Dorris Ranch
Dorris Ranch is a large, 268-acre park and commercial filbert orchard just south of Downtown Springfield. Dorris Ranch features miles of gravel, paved, and natural-surface trails that weave through riparian woodland and oak prairie habitats. Dorris Ranch also serves as the western access point of the paved, 4-mile long Middle Fork Path, which runs to Clearwater Park.
Dorris Ranch is recognized as the first commercial filbert orchard (started in 1892) in the United States and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. More than half of all the commercial filbert trees now growing in the U.S. originated from Dorris Ranch nursery stock.
View the Dorris Ranch Master Plan.
Download Trail Maps
Treatment Information
To ensure the health of the historic filbert orchards at Dorris Ranch, Willamalane applies regulated fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides recommended by Oregon State University and the Oregon Department of Agriculture. Willamalane does not use Class 1 (“Danger” label) or Class 2 (‘Warning” label) products when treating the orchards. To receive email notifications for Dorris Ranch closures, sign up here.
Upcoming Closures
Ice Storm Information
Following the January ice storm, all formal trails are open. The interiors of most orchards are still inaccessible due to remaining storm debris, and caution should be exercised along the orchard perimeters.
Ecological Burn
Willamalane plans to conduct an ecological burn in the prairie at Dorris Ranch this fall with support from regional partners within the Rivers to Ridges Partnership. Ecological burns are only conducted when conditions are safe and allow for the least impact on air quality. The exact timing of the ecological burn is weather-dependent.
During the ecological burn, a portion of the Middle Fork Path that extends from Dorris Ranch to the Quarry Creek picnic area will be closed. The rest of the ranch will remain open. The Rivers to Ridges Partnership is leading several ecological burns this fall. You can view a full map of planned burn areas in Lane County here.
Benefits and History of Ecological Burning
Prior to European settlement, Native Americans managed the land through controlled burning for thousands of years. As a result, forests and prairies in the Willamette Valley co-evolved with controlled fire as a periodic disturbance. When fire is controlled, it can be an excellent tool for maintaining and enhancing valuable habitats. The lower heat, lower intensity, and shorter duration of controlled burns are just enough to stimulate the germination of plants, remove invasive and non-native species, and reduce woody, highly flammable vegetation that would otherwise make the area susceptible to uncontrolled wildfire. The result of these controlled burns is a prairie full of grasses, flowers, and oak trees, which are ideal for supporting prairie wildlife that depends on this unique landscape. Ecological burning as a land management strategy has several benefits today, including:
- Recycling nutrients in the soil
- Reducing fuel for uncontrolled wildfire
- Replicating the historic disturbance native species have evolved to depend on
Looking out over purple fields of camas in spring and watching tall yellow grasses dance around the oak trees in summer, it’s easy to see that Dorris Ranch is special. Dorris Ranch contains a variety of fragile oak habitats, including woodland, prairie, and savanna, that support diverse wildlife. This land is part of less than 5% of historic oak woodland and 1% of prairie habitats left in the Willamette Valley. Preserving and restoring these unique landscapes is crucial to upholding the land’s cultural, historical, and ecological value.
Living History
The Living History Village is available for school field trips. Costumed living history interpreters lead school-age students through a historical adventure, emphasizing relationships between people, the environment, and the past. Learn more about the Living History program here.