Hills Creek Reservoir, body of water

Hills Creek Reservoir is a large man-made lake near Oakridge in Oregon, surrounded by forested mountains and featuring clear water. The body of water spans about 2700 acres with trails following the shoreline, offering access to various areas for fishing and boating activities.

Hills Creek Reservoir was created in 1961 when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built Hills Creek Dam on the Middle Fork Willamette River, mainly to control floods and generate hydroelectricity. The lake and dam take their name from Hills Creek, named for John J. Hill, who settled near the creek's mouth in 1870.

Hills Creek takes its name from John J. Hill, who settled near the mouth of the creek in 1870; the dam and lake inherited it. Today anglers fish for crappie, coastal cutthroat trout, bull trout and stocked rainbow trout averaging 8 to 12 inches, and all wild, non-fin-clipped trout must be released.

The lake is easily accessible, roughly an hour from Eugene, with two boat launches at Packard Creek Campground and on the south side of the reservoir. Visitors should bring their own supplies as the site lacks restrooms and potable water, and some areas require a Recreation Pass.

Hills Creek was named for John J. Hill, who settled near the mouth of the creek in 1870; the dam and lake took the creek's name. The reservoir holds wild coastal cutthroat trout and threatened bull trout, and any wild trout without a fin clip must be released.