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Recreation
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.
Current Recreation Conditions
| Area Name | Status | Area Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Alder Springs Campground | Closed | Access is dependent on McKenzie Highway (OR Hwy 242), which is closed in the winter. Check tripcheck.com for conditions. |
| Bedrock Campground | Closed | Opening in summer 2025. |
| Bedrock Day Use Area | Closed | 01/31/25: Closed due to Bedrock Fire. See closure order and map. |
| Big Lake Campground | Closed | Closed for 2024 season. Opening again in summer of 2025. |
| Big Lake Day Use Area | Closed | |
| Big Lake West Campground | Closed | Closed for 2024 season. Opening again in summer of 2025. |
| Big Meadows Horse Camp | Open | |
| Big Pool Group Campground | Closed | 4/22/25: Closed due to damage from the Bedrock Fire. |
| Big Springs Sno-Park | Open | During the winter (November-April) a Sno-Park permit is required. |
| Black Canyon Campground | Closed | Closed for the 2024 season and will reopen in spring of 2025. |
| Black Canyon Day Use Area | Closed | Closed for the 2024 season and will reopen in spring of 2025. |
| Blair Lake Campground | Closed | 01/31/2025: Closed due to Cedar Creek Fire. See closure order and map. |
| Blue Pool Campground (Middle Fork Ranger District) | Closed | Campground is closed for the 2024 season and will reopen in summer 2025. |
| Blue Pool Day Use Area (Middle Fork District) | Closed | |
| Box Canyon Guard Station Cabin | Closed | Closed for 2024 season. Opening again in summer of 2025. |
| Box Canyon Horse Camp | Open | 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 | Closed | Closed for 2024 Season |
| Broken Bowl Campground | Closed | Opening in summer 2025. |
| Buck Mountain East Trailhead | None | |
| Buck Mountain West Trailhead | None | |
| Campers Flat Group Campground | Closed | Campground is closed for the 2024 season and will reopen in spring of 2025. |
| Carpenter Mountain Lookout | None | |
| Clark Creek Organization Camp | Closed | 4/22/25: Closed due to damage from the Bedrock Fire. |
| Clear Lake Day Use Area | Open | |
| Cleator Bend Group Campground | Closed | Closed for 2024 Season |
| Cold Water Cove Campground | Closed | Closed for 2024 season. Opening again in summer of 2025. |
| Cougar Crossing Campground | Open | Access to the campground is weather dependent. |
| Cougar Crossing Day Use Area | Open | |
| Cove Creek Campground | Closed | Closed for 2024 season |
| Cove Creek Group Campsite | Closed | Closed for 2024 season |
| Dee Wright Observatory | 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 indefinitely due to Holiday Farm Fire. |
| Delta Day Use Area | Closed | Closed indefinitely due to Holiday Farm Fire. |
| Detroit Flats Day Use Area | Open | |
| Dolly Varden Campground | Closed | 01/31/2025: Closed due to Bedrock Fire. See closure order and map. |
| Elk Lake Campground | 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. |
| Erma Bell Lakes Trail #3563 | None | This trail is in an area impacted by the Cedar Creek Fire. Before visiting areas affected by wildfire, make sure to review the 4 Steps for Safety for recreating in burned areas. |
| Fernview Day Use Area | Open | |
| Fernview Group Campground | Closed | Opening in Spring 2025 |
| Fish Lake Interpretive Day Use | Open | |
| Fish Lake Remount Depot - Commissary Cabin | 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 | 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 | Closed | Closed for 2024 season. |
| French Pete Campground | Closed | Campground is closed for the 2024 season and will reopen in spring 2025 |
| Frissell Crossing Campground | Closed | Campground is closed for the 2024 season and will reopen in spring 2025 |
| Fuji Creek Road/ Fuji Shelter | Open | 2/25/25: Fuji Shelter is out of wood for the season. |
| Gold Butte Lookout | Closed | 01/31/25: 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). |
| Gold Lake Campground | Closed | Closed for the 2024 season and will reopen in spring of 2025. |
| Gold Lake Day Use Area | Closed | Closed for the 2024 season and will reopen in spring of 2025. |
| Gold Lake Sno-Park | Open | During the winter (November-April) a Sno-Park permit is required. |
| Grasshopper Mountain Trail #3569 | Temporarily Closed | 01/22/25: Temporarily closed due to the Young Grasshopper Fire. See closure order and map. |
