Campgrounds on the River

the south santiam river on the over the river and through the woods scenic byway in the willamette national forest in the cascade mountains of oregon.
Early Summer on the Over the River & through the Woods Scenic Byway
The South Santiam River in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon

The following list of campgrounds off Hwy 20 in the Willamette National Forest is not exhaustive by any means. If you are interested in finding out more about campgrounds on this route, you might want to check at a ranger station for the Willamette National Forest. A brochure featuring a full-color map of the McKenzie Pass - Santiam Pass National Scenic Byway is available for purchase at any of these ranger stations. Also, check the trip planner online.

Trip Planner from the Forest Service for the South Santiam in the Willamette National Forest.

Contact the relevant ranger station regarding fire danger before heading out.

Campgrounds on the Over the River &
through the Woods Scenic Byway

Trout Creek Campground

Trout Creek Campground is located 19 miles east of Sweet Home, Oregon on Hwy 20. It has 24 sites: 4 smaller sites, 20 tent, RV or auto sites. Maximum Trailer length: 24 feet for 16 sites, 8 sites can accommodate RVs up to 32 feet. Fees: $10.00 per night plus $5.00 for each additional vehicle. The campground is open May through October. No reservations required.

Travel Directions: Travel east on Hwy 20 19 miles to Trout Creek Campground. This is a popular campground, so make your plans accordingly.

The Menagerie Wilderness is accessible from Trout Creek Trailhead just across the Hwy 20 from the campground. Due west is the historic Long Ranch that is now an elk refuge. Nearby is the Old Santiam Wagon Road.

Available Facilities: vault toilets, hand-pumps, interpretive trail, picnic shelter, paved parking. Accessible facilities: restroom, paved access routes; interpretive trail.

Enjoy camping, swimming, hiking, picnicking, fishing and viewpoint.

Day Use: No fee, 4 sites.

Fernview Campground

Fernview Campground is located 23 miles east of Sweet Home, Oregon on Hwy 20. It has 11 sites: 9 tent, small RV and auto, 2 tent ONLY. Maximum Trailer length: 22 feet. Fees: $10.00 a night plus $5.00 for each additional vehicle. The campground is open May through October. No reservations are required. Elevation: 1400 feet.

Travel Directions: Travel east 23 miles on Hwy 20 to Fernview Campground. This campground has moderate use.

Fernview Campground is perched high above a scenic portion of the South Santiam River. The Rooster Rock Trailhead, across the road, runs through the Menagerie Wilderness. The Old Santiam Wagon Road runs through the back of the campground.

Available facilities: Vault Toilet, hand pump. Accessible facilities: restroom, dirt access routes.

Enjoy camping, swimming, hiking and fishing.

Day Use: No fee, 1 site.

House Rock Campground

House Rock Campground is located 26 miles east of Sweet Home, Oregon. It has a total of 17 sites: 5 tent ONLY sites; 12 tent, auto or small RV sites. Please note: There is limited turn around space, so no RVs over 22 feet in House Rock Campground, please. Fees: $10.00 a night plus $5.00 for each additional vehicle. The campground is open May through October. No reservations required. Elevation: 1800 feet.

Travel Directions: Travel east on Hwy 20 to Latiwi Creek Road, #2044. Continue on Latiwi Creek Road to House Rock Campground.

Available May through October, this is a popular campground, requiring no reservations, so make a contingency plan if you find no space available.

House Rock Campground is located at the confluence of Sheep Creek and the south fork of the Santiam River in an old growth forest. The House Rock hiking trail starts in the day use area and continues for 0.8 of a mile, returning to the day use area. Facilities at the Day Use Area: picnicking, swimming, fishing, hiking, viewpoint of waterfall on the hiking trail.

Available facilities: tables, hand-pumps for water, vault toilets, fire rings. Accessible facilities include: restroom, compacted access routes and day use area.

Enjoy camping, fishing, swimming; hiking.

Day Use: No fee, 6 sites.

Lost Prairie Campground

Lost Prairie Campground is located 37 miles east of Sweet Home on Hwy 20. It has a total of 10 sites: 8 walk-in tent sites only and 2 tent, auto or RV sites: Maximum Trailer Length: 24 feet. Fees: $10.00 a night plus $5.00 for each additional vehicle.The campground is open May through October. No reservations required. Elevation: 3200 feet.

Travel Directions: Travel 37 miles east from Sweet Home Oregon on Hwy 20 until you reach Lost Prairie Campground.

Lost Prairie campground is located along Hackleman Creek in an area of fir, spruce and Doug Fir. Nearby are the trailheads for Cone Peak Trail, Iron Mountain Trail and Hackleman Old Growth Trail. The Old Santiam Wagon Trail came through Lost Prairie Campground; parts of it may still be hiked.

Available facilities include vault toilets, hand pump for water, tables. Accessible Facilities include one campsite, restroom, paved access routes and the day use area.

