River and Stream Fishing

River and Stream Fishing Areas

• Detroit Ranger District (on US Highway 22)

  Detroit Ranger District (US Highway 22)

  Detroit Ranger District is located in the northern part of the Willamette National Forest, bordering Mt. Hood National Forest and the Warm Springs Indian Reservation.

  This area is accessible from the west on Highway 22 from Salem, from the east on Highway 22 via Highway 20/126 from the Santiam Pass area, or from the north on Forest Road 46 from the Mt. Hood National Forest.

  Camping

  Here you will find popular campgrounds in the Detroit Lake Area, as well as Breitenbush Campground and Shady Cove Campground that serve as the base for adventures such as hiking, horseback riding, OHV riding, swimming, and more.

  Hiking

  Incredible vistas await while backpacking in the Mt. Jefferson - Jefferson Park Trail Area and the Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area.

  Many day hiking opportunities can be found throughout the district such as the Detroit Reservoir Trail Area and Coffin Mountain Trail Area.

  Other Recreation

  Many areas offer great boating and swimming such as the Detroit Lake Area, Elk Lake Campground, and Three Pools Day Use Area.

• Breitenbush Campground
• Cleator Bend Group Campground
• Marion Forks Campground and Day Use Area
• Riverside at Detroit Campground
• Shady Cove Campground
• Whispering Falls Campground
• McKenzie River Ranger District (Hwy 126)

  Explore the McKenzie River Ranger District (Highway 126)

  McKenzie River Ranger District is in the middle part of the Willamette National Forest, bordering the Deschutes National Forest. Accessible from the west via Highway 126 from Eugene, OR, or from the east on Highway 20 from Sisters.

  The McKenzie River Ranger District is a collection of stunning lakes and waterfalls, epic mountain biking and rafting, and opportunities to explore history.

  Hiking

  Get your water fix at the Upper McKenzie Trail Area hiking the Water Falls Loop Trail #3503 where you can see the popular Sahalie and Koosah Falls. View the headwaters of the McKenzie River at the stunning Clear Lake Loop Trail #4341.

  Other Recreation

  The O’Leary trail complex and Upper McKenzie Trail Area offer some of the best mountain biking on the forest. Road cyclists will love the challenge of the McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass National Scenic Byway and the views are spectacular from your vehicle as well!

  Don’t miss the Dee Wright Observatory, along the scenic McKenzie Highway (Hwy 242), for panoramic views of Cascade peaks such as Mount Washington and the Three Sisters. For Highway 242 opening and closing dates, check the Oregon Department of Transportation website.

  History buffs will enjoy a stop at Fish Lake Interpretive Day Use sites, or try spending a night at an historic guard station (reservations required) such as Box Canyon Guard Station or Indian Ridge Lookout.

  Take a guided trip down the river with one of our McKenzie River Permitted Outfitters and Guides.

• Cougar Crossing Campground

  Located on the confluence of the South Fork of the McKenzie River and the south end of Cougar Reservoir, Cougar Crossing is open year round and offers 11 sites that can accommodate either RV or tent camping. Vault toilets are provided. There is firewood for sale. The interior roads and spurs are gravel. There is no drinking water. It is the closest campground to Terwilliger Hot Springs.

• Cougar Crossing Day Use Area
• French Pete Campground
• Frissell Crossing Campground
• Hard Rock Group Campground
• Red Diamond Group Campground
• Roaring River Group Campground
• Delta Campground

  Known for its access to rafting and drift boat fishing on the McKenzie River, This scenic 38 site (33 single, 5 multiple) campground is located in a grove of old growth trees. Some of these ancient sentinels, predominantly Douglas fir and western red cedar, are centuries old and make for an enchanting setting. Access to the river, Cougar Reservoir and Terwilliger Hot Springs make this campground a great spot for camping and exploring the area.

  Several hiking trails are in the surrounding wilderness, guarded by large Douglas fir and western red cedar trees. Visitors can also enjoy a short botanical walk on the Delta Old Growth Nature Trail. A day use area and amphitheater are also available at the campground. 

• Delta Day Use Area
• Horse Creek Group Campground
• Limberlost Campground
• Lost Lake Campground
• McKenzie Bridge Campground

  This 20-site campground rests in the shade of a towering grove of Douglas-fir and western red cedar along the banks of the McKenzie River and provides an ideal atmosphere for relaxation, fishing, and bird watching. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the McKenzie River as you watch boaters and rafters float by. Campsites are nicely spaced and all have riverfront access. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Parking areas are gravel surfaced.

