Lowell State Recreation Site sits on the North shore of Dexter Lake, next to the city of Lowell. This day use park has it all! A reservable picnic shelter overlooks the lake and a wooded picnic area. A playground, basketball court, and flush restroom are all nearby. Down by the water is a large lawn area with picnic tables and a swim beach. For the boaters, there is a marina with rentable moorage, a large courtesy dock and a 4 lane launch ramp.
Sailboats, water skiers, anglers, paddlers and rowers take advantage of the full lake levels maintained year round. Oregon Association of Rowers and the University of Oregon have boathouses at the park, and host Regattas (rowing races) each spring. If you're looking for a bit more speed, check out the drag boat races at the park each summer!
On the quieter side, wildlife abounds at the lake with bald eagles frequently sighted in the park. Migratory waterfowl are plentiful on the lake in the winter, and are a bird watcher's delight.
Access key maps for this location, created and maintained by Oregon Parks & Recreation Department staff for the public.
Yes, the Lowell picnic shelter is reservable April 1 through October 31. Outside of those dates, or when there is no reservation, the shelter can be used first come, first served. If you would like to reserve the shelter during the summer, click on the 'Rates' button to the left. If you have an event during the off season, please contact our office at 541-937-1173 to discuss your event. Shelter rentals do not include parking fees and each vehicle is subject to a $10 parking fee, or must display an annual pass.
To rent a slip at the Lowell Marina, please contact our office at 541-937-1173 or the Park Specialist, Brooke Farrand, at brooke.farrand@oprd.oregon.gov with questions. If you are writing an email or leaving a message please include width and length of your boat so we can find a slip that best fits your needs.
The price of slips are based on the width of your boat and we have dynamic pricing throughout the year. Our low season is October through April and high season is May through Septmeber. We have 3 slip sizes, 8 foot wide slip is $85 low season and $95 in high season, 10 wide slips are $90 low season and $100 in the high season, and 16' wide slips are $100 in the low season and $110 in the high season.
Yes, in October of 2025 Lowell became a fee park along with Dexter State Recreation Park on the other side of the Dexter Reservior. You can purchase a day use pass via QR codes that are in various places around the park. You can also purchase an annual pass via the same QR code, or visit our local office at 570 N Moss St in Lowell.
No, we do not offer daily or weekly slip rentals. You can only rent marina slips for a month or longer.
In 1998, OPRD took part in a land exchange with local government, trading three park properties (Armitage, Hendricks Bridge State Wayside, Howard J. Morton Memorial State Park) for a 25-year lease of federal (US Army Corps of Engineers) facilities at Fall Creek Lake and Dexter Lake. Lowell SRS is one of the properties now managed by Oregon State Parks.