Shady Cove Campground

Shady Cove Campground, located within the Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area, offers visitors a primitive camping experience along the Little North Fork of the Santiam River. Numerous trails within a short distance of the campground offer scenic mountain vistas, waterfalls, and hikes through majestic old-growth forests. Three Pools Day Use Site is also nearby

The campground is open year-round but access is dependent on road conditions and weather. In the winter the road can become impassable, as it is not maintained for snow and ice. Travel is at your own risk. Early season (April and May) may provide a wet experience, but late season (September and October) is usually a great time for camping.

Current Conditions

Closed due to Beachie Creek Fire.

Reservations

General Information

Garbage collection
NO water

Close to:

Open 24 hours/day

Interagency Senior and Access Passes (and the Golden Age and Access Passes) may receive a 50% discount on the use fee for individual campsites. This discount does not apply to extra vehicle fee or multiple campsites.

Camping is not allowed more than 14 days in a 60 day period.
Check-in time: 2:00 pm or later. Check-out time: 1:00 pm
Use of chainsaws in the campground is prohibited
Dogs MUST be on leash at all times within the campground
ATVs use is only allowed to enter and leave the campground
Target shooting is prohibited within the Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area

Special regulations are in place to help protect this area and preserve the experience for you and for future visitors.

Overnight Use:
Single Site: $12/night.
Multiple Site: $22/night.
Additional Vehicle: $6/night.
Interagency Senior/Access Recreation Passes provide a 50% discount to Single Campsites ONLY.
*The discount applies only to the fee for the campsite physically occupied by the pass holder, not to any additional fee or campsite(s) occupied by members of the pass holder's party.*
https://store.usgs.gov/recreational-passes
Day Use: No Fee
Please be prepared to pay with CASH or CHECK.
*Sites may be reservable and reservation fees apply.*

Single Campsites - $12 per night
Multiple Campsites - $22 per night
Extra Vehicles - $6 per vehicle, per night

A $5 per vehicle, per day fee or valid recreation pass is required for the Little North Santiam Trail #3338 (located across the bridge from campground). Please use fee tube located at Shady Cove Campground

Within developed recreation sites, dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet, or otherwise under physical restrictive control. 36 CFR 261.16(j)

A sign that says, "detroit ranger station willamette national forest" with a building in the background

Address: 44125 North Santiam Highway SE Detroit, OR 97342
Phone: (503) 854-3366
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Closed on federal holidays)
Office Email: sm.fs.mf@usda.gov

Getting There

Latitude / Longitude

Latitude: 44.84493

Longitude: -122.30044

Directions

18.5 miles northeast of Mehama, Oregon.

From Salem, Oregon, travel east on State Highway 22 to Mehama.

At milepost 23, turn left (north) onto Little North Fork Road (next to the Oregon Department of Forestry building) and proceed for 15.3 miles to the Forest Boundary. Continue of gravel, FS Road 2209 for 1.3 miles to the intersection of FS Road 2207. Turn right and continue another 1.9 miles to Shady Cove Campground on the right.