of the more popular launches for local whitewater opportunities, the Finn Rock Landing serves thousands of visitors annually.
The improved landing designs were created based on community feedback gathered in 2017 in partnership with Cameron McCarthy Landscape Architects. This spring, Delta Sand and Gravel Company completed upgrades including adding defined parking spaces, pedestrian safety routes, places to gather out of traffic, and installing bird-friendly lighting. “The most exciting part of this project is the incorporation of Universal Design principles,” observed Zane Wheeler with the City of Eugene. “Every summer, through our Adaptive Recreation Program, we bring dozens of people who use mobility aids such as wheelchairs to the river to take advantage of our special rafting equipment. Having accessible infrastructure, including ADA parking and ramps, is an important step forward in creating a more equitable outdoor experience.”
The landing project, which cost around $850,000, was funded with a combination of grants from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department’s Recreational Trails Program, Lane County Parks bond measure, and private donations. Access continues to be free of charge, and McKenzie River Trust looks to community members to help in its stewardship. We know that people and land need each other. At Finn Rock Reach, we’re relying on visitors not to leave garbage and to help pick it up when they see it. The landing is open year-round from dawn to dusk for people to launch non-motorized watercraft and access the McKenzie River for fun and fishing.
