Oregon / Lane County

Clay Creek Recreation Site

Closed — The campground is closed until further notice. The Clay Creek Trail is closed indefinitely due to multiple downed trees.

About

Clay Creek Recreation Site sits at the confluence of Clay Creek and the Siuslaw River in Oregon's Coast Range, managed by the BLM's Northwest Oregon District. The campground offers 21 individual campsites with paved parking pads, accommodating RVs up to 32 feet, trailers, or tents. Most sites include fire rings, barbeque grills, picnic tables, and tent pads. Additional amenities include vault toilets, a summer swimming area with changing facilities, individual picnic sites, a children's play area, horseshoe pits, potable water, volleyball area, and a ball field. Two large group shelters are available for weddings, family gatherings, and events. The surrounding forest features Douglas fir, western hemlock, red cedar, red alder, and big leaf maple, with an understory of rhododendron, salal, ferns, salmonberry, and vine maple. Wildlife includes pileated woodpecker, northern spotted owl, marbled murrelet, elk, deer, bear, beaver, raccoon, and mink. The Siuslaw River serves as an excellent salmon watching site during fall and winter, when Coho and Chinook salmon spawn in the cold, fast-moving water. The Clay Creek Trail, typically accessible from the campground via a concrete bridge, ascends to a remnant old-growth Douglas fir stand above the river. The Siuslaw River Road provides access to river put-ins for paddling the 6.5-mile stretch with Class II-III rapids. Note that cell reception is not available in the drainage.

Directions

From Eugene: Take I-5 west on Beltline Road to West 11th Avenue. Turn right onto West 11th Avenue (Highway OR-126). Follow Highway 126 about 29 miles to Siuslaw River Road just west of Walton. Turn left on Siuslaw River Road and follow about 10 miles to the intersection of BLM Road 19-7-20.1. Keep left on Siuslaw River Road for about 6 miles. Main entrance on the right. From Florence: Take Highway OR-126 east about 14 miles to Mapleton. Turn right and follow Highway 126 for about 12 miles to Siuslaw River Road. Turn right on Siuslaw River Road and follow about 16 miles to the intersection of BLM Road 19-7-20.1. Keep left on Siuslaw River Road for about 6 miles. Main entrance on the right.

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