| Hard Rock Group Campground | Closed | Campground is closed for the 2024 season and will reopen in spring 2025 |
| Harralson Horse Camp | Closed | 01/28/2025: Temporarily closed due to Cedar Creek Fire. See closure order and map. |
| Hoover Campground | Closed | Closed for 2024 season |
| Hoover Group Campsite | Closed | Closed for 2024 season |
| Horse Creek Group Campground | Open | |
| House Rock Campground | Closed | Opening in spring 2025 |
| House Rock Day Use Area | Open | |
| Huckleberry Flats OHV Trailhead & Staging Area | Open | This is in an area impacted by the Chalk Fire. Before visiting areas affected by wildfire, make sure to review the 4 Steps for Safety for recreating in burned areas. |
| Huckleberry Mountain Lookout | Closed | 01/23/2025: Temporarily closed due to Cedar Creek Fire. See closure order and map. |
| Humbug Campground | Closed | Closed for 2024 Season. |
| Ice Cap Campground | Closed | Closed for 2024 season. Opening again in summer of 2025. |
| Ice Cap Creek Day Use Area | Closed | |
| Ikenick Sno-Park | Open | During the winter (November-April) a Sno-Park permit is required. |
| Indian Ridge Lookout | Closed | Closed for 2024 season. Opening again in summer of 2025. |
| Indigo Springs Campground | Closed | Closed for the 2024 season but will reopen in spring of 2025 |
| Islet Boat Launch & Day Use Area (Waldo Lake) | Closed | 01/28/2025: Temporarily closed due to Cedar Creek Fire. See closure order and map. |
| Islet Campground (Waldo Lake) | Closed | 01/28/2025: Temporarily closed due to Cedar Creek Fire. See closure order and map. |
| Kiahanie Campground | Closed | Closed for the 2024 season and will reopen in spring of 2025 |
| Lakes End Campground | 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 2026 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. |
| Lava Lake Sno-Park | Open | During the winter (November-April) a Sno-Park permit is required. |
| Limberlost Group Campground | Closed | Campground is closed for the 2024 season and will reopen in spring 2025 |
| Little Cowhorn Mountain Lookout | None | |
| Little Nash Sno-Park | Open | During the winter (November-April) a Sno-Park permit is required. |
| Longbow Organization Camp | Closed | |
| Lookout Campground | Open | Campground is open year round, weather dependent |
| Lost Lake Campground | Closed | Closed for 2024 season. Opening again in summer of 2025. |
| Lost Prairie Group Campground | Closed | Opening in Spring 2025 |
| Marion Forks Campground and Day Use Area | Open | |
| Maxwell Sno-Park | Open | During the winter (November-April) a Sno-Park permit is required. |
| McCoy Motorized Recreation Area | None | |
| McCredie Day Use Area | Open | |
| McKenzie Bridge Campground | Open | |
| McKenzie Bridge Day Use Area | Open | |
| McKenzie River Trailhead: Tamolitch Blue Pool | Open | |
| Mona Campground | Closed | Campground is closed for the 2024 season and will reopen in spring 2025 |
| North Waldo Campground | Closed | 01/28/2025: Temporarily closed due to Cedar Creek Fire. See closure order and map. |
| Olallie Campground | Open | |
| Olallie Day Use | Open | |
| Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail | None | For trail conditions, check with the Pacific Crest Trail Association. |
| Packard Creek Campground | Closed | Campground is closed for the 2024 season and will reopen in spring 2025 |
| Packard Creek Day Use Area | Open | |
| Packard Creek Group Campsite | Closed | Campground is closed for the 2024 season and will reopen in spring 2025 |
| Paradise Campground | Closed | Closed for 2024 season. Opening again in summer of 2025. |
| Paradise Day Use Area | Open | |
| Piety Island Campground | Open | Open for 2024 season |
| Potato Hill Sno-Park | Open | During the winter (November-April) a Sno-Park permit is required. |
| Puma Campground | Closed | 4/22/25: Closed due to damage from the Bedrock Fire. |
| Ray Benson Sno-Park | Open | During the winter a Sno-Park permit is required. Cross-country ski and snowshoe trails are marked with blue blazes. Snowmobile trails are marked with orange blazes. Be cautious in areas that have seen past fire. Dead trees are likely to fall over throughout the winter. Maintain situational awareness, particularly when the wind starts to blow. Be on the lookout for occasional stumps that are buried just below the snow. The south loop has both ski/snowshoe trails and snowmobile trails. User groups are kept separate on designated trail systems. Make sure you know which trails you can be on. |
