Pittock Conservation Area — Attraction in Woodstock

I’ll preface this by saying I’ve never been to the conservation area before

Took my birthday off to go fishing/boating. Looked online, and there hours of operation for day use weren’t very concise.

Tried calling and only got an automated answer. So from what I could tell day use and all amenities were open from dusk to dawn.

I arrived just before 6am, to find nobody there but the main gate open. Drove down and couldn’t access the boat launch due to another electronic gate.

Decided to walk in and go shore fishing. About an hour and a half later I decided to leave. As I was walking back out I ran into a gentleman at about 7:30. Maybe late 50’s and I believe, after speaking with the gate house lady his name started with an R.

I explained my situation and that I tried getting in at 6 with no luck. He then informed me it use to be available dusk to dawn but now the gate house opens at 8 and that’s basically when the public can get in.

He told me that he would scan me in with his card so I could go fishing and then I could just square up with the lady up front when I left. He was super polite, I thanked him for the help, mentioned it was my birthday and thanked him for making my morning. He was more kind than he had to be, and I appreciated it. He was pretty much the only reason I’m giving this place a 5 star rating.

As far as the conversation area goes it’s very lovely. But there is a complete lack of information on the website and is very difficult to get a hold of somebody. Even once you get to the front gate. Not much information there to help out.

Over all I will return knowing what I know now.

But again. Solely because this gentleman was very...

Opens at 6am. Pay at front gate, get a code drive in to next gate put code in gate opens, drive to boat launch, and gate there is locked! Sit wait 10 mins nothing. Drive down farther to find a place to turn around get halfway back to main gate. Worker on golf kart changing garbages wave them down.. on there way to open it..Yay!. Go there a 2nd time..ask person at front gate if boat launch gate will be open? Oh yes it will be open. Get to boat launch. Locked..Ugh! Can't find a number to call for front gate person. Other numbers for conservation area closed on weekends. Drive back to front gate and tell person..they walkie talkie person to open it..we get back to boat launch. Just as guy is leaving from gate on golf kart..smiles waves I do the same..finally..get closer..gates still locked!!..we wait 15 minutes..deciding what to do..guy comes back..forgot the key 1st time. An hour after we got there were finally on the water. Not sure if...

It's a busy conservation area, sites are pretty close. BUT, it's right on the water. Which is pretty cool. There's a pool and things for the kids like a splash pad. It's pretty much IN Woodstock, so everything's close. I managed to get my fishing licence in town and some worms. The kids sat out on the doc with me until the sun went down. We will go back.

Note: it was windy the weekend we where there. Some campers had erected walls to help with the wind. If you're in a tent and relying on a fire to cook food, you might have a problem. It was so windy we where unable to have a fire or put our awning out. Still had a good time though. We'll be back for sure. Just something...