Recreation


Man Looking Into Salmon Creek Watershed

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The Willamette National Forest offers a stunning choice of year round recreation for day-trippers and vacationers alike from hiking, camping, fishing or skiing in the Cascade Mountains to picnicking or rafting along one of our scenic rivers. Seven major volcanic peaks rise within the Forest's Wilderness areas: Mt. Jefferson, Three Fingered Jack, Mt. Washington, the Three Sisters, and Diamond Peak.

The Willamette National Forest is developing a Recreation Facility Master Plan and wants to hear from you!

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Current Recreation Conditions

Area Name Status Area Conditions
Alder Springs Campground Open Open Access is dependent on McKenzie Highway (OR Hwy 242), which is closed in the winter. Check tripcheck.com for conditions.
Bedrock Campground Closed Closed 8/8/2024: Closed due to Bedrock Fire. See closure order and map.
Bedrock Day Use Area Closed Closed 8/8/2024: Closed due to Bedrock Fire. See closure order and map.
Big Lake Campground Open Open Campground is open for 2024 season.
Big Lake Day Use Area Open Open
Big Lake West Campground Open Open Campground is open for 2024 season.
Big Meadows Horse Camp Open Open
Big Pool Group Campground Closed Closed 8/8/2024: Closed due to Bedrock Fire. See closure order and map.  
Black Canyon Campground Open Open
Black Canyon Day Use Area Open Open
Blair Lake Campground Closed Closed 8/8/24: Closed due to Cedar Creek Fire. See closure order and map.
Blue Pool Campground (Middle Fork Ranger District) Open Open
Blue Pool Day Use Area (Middle Fork District) Open Open
Box Canyon Horse Camp None None Box Canyon Horse Camp is open year-round, but Forest Service Road 19 is not maintained for snow and ice in the winter.
Breitenbush Campground Open Open Open for 2024 season. There may be delays on Forest Road 46 of up to 2 hours, May 15th through summer.  
Broken Bowl Campground Closed Closed 8/8/2024: Closed due to Bedrock Fire. See closure order and map.
Buck Mountain East Trailhead Temporarily Closed Temporarily Closed

8/22/2024: Temporarily closed due to the Ore Fire.  See the Ore Fire Closure Order and Map.pdf
Buck Mountain West Trailhead Temporarily Closed Temporarily Closed

8/22/2024: Temporarily closed due to the Ore Fire.  See the Ore Fire Closure Order and Map.pdf
Campers Flat Group Campground Temporarily Closed Temporarily Closed

7/28/2024: Temporarily closed due to the Moss Mountain and Potter Fires.  See the Moss Mountain and Potter Closure Order.pdf.
Carpenter Mountain Lookout Closed Closed 8/8/2024: Closed due to Lookout Fire. See closure order and map.
Clark Creek Organization Camp Closed Closed 8/8/2024: Closed due to Bedrock Fire. See closure order and map.
Clear Lake Day Use Area Open Open
Cleator Bend Group Campground Open Open Open for 2024 season. There may be up to 2 hour delays on Forest Road 46 from May 15th through summer. 
Cold Water Cove Campground Open Open Campground is open for 2024 season.
Cougar Crossing Campground Open Open Access to the campground is weather dependent.
Cougar Crossing Day Use Area Open Open
Cove Creek Campground Open Open Open for 2024 season
Cove Creek Group Campsite Open Open Open for 2024 season
Dee Wright Observatory None None Access is dependent on McKenzie Highway (OR Hwy 242), which is closed in the winter. Check tripcheck.com for conditions.
Delta Campground Closed Closed Closed indefinitely due to Holiday Farm Fire.
Delta Day Use Area Closed Closed Closed indefinitely due to Holiday Farm Fire.
Detroit Flats Day Use Area Open Open
Dolly Varden Campground Closed Closed 8/8/2024: Closed due to Bedrock Fire. See closure order and map.
Elk Lake Campground Open Open Although open, this campground is in an area impacted by the Beachie Creek and & Lionshead Fires. Before visiting areas affected by wildfire, make sure to review the 4 Steps for Safety for recreating in burned areas. Also, please be aware May 15th through summer 2024 There may be delays on Forest Road 46 of up to 2 hours.
Fernview Day Use Area Open Open
Fernview Group Campground Open Open Open for 2024 Season.
Fish Lake Interpretive Day Use Open Open
Fish Lake Remount Depot - Commissary Cabin Open Open Fish Lake Interpretive Day Use area is open year round to visit. The cabin opens for winter season mid-November through mid-April.
Fish Lake Remount Depot - Hall House Cabin Open Open Fish Lake Interpretive Day Use area is open year round to visit. The cabin is open to reservations November through April. 
Fox Creek Group Campground Open Open Open for 2024 season. There may be delays on Forest Road 46 of up to 2 hours, May 15th through summer.  
French Pete Campground Open Open Campground is open for 2024 season.
Frissell Crossing Campground Open Open Campground is open for 2024 season.
Fuji Creek Road/ Fuji Shelter Open Open
Gold Butte Lookout Closed Closed 08/8/2024: People can hike up to Gold Butte Lookout to access the viewpoint, but the rental facility is closed. There are impacts from the Bull Complex Fire that need to be remediated before Gold Butte Lookout can open for reservation. See map of Beachie Creek and Lionshead Fires closure (Detroit Ranger District). May be up to 2 hour delay on Forest Road 46 May 15th through summer 2024.  
Gold Lake Campground Open Open Open for the 2024 season
Gold Lake Day Use Area Open Open
Hard Rock Group Campground Open Open Campground is open for 2024 season.
Harralson Horse Camp Closed Closed 8/8/24: Temporarily closed due to Cedar Creek Fire. See closure order and map.
Hoover Campground Open Open Open for 2024 season
Hoover Group Campsite Open Open Open for 2024 season
Horse Creek Group Campground Open Open Campground is open for 2024 season.
House Rock Campground Open Open Open for 2024 season.
House Rock Day Use Area Open Open
Huckleberry Flats OHV Trail Temporarily Closed Temporarily Closed

