Oregon’s PGE Parks: A Legacy of Recreation and Stewardship
Portland General Electric (PGE) parks are some of Oregon’s best-kept secrets for outdoor recreation. Located mainly along the Clackamas River and near Mt. Hood, these parks were developed around PGE hydroelectric facilities to provide the public with access to clean, scenic areas while protecting natural resources. Today, they offer a wide range of amenities that make them ideal for families, anglers, campers, paddlers, and nature lovers.
Oregon’s PGE Parks offer some of the most scenic and accessible outdoor recreation in the state. Created as part of Portland General Electric’s commitment to environmental stewardship and public service, these parks were established primarily around PGE hydroelectric project areas. The aim was to provide recreational opportunities while conserving natural landscapes and enhancing habitat near reservoirs and rivers managed by PGE facilities.
Many PGE parks are in the Cascade foothills and the Clackamas River region, making them perfect getaways for camping, fishing, hiking, and boating. They are especially popular in summer months when families seek shaded campgrounds, lakeside picnic spots, and cool river retreats. These parks are operated and maintained by PGE with public access in mind, and they often include interpretive signage, wildlife viewing areas, and ADA-accessible facilities. A list of some of these places, follows.
Timothy Lake Area Parks (near Mt. Hood)
At Timothy Lake, you can enjoy camping, hiking, fishing, picnicking, paddling, mountain biking and horseback riding – all with a spectacular view of Mt. Hood. Around the 1,500-acre lake, nine campgrounds provide over 250 campsites, and there are several picnic areas along the shore. PGE manages this site in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service. Timothy Lake is fished for rainbow trout, brook trout, cutthroat trout, and kokanee. It’s also one of the best crawdad (crayfish) spots in the state. Motorized boats are allowed at a 10 mph speed limit, and canoes, kayaks, sailboats and other non-motorized watercraft are welcome. Day use requires a $10 daily vehicle parking permit or a valid annual Northwest Forest Pass or federal Interagency Annual Pass.
Timothy Lake Dispersed Camping Areas
- No developed facilities
- Fire rings at some spots
- Free, primitive lakeside camping
- Pack-in/pack-out only
Hoodview Campground
- Tent & RV campsites (some lakeside)
- Drinking water, vault toilets
- Picnic tables, fire rings
- Access to Timothy Lake Trail
- Mt. Hood views
Gone Creek Campground
- Tent & RV sites (many lakeside)
- Boat ramp, dock
- Vault toilets, water
- Close to fishing & hiking trails
Oak Fork Campground
- Tent-only sites (some walk-in)
- Quiet atmosphere
- Vault toilets, water
- Picnic tables, fire rings
Pine Point Campground
- Tent & RV sites
- Boat ramp, group picnic area
- Vault toilets, water
- Trail access, lake inlets
Meditation Point Campground (boat-in only)
- Primitive campsites
- No water, minimal facilities
- Secluded, quiet location
Lake Harriet (Clackamas River)
Lake Harriet, near Timothy Lake and Mount Hood, is a 22-acre reservoir that stores water for PGE’s Oak Grove Hydroelectric Project. The lake is stocked with rainbow trout. Both cutthroat and brown trout can also be caught here, making it an angler’s paradise. The park, at 2,000 feet in the Mount Hood National Forest, also provides great paddling. PGE manages this site in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service. Lake Harriet is open year-round for day use. There is a $10 day-use parking permit.
- Small, rustic campground
- Primitive tent sites
- Boat launch
- Vault toilets
- Quiet fishing spot
North Fork Reservoir (Estacada area)
North Fork Reservoir is part of a Portland General Electric hydropower complex on the Clackamas River just east of Estacada, in the foothills of Oregon’s Cascade Range an easy drive from the Portland area. North Fork Reservoir in Estacada is lined by narrow steep canyons in the foothills of the Cascade mountains. It is one of several reservoirs along the Clackamas River, such as Estacada Lake, which were built to provide hydroelectric power. The water runs clear and cold here. At less than an hours’ drive from Portland, it is a popular place for paddling, as well as boating, waterskiing, and fishing. Paddlers who want to avoid boat wake can go up the inlet that is south of Promontory Park or paddle around by the culvert.
Promontory Park
If you’re looking for nostalgic, family-friendly camping in the Portland area, Promontory Park is the place. Built in the 1950s and perched above the North Fork Reservoir of the Clackamas River, this alcohol-free campground offers a variety of camping options and recreational activities all in the same location.
- Tent & RV sites, cabins & yurts
- Boat ramp, dock, rentals (canoes, kayaks, paddleboards)
- Camp store, playground
- Fishing dock, fish-cleaning station
- Day-use picnic area
- Interpretive signs
North Fork Landing
Originally called Upper Dam because it is located upstream from Cazadero (Faraday), Portland Railway Light & Power Company’s first power site, it was renamed North Fork due to its location on the north fork of the Clackamas River.
- Day-use only
- Boat launch, fishing access
- Paved parking, restrooms
- Picnic areas
Faraday Lake (Estacada)
In the Faraday Lake area, you can relax with a fishing pole in hand or cruise through Cascadian forests on your bike. The lake is stocked with trout for excellent year-round angling. And although boats aren’t allowed, there’s abundant shoreline access. Faraday Road is a popular spot to access Oregon’s Cascading River’s Scenic Bikeway, a 70-mile route from Estacada to Detroit Lake. For a family-friendly ride, a rambling road run or a quiet walk with your dog, park at our Old Clackamas Highway trailhead and enjoy four miles of paved roadway.
- Day-use only
- ADA-accessible paved trails
- Fishing docks & platforms
- Picnic areas, restrooms
- Interpretive signs
- No boating or camping