  At the campground, the river provides catch-and-release fishing for trout and steelhead. Kayaking and canoeing are also popular activities. A boat ramp is located on-site. The McKenzie River National Recreation Trail begins nearby, offering fun-filled hiking and biking opportunities. The 26-mile trail boasts wonderful scenery along the river and is an easy hike for all ages.

• McKenzie Bridge Day Use Area
• McKenzie River Area
• Olallie Campground

  Nestled on the banks of the McKenzie River and Olallie Creek, Olallie Campground provides 16 sites with a superb setting for a getaway into nature. The lower loop offers mesmerizing views of both the river and the creek while the upper loop is set further in the trees with many sites facing the creek. No electric hookups are available at the campground. Picnic tables, vault toilets and drinking water are among the amenities available. A camp host is on-site, and firewood is available for purchase.

  Fishing, rafting and swimming are three top activities in the river. Picnicking is also a lot of fun at the campground. Nearby is the McKenzie Pass Trail Area with incredible hikes around lakes, overlooking cliffs, and trailing along craters and valleys.

  Know Before You Go: This campground is in central Oregon near McKenzie Bridge on the Willamette National Forest. There is another "Olallie" near Mt. Hood, Oregon.

• Olallie Day Use
• Paradise Campground

  Paradise Campground is indeed a campers paradise. Originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, it offers a rare opportunity to camp in the middle of a lush, old growth grove of Douglas fir and western red cedar while viewing the McKenzie River's famous white water.

  A number of the 64 sites face the river, while many others are tucked into the scenic forest. Flush toilets are dispersed throughout the campground and parking spurs are paved. Educational programs are provided at the amphitheater.

• Paradise Day Use Area
• Middle Fork Ranger District (Hwy 58)

  Middle Fork Ranger District (US Highway 58)

  Middle Fork Ranger District is the southern part of the forest, bordering the Deschutes and Umpqua National Forests. Accessible from the west on Highway 58 from Eugene, OR, or from the south via Highway 58.

  Spend some time exploring Waldo Lake, one of the gems of the forest, but don’t forget to get out on some of the great mountain biking, hiking, and horse trails in this area.

  Hiking

  Backpacking and day hikes can be found all over the district including, Fall Creek Trail Area, and Hardesty Trail Area. For spectacular mountain scenery, try a hike in the Willamette Pass Trail Area

  Other Recreation

  The renowned Middle Fork Willamette Trail #3609, Dead Moutain Trail and Alpine Trail are just a few of the more popular mountain biking areas.

  One of the gems of the Willamette National Forest is the Waldo Lake Area provides many recreational opportunities including horse camping, non-motorized boating, swimming, hiking and biking.

  For those who prefer to travel by horse, the spectacular Diamond Peak Trail Area offers multiple trails For those that enjoy travel of the motorized type, OHV enthusiasts can enjoy the Huckleberry Flats OHV Trail.

• Bedrock Campground

  Located in a dynamic landscape setting shaped by fire, this 22 site camground is situated on a terrace above Fall Creek where the hillsides surrounding the camp offer an impressive fireweed bloom display during the summer months. Expect heavy use on summer weekends from visitors escaping high temperatures in nearby urban areas.

• Bedrock Day Use Area
• Big Pool Campground
• Black Canyon Campground

  With 75 campsites and located in a mature Douglas-fir and Western Red Cedar forest, this campground offers a cool respite from summer heat alongside the Middle Fork of the Willamette River.  The campground offers some riverside sites with pleasant shade, fresh air with cool breezes. Each site contains a picnic table and campfire ring with grill. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Located close to the city of Oakridge, the camp is directly off of Oregon State Highway 58. 

  A 1-mile interpretive nature trail winds through the campground, and Lookout Point Lake is less than a mile away, with opportunities for boating and fishing. A boat ramp is located on the lake. 
  
  Black Canyon is within the Winberry Trail Area, with excellent terrain like the Tire Mountain Trail for mountain biking and horseback riding, and the Clover Patch Trail for hiking.

• Black Canyon Day Use Area
• Blue Pool Campground (Middle Fork Ranger District)

  This 24-site campground is conveniently located adjacent to Oregon State Highway 58 in an old growth forest alongside Salt Creek.

