Oregon / Lane County

Whittaker Creek Recreation Site

Closed — Closed until further notice. The campground was closed for the 2024 season due to staffing shortages and lack of volunteer camp hosts. Campsites 16-31 are also undergoing invasive species removal with sites reopening on a rolling basis as work is completed.

About

Whittaker Creek Recreation Site is a Bureau of Land Management campground and day-use area situated at the confluence of Whittaker Creek and the Siuslaw River in the Coast Range, approximately 30 miles west of Eugene and 26 miles east of Florence. The campground features 30 tent-only campsites that are not recommended for trailers, including one accessible site. Facilities include vault toilets, potable water available from hand pumps, picnic tables, fire rings, two picnic sites, a horseshoe pit, and a children's play area. A swimming beach area operates June through September, and a paved boat ramp provides drift boat and canoe access to the 6.5-mile section of the Siuslaw River featuring Class II-III rapids. The Old Growth Ridge National Recreation Trail, designated in 1994, climbs 1,000 feet above the river through a stand of old growth Douglas fir forest. The moderately difficult 2.5-mile trail showcases exceptional wildlife, geologic features, and old growth trees typical of Coast Range ecosystems. Whittaker Creek is also a popular wildlife viewing area where Chinook and coho salmon, as well as steelhead trout, can be observed during fall and winter spawning runs. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife operates a breeding program here, and middle school students frequently visit for educational programs during fall, winter, and spring. The site typically hosts a camp host during the camping season. Note that there is no cell reception in the drainage, so visitors should download the Recreation.gov mobile app before arrival.

Directions

From Eugene: Take I-5 west on Beltline Road to West 11th Avenue. Turn right onto West 11th Avenue (Highway OR-126) and follow for about 29 miles to Siuslaw River Road just west of Walton. Turn left on Siuslaw River Road and follow about 1.6 miles to Whittaker Creek Road. Turn right on Whittaker Creek Road, crossing the bridge over the Siuslaw River. The main entrance is on the right. From Florence: Take Highway OR-126 east about 14 miles to Mapleton, then continue on Highway 126 for about 12 miles to Siuslaw River Road. Turn right and follow 1.6 miles to Whittaker Creek Road, turn right across the bridge. Main entrance on the right.

Nearby Campgrounds