Enjoy camping, picnicking, hiking trails and fishing.

Day Use: None.

Big Lake Campground

Big Lake Campground is located on Hwy 126. Hwy 20 merges into 126, so Big Lake Campground can be accessed on either Hwy 20 or Hwy 126. In miles, Big House Campground is 4 miles south of Hwy 20. The campground has a total of 49 tent, auto or trailer sites; 14 of the campsites are reservable. Reservation Contact: Reserve online at www.recreation.gov, or phone 1.877.444.6777. Maximum Trailer Length: 35 feet. Fees: $16.00 a night plus $8.00 for each additional vehicle. The fee is $28.00 a night for a multiple site.

Travel Directions: Traveling east on Hwy 20 from Sweet Home, Oregon, find Big Rock Campground after 20 merges with 126. Look for Big Lake Road, 2690. Follow Big Lake Road 4.3 miles to Big Lake Campground. Elevation: 4,650.

Traveling east from Eugene, Oregon on Hwy 126, the McKenzie Pass. As above, look for Big Lake Road, #2690, about 29.5 miles east of Eugene on Hwy 126.

Available May through October, but this time frame is dependent on snowfall. In October it will be open through hunting season or the first snowfall, whichever comes first. This is a popular campground.

The campground is obviously located on Big Lake. Two trailheads for hikers and equestrians are nearby: one of the hiking trails to be accessed from Big Lake Campground is the Pacific Crest Trail, leading into the Mt Washington Wilderness. Another of the hiking trails to be accessed leads to Lake Patjens.

Available facilities include piped drinking water, vault and flush toilets, fire rings, and a paved boat launch. Accessible Facilities include 4 vault toilets and one campsite.

Enjoy camping, picnicking, fishing, swimming, boating, water skiing, hiking, sailing.

Day Use: $5.00 fee, five sites are available.

Big Lake Campground West

Big Lake Campground West is located on Hwy 126. Hwy 20 merges into 126, so Big Lake Campground West can be accessed on either Hwy 20 or Hwy 126. In miles. The campground has 11 tent sites only. Fees: $18.00 a night plus $9.00 for each additional vehicle. Elevation: 4,650.

Travel Directions: Traveling east on Hwy 20 from Sweet Home, Oregon, find Big Rock Campground after 20 merges with 126. Look for Big Lake Road, 2690. Follow Big Lake Road 4.3 miles to Big Lake Campground.

Traveling east from Eugene, Oregon on Hwy 126, the McKenzie Pass. As above, look for Big Lake Road, #2690, about 29.5 miles east of Eugene on Hwy 126.

Available May through October, but this time frame is dependent on snowfall. In October it will be open through hunting season or the first snowfall, whichever comes first. This is a popular campground.

The campground is located on Big Lake, obviously. Two trailheads for hikers and equestrians are nearby: one of the hiking trails to be accessed from Big Lake Campground is the Pacific Crest Trail, leading into the Mt Washington Wilderness. Another of the hiking trails to be accessed leads to Lake Patjens.

Available facilities include tables, fire rings, NO drinking water, vault toilets, NO firewood and boat launch nearby. Accessible Facilities include Vault toilet.

Enjoy camping, picnicking nearby, fishing, swimming, boating, water skiing, hiking, OHV nearby.

Day Use: None.

Protect our National Forests and Wilderness Areas. Leave NO Trace!
Be sure to check out road and fire conditions at the Ranger Station when planning and before traveling, hiking or camping in the forest.

Quartz Creek, tributary to the south santiam river in oregon, accessed off the over the rivers and through the woods scenic byway.

Forward ~ Introduction to Ashland, Oregon, home of the Shakespearean Festival.

Back ~ Hiking Trails off the Over the River and through the Woods Scenic Byway.

USFS: The Willamette National Forest.

Want to hike? Hiking Trails in the Willamette Forest off the Over the River and through the Woods Scenic Byway.

Quartz Creek Scenic Byway tributary to the South Santiam River, off the Over the River and through the Woods Oregon Scenic Byway, to the right.

Travel Oregon and northern California while staying at Gathering Light ... a retreat
near Crater Lake National Park in southern Oregon.

Travel the Willamette Pass, OR Hwy 58, to the retreat: Directions, Map & Scenery: waterfalls, hiking trails, mountains, lakes, picnicking, cross country skiing, camping & more.

Directions to and Day Trips of around 100 miles from the retreat.

Scenic Places: hiking, sightseeing, wildlife viewing, birding & more near the retreat & Crater Lake: Directions Map & Scenery.

Directory for the travel pages    Home Page

Page Listings to the travel pages

wood river wetlands, one of the many birding trails near the retreat, this one within 10 miles of the retreat, located in southern oregon, near crater lake national park.

Wood River Wetlands Birding Trail, pictured above.

Contact Brad at Gathering Light ... a retreat.