  Fishing and swimming are popular activities. A large picnic area along the creek offers picnic tables, a large grassy area for both passive and active recreation. One-half mile east of the campground on Highway 58 is the McCredie Day Use Area & Hot Springs. The site was formally developed as a hot springs resort historically; currently the hot springs area is unimproved. Caution should be exercised when using the hot springs, water temperature is very high in the pools.

• Blue Pool Day Use Area (Middle Fork District)
• Broken Bowl Campground
• Campers Flat Campground
• Clark Creek Organization Camp
• Dolly Varden Campground
• Fall Creek Trail Area

  Map of Fall Creek Trail Area

  

• Fall Creek National Recreation Trail #3455
• Fall Creek Trailhead #1
• Fall Creek Trailhead #2
• Fall Creek Trailhead #3
• Fall Creek Trailhead #4
• Fall Creek Trailhead #5
• Kiahanie Campground
• Puma Campground
• Salmon Creek Falls Campground

  This 14 site campground is located in a beautiful, lush, old growth forest along Salmon Creek. The rocky gorge-like area creates two small beautiful waterfalls and several deep pools which reflect the clear blue-green waters. Wild thimbleberries and hazelnuts abound in the summer. This camp is a favorite recreation spot for local residents as well as some more distant travelers.

• Salmon Creek Falls Day Use Area
• Sand Prairie Campground
• Secret Campground
• Sweet Home Ranger District (US Highway 20)

  Sweet Home Ranger District (US Highway 20)

  Sweet Home Ranger District is in the middle part of the Willamette National Forest. This area is accessible from the west via Highway 20 from Albany, OR, or from the east on Highway 20 from Sisters.

  Let the Sweet Home Ranger District give you a taste of the sweet life! You’ll find mountain biking adventures, incredible wildflower hikes, swimming areas to keep cool on a hot summer day, and much more.

  Guided Hikes

  Sweet Home Nature and Heritage Tours offer incredible opportunities to learn about the plants, animals, geology and cultural history of the Sweet Home area, located on the edges of the Willamette Valley and within the spectacular Cascade Mountains. 

  Camping

  Keep cool on a warm summer day at one of the popular campground and swimming areas such as Fernview Campground, House Rock Campground, or Trout Creek Campground.

  Hiking

  If you like wildflowers take a hike in the Old Cascade Crest Trail Area or the Tombstone Pass Trail Area (especially Iron Mountain Trail). The Hackleman Old Growth Trail is a short 1/4 mile hike, but offers spectacular sightings of old growth trees and views of the South Santiam River. Check out the Sweet Home Trail Guide for detailed explanations of each trail.

  Other Recreation

  Grab your bike and get your legs and heart pumping on the Santiam Wagon Road Trail Area and Iron Mountain.

  Uncover the past at Longbow Organization Camp.

• Fernview Group Campground

  The Fernview Group Site is about 20 miles from Sweet Home on Highway 20 at an elevation of 1,360 feet. Fernview is a small group area perched on a bench above the South Santiam River. The Rooster Rock Trail is across the highway from the group site and numerous other trails and lakes are in within a short drive. Fernview has 11 sites, some suitable for RV's. One Hand pump provides water and there is a newer single CXT toilet on site. River access can be difficult from the campground, but is nearby via a short walk or drive. The Fernview Group Area was originally a campground that has been converted to a group site.

  Fernview Group Site is close to the Menagerie Wilderness with Trout Creek and the Rooster Rock Trails accessing Rooster Rock within the wilderness. Numerous lakes and trails are within a 45 minute drive of the site. The Santiam Wagon Road is ten minutes from the site and provides over 20 miles of hiking, biking and horse riding opportunities. Iron Mountain is located ten miles east and known to have over 300 species of wildflowers growing on its flanks. Early July is the best time for viewing wildflowers. Crescent Mountain, House Rock Falls , Browder Ridge and the Middle Santiam Wilderness are nearby and provide excellent hiking opportunities.

• Fernview Day Use Area
• House Rock Campground

  House Rock Campground is perched on the confluence of Sheep Creek and the South Santiam River in an old growth forest grove. The campground road and parking spurs are composed of packed dirt and rock. The double-loop area comes with accessible vault toilets and drinking water from hand pumps. Picnic tables, campfire rings and grills are at each site. 

  Campers enjoy hiking the House Rock Trail, which starts at the day-use area. Part of the trail shares paths with the historic Santiam Wagon Road, a trail used to transport livestock east across the Cascade Mountains to central Oregon's grasslands.