| Red Diamond Group Campground | Closed | Campground is closed for the 2024 season and will reopen in spring 2025 |
| Riverside at Detroit Campground | Closed | Closed for 2024 season. Opening again in summer 2025. |
| Roaring River Group Campground | Closed | Closed for 2024 season. Opening again in summer of 2025. |
| Sacandaga Campground | Closed | Campground is closed for the 2024 season and will reopen in spring of 2025. |
| Saddle Dam Boat Launch | Open | Reservoir and river level information is available from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website. |
| Sahalie and Koosah Falls | 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 | Closed | Campground is closed for the 2024 season and will reopen in spring 2025 |
| Salmon Creek Falls Day Use Area | Closed | Closed for the 2024 season and will reopen in spring 2025 |
| Salt Creek Falls Observation Site and Picnic Area | Open | 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. Restrooms available in the Sno-park parking lot. |
| Salt Creek Sno-Park | Open | During the winter (November-April) a Sno-Park permit is required. |
| Sand Prairie Campground | Closed | Campground is closed for the 2024 season and will reopen in spring of 2025. |
| Santiam Flats Campground | Closed | Closed for 2024 Season. |
| Santiam Pass OHV Motorized Recreation Area | Open | |
| Santiam Sno-Park | Open | During the winter (November-April) a Sno-Park permit is required. |
| Scott Lake Campground | Closed | Access is dependent on McKenzie Highway (OR Hwy 242), which is closed in the winter. Check tripcheck.com for conditions. |
| Scott Mountain Trail #4339 | None | |
| Secret Group Campground | Closed | Campground is closed for the 2024 season and will reopen in spring of 2025. |
| Sevenmile Horse Camp | Closed | 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) | Closed | Closed for the 2024 season and will reopen in summer of 2025 |
| Shadow Bay Day Use Area (Waldo Lake) | Closed | Closed for the 2024 season and will reopen in summer of 2025 |
| Shady Cove Campground | Closed | 01/31/25: Closed due to Beachie Creek Fire. See map of Beachie Creek and Lionshead Fire closure area. |
| Skookum Creek Campground | Closed | Closed for the 2024 season and will reopen in late spring of 2025 |
| Slide Creek Campground | Closed | Closed for 2024 season. Opening again in summer of 2025. |
| Slide Creek Day Use Area | Closed | |
| South Pyramid Horse Camp | Unreachable | 01/31/2025: Temporarily closed due to the Pyramid Fire. See the Pyramid Fire Closure Order and Map.pdf. |
| South Waldo Shelter | Open | |
| Southshore Campground | Closed | Closed for 2024 Season |
| Sunnyside Campground | Closed | Closed for 2024 season. Opening again in summer of 2025. |
| Tamolitch Falls (Blue Pool) #3507 | Open | For current trail conditions, please contact the local ranger station. |
| Terwilliger (Cougar) Hot Springs | 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 | 01/31/25: Closed due to Beachie Creek Fire. Beachie Creek and Lionshead Fire closure areas. |
| Timber Butte Cabin | Closed | Closed for the 2024 season. Will reopen in the spring 2025. |
| Timpanogas Cabin | None | Becomes non-reservable winter shelter from November-July. |
| Timpanogas Campground | Closed | Closed for the 2024 season and will reopen in summer of 2025. |
| Tombstone Sno-Park | Open | During the winter (November-April) a Sno-Park permit is required. |
| Trail Bridge Campground | 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 2026 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 | Closed | Opening in Spring 2025 |
| Trout Creek Day Use Area | Open | |
| Upper Arm Day Use Area | Open | |
| Waldo Lake Sno-Park | Open | During the winter (November-April) a Sno-Park permit is required. |
| Waldo Mountain Lookout | None | |
| Warner Mountain Lookout | Open | |
| Whispering Falls Campground | Closed | Closed for 2024 season. Opening again in summer 2025. |
| Yukwah Campground | Closed | Opening in Spring 2025 |
| Yukwah Day Use Area | Open |
Highlights
- Accessible Adventures Videos
See accessible adventures at Detroit Lake & the McKenzie River Valley