7/20/2024: Temporarily closed due to the Chalk Fire. See the Chalk Fire Closure Order and Map
Huckleberry Flats OHV Trailhead & Staging Area Temporarily Closed Temporarily Closed

7/20/2024: Temporarily closed due to the Chalk Fire. See the Chalk Fire Closure Order and Map
Huckleberry Mountain Lookout Temporarily Closed Temporarily Closed

7/20/2024 Temporarily closed due to the Chalk Fire.  See the Chalk Fire Closure Order and Map
Humbug Campground Open Open Open for 2024 Season.  May be delays up to 2 hours along Forest Road 46 from May 15th 2024 through summer.  
Ice Cap Campground Open Open Campground is open for 2024 season.
Ice Cap Creek Day Use Area Open Open
Indian Ridge Lookout Open Open
Indigo Springs Campground None None
Islet Boat Launch & Day Use Area (Waldo Lake) Closed Closed 8/8/24: Temporarily closed due to Cedar Creek Fire. See closure order and map.
Islet Campground (Waldo Lake) Closed Closed 8/8/24: Temporarily closed due to Cedar Creek Fire. See closure order and map.
Kiahanie Campground Temporarily Closed Temporarily Closed

7/20/2024: Temporarily closed due to the Chalk Fire. See the Chalk Fire Closure Order and Map.pdf
Lakes End Campground Closed Closed Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB) has closed Trail Bridge Campground, Lakes End Campground, Trail Bridge Reservoir Boat Launch, and Smith Reservoir through Spring 2025 for work on the Carmen-Smith hydroelectric facilities. In addition, Forest Service Roads 690, 730, and 689 will be closed for the duration of the project. The McKenzie River Trail and associated trailheads will remain open. See closure order.
Limberlost Group Campground Open Open Campground is open for 2024 season.
Little Cowhorn Mountain Lookout Closed Closed 8/8/2024: Temporarily closed due to Bedrock Fire. See closure order and map.
Longbow Organization Camp Open Open Open for 2024 Season.
Lookout Campground Temporarily Closed Temporarily Closed

8/22/2024: Temporarily closed due to the Ore Fire.  See the Ore Fire Closure Order and Map
Lost Lake Campground Open Open Campground is open for 2024 season.
Lost Prairie Group Campground Open Open Open for 2024 Season.
Marion Forks Campground and Day Use Area Open Open
McCoy Motorized Recreation Area Closed Closed 8/8/2024: Closed due to Beachie Creek and Lionshead Fire closure. See map.
McCredie Day Use Area Open Open
McKenzie Bridge Campground Open Open Campground is open for 2024 season.
McKenzie Bridge Day Use Area Open Open
McKenzie River Trailhead: Tamolitch Blue Pool Open Open
Mona Campground Temporarily Closed Temporarily Closed

8/22/2024: Temporarily closed due to the Ore Fire.  See the Ore Fire Closure Order and Map
North Waldo Campground Closed Closed 8/8/24: Temporarily closed due to Cedar Creek Fire. See closure order and map.
Olallie Campground Open Open Campground is open for 2024 season.
Olallie Day Use Open Open
Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail None None