  In addition to the House Rock Trail, hikers have access to a variety of other trails in the Tombstone Pass Area, like the Iron Mountain Trail.

  Swimming is popular, especially because many sites have riverfront access to shallow swimming areas. Anglers can cast for native cutthroat trout. 

  Visit nearby Foster Lake or Green Peter Lake for lake fishing and boating.

• House Rock Day Use Area
• Longbow Organization Camp
• Lost Prairie Group Campground
• Middle Santiam Trail Area

  This group of trails provides access to Middle Santiam Wilderness. Recent trail construction links these trails to the Old Cascade Crest Trail System to the east.

  Map of Middle Santiam Trail Area

  

• Gordan Peak Trail #3387
• Middle Santiam Wilderness
• Santiam Wagon Road Trail: An Oregon Historic Trail

  The Santiam Wagon Road holds an interesting and unique place in Oregon’s history. Unlike other wagon roads that were built to bring settlers to the Willamette Valley, this road was designed to lead settlers and their livestock eastward to the rich pasture lands of Central Oregon and to markets throughout eastern Oregon and Idaho.

  It was a distance of almost 400 miles and served as the primary means of transportation across the central Cascade Mountains for most of the 74 years (1865-1939) it was in use. The road served as a livestock, freight and stage route facilitating trade, commerce, and communication, which significantly contributed to the economic enhancement and settlement of both regions. Remnants of the Santiam Wagon Road have been preserved in the Willamette and Deschutes National Forests and provide the longest stretches (with very high integrity) of any historic wagon road in western Oregon.

  Today the Santiam Wagon Road is a valued treasure listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Along the route you can explore what early travelers experienced on their journey through the central Cascades. Many access points can be found along Highways 20 and 126, which follow the original route of the wagon road.

  Enjoy your journey on the Santiam Wagon Road: View and download a map and guide here

• Tombstone Pass Trail Area

  These trails highlight the special geology and plant communities of the Old Cascades and access major peaks and ridges around the Tombstone Pass area.

  Map of Tombstone Pass Trail Area

  

• Hackleman Old Growth Trail #3411
• Trout Creek Campground

  Trout Creek Campground is a fun, family campground situated along the South Santiam River, 20 miles east of the town of Sweet Home, Oregon. Many of the 24 sites are right on the river, tucked under the cool shade of Douglas-fir and Hemlock trees. The campground was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s and includes a welcoming day use shelter with a fireplace and five pull-through RV parking loops and a mix of standard parking spurs. Drinking water is from a hand pump well. Parking spurs are gravel and roads are paved. Firewood is available for a fee.

  Wading and fishing are popular in the river and hikers enjoy easy access to the 2.8-mile Trout Creek Trail and the short Walton Ranch Interpretive Trail. 
  
  The Menagerie Wilderness can be accessed from the Trout Creek Trail, so hikers and backpackers can explore the area's extensive system of trails. Rooster Rock Trail is just across the road. This 3.3 (one-way) mile trail provides access to Rooster Rock, a stone pinnacle in the Menagerie Wilderness popular among rock climbers (rated 5.4). Additional nearby pinnacles are rated up to 5.9.

  Visit the old Santiam Wagon Road, a historic trail used to transport livestock east across the Cascade Mountains to central Oregon's grasslands.

   

• Trout Creek Day Use Area
• Yukwah Campground

  Yukwah Campground is a nice, family campground situated along the South Santiam River, 21 miles east of the town of Sweet Home, Oregon. Many of the 13 sites are right on the river, tucked under the cool shade of Douglas fir and hemlock trees. Two double sites are perfect for the bigger group or family. The campground was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s and includes a welcoming day use shelter with a fireplace and five pull-through RV parking loops and a mix of standard parking spurs. This is a smaller campground with a variety of sites to accommodate different uses, with group sites, sites for trailers and sites for tents. Drinking water is from two hand pump wells. Parking spurs are gravel and roads are paved. Vault toilets and garbage cans are spread out in convenient locations in the campground. Firewood is available for a fee.

  Plenty of river activities and hiking opportunities await. Enjoy fishing and swimming in the beautiful South Santiam River or hiking the accessible Yukwah Nature Trail  that winds through the campground, and lingering at the picnic area. Hike or bike the Santiam Wagon Road (now a trail), a historic trail used to transport livestock east across the Cascade Mountains to central Oregon's grasslands. Iron Mountain, Gordon Meadows and Echo Basin are nearby hiking areas well known for their colorful wildflowers. 

• Yukwah Day Use Area