For trail conditions, check with the Pacific Crest Trail Association.
Packard Creek Campground Open Open Open for 2024 season
Packard Creek Day Use Area Open Open
Packard Creek Group Campsite Open Open Open for 2024 season
Paradise Campground Open Open Campground is open for 2024 season.
Paradise Day Use Area Open Open
Piety Island Campground Open Open Open for 2024 season
Puma Campground Closed Closed 8/8/2024: Temporarily closed due to Bedrock Fire. See closure order and map.  
Red Diamond Group Campground Open Open Open for 2024 season
Riverside at Detroit Campground Open Open Open for 2024 season
Roaring River Group Campground Open Open Campground is open for 2024 season.
Sacandaga Campground Temporarily Closed Temporarily Closed

7/28/2024: Temporarily closed due to the Moss Mountain and Potter Fires.  See the Moss Mountain and Potter Closure Order.pdf.
Sahalie and Koosah Falls Open Open Please do not park on the side of the highway. Parking lot is not maintained for snow and ice in the winter.
Salmon Creek Falls Campground Open Open
Salmon Creek Falls Day Use Area Open Open
Salt Creek Falls Observation Site and Picnic Area Open Open Though access to the falls is open, restrooms are not. Restrooms are available in the Sno-Park area.
Sand Prairie Campground Closed Closed

7/28/2024: Temporarily closed due to the Moss Mountain and Potter Fires.  See the Moss Mountain and Potter Closure Order.pdf.
Santiam Flats Campground Open Open Open for 2024 Season.
Santiam Pass OHV Motorized Recreation Area Open Open
Scott Lake Campground Open Open Access is dependent on McKenzie Highway (OR Hwy 242), which is closed in the winter. Check tripcheck.com for conditions.
Secret Group Campground Closed Closed

7/28/2024: Temporarily closed due to the Moss Mountain and Potter Fires.  See the Moss Mountain and Potter Closure Order.pdf.
Sevenmile Horse Camp Open Open Closed most of the winter due to snow blocking the access road from Hwy 20. Open to snow shoeing and Nordic skiing. No services.
Shadow Bay Campground (Waldo Lake) Open Open
Shadow Bay Day Use Area (Waldo Lake) Open Open
Shady Cove Campground Closed Closed 8/8/24: Closed due to Beachie Creek Fire. See map of Beachie Creek and Lionshead Fire closure area.
Skookum Creek Campground Open Open Open for the 2024 season
Slide Creek Campground Open Open Campground is open for 2024 season.
Slide Creek Day Use Area Open Open
South Pyramid Horse Camp Unreachable Unreachable

8/28/2024: Temporarily closed due to the Pyramid Fire.  See the Pyramid Fire Closure Order and Map.pdf.
South Waldo Shelter Open Open
Southshore Campground Open Open Open for 2024 Season
Sunnyside Campground Open Open Open for 2024 season
Tamolitch Falls (Blue Pool) #3507 Open Open
Terwilliger (Cougar) Hot Springs Open Open This site was heavily impacted by the 2018 Terwilliger Fire. While hazard trees have been mitigated around the hot springs, other risks persist. When visiting, other potential hazards include: loose rocks, flooding, debris flows, and weakened trees falling. Please, avoid the area during high winds and heavy rain.
Three Pools Day Use Area Closed Closed 8/8/2024: Closed due to Beachie Creek Fire. Beachie Creek and Lionshead Fire closure areas.
Timber Butte Cabin Open Open
Timpanogas Cabin Closed Closed

9/5/2024: Temporarily closed due to the Moss Mountain Fire.  See the Moss Mountain Closure Order.
Timpanogas Campground Closed Closed

9/5/2024: Temporarily closed due to the Moss Mountain Fire.  See the Moss Mountain Closure Order.
Trail Bridge Campground Closed Closed Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB) has closed Trail Bridge Campground, Lakes End Campground, Trail Bridge Reservoir Boat Launch, and Smith Reservoir through Spring 2025 for work on the Carmen-Smith hydroelectric facilities. In addition, Forest Service Roads 690, 730, and 689 will be closed for the duration of the project. The McKenzie River Trail and associated trailheads will remain open. See closure order.
Trout Creek Campground Open Open Open for 2024 Season.
Trout Creek Day Use Area Open Open
Upper Arm Day Use Area Open Open
Waldo Mountain Lookout None None Parking lot is not maintained for snow and ice in the winter. Be aware of slippery conditions. Please do not park on the side of the highway.
Warner Mountain Lookout Closed Closed

7/28/2024: Temporarily closed due to the Moss Mountain and Potter Fires.  See the Moss Mountain and Potter Closure Order.pdf.
Whispering Falls Campground Open Open Open for 2024 Season.
Yukwah Campground Open Open Opening in spring 2024.
Yukwah Day Use Area Open Open

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A map showing winter recreation areas at Santiam Pass and Willamette Pass

Winter Recreation Map Link opens in a Pdf Document

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