Eel Creek Campground sits among coastal shrubbery on the edge of the sandy dunes within the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. The campground provides a peaceful and attractive atmosphere for hikers and birders. The most popular non-motorized trail here is the John Dellenback Dunes Trail, which guides hikers through the scenic dunes to the Pacific beach. This section of dunes features spectacular heights and stunning, expansive vistas.
The campground is divided into a north loop and a south loop. Amenities include flush toilets, drinking water, picnic tables, fire rings, and a self pay station. A campground host is available and an amphitheater sits between the two loops. This campground has 51 reservable sites.
Guidelines for a safe visit to the Siuslaw National Forest
The Siuslaw’s campgrounds, day use areas, and trails continue to be open for public enjoyment. While you are visiting the Forest, please follow the state’s size limits for outdoor gatherings (please visit https://govstatus.egov.com/or-covid-19/), along with the following guidelines. These guidelines will help ensure a safe and healthy visit for you and your family, our employees and volunteers, and other visitors:
By state orders, everyone age 5 and older must wear a face covering over their nose and mouth in indoor public spaces and outdoors when physical distancing of 6 feet is not possible.
Restrooms that are open are generally cleaned and disinfected at least once daily at the more popular campgrounds and day use sites, and once to three times a week at other sites.
Be prepared for limited or no services, including no trash collection at recreation sites. Be prepared to provide your own soap, sanitizer, or disinfectant.
If no trash receptacle is provided, please protect your public lands by packing out your waste and trash.
The state has issued a travel advisory recommending that visitors from out of state (including Oregon residents returning from another state or country) should self-quarantine for 14 days after their arrival.
For more information on COVID-19 in Oregon, please visit: https://govstatus.egov.com/OR-OHA-COVID-19
Due to the recent influx of recreationists on the Siuslaw National Forest, Forest Service-operated campgrounds went to 100% online reservations as of August 3rd. This change allows us to continue providing camping opportunities to the public while still mitigating COVID concerns.
Visitors can make reservations online through this website (preferred), or via phone by calling the recreation.gov phone line at 877-444-6777. If you call this number, please be prepared for longer-than-usual wait times. Please note that the Siuslaw National Forest does not have any control over the recreation.gov phone line, so we ask you to please prepare by making reservations well in advance.
Most sites are secluded and private due to dense shrubbery like rhododendrons and salal. Sites 7, 8, 42, and 43 are perched on the sand of the dunes. The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area is known for its wind-sculpted sand dunes towering up to 500 feet above sea level.
Visit Umpqua Lighthouse State Park, which features a historic lighthouse, camping, and hiking trails around Lake Marie. The Umpqua River Lighthouse stands on the site where the first lighthouse on the Oregon Coast was built in 1857. The current lighthouse dates back to 1890.
Boating and fishing are available at Tenmile Lake and Eel Lake.
The John Dellenback Dunes Trail takes hikers on a 2.7-mile (one way) trek from a conifer forest across the open dunes to the beach at the Pacific Ocean. Along the way, hikers will be treated to expansive views of the surrounding landscape. This hike makes for an incredible workout, due to tall dunes and soft sand. Quality wildlife watching is also available at the campground.
Normally, a campsite will be released to first-come, first-serve status if it is not occupied within the first 24 hours of the arrival time on the reservation. This campground does not have any first-come, first-serve sites available at this time; with this in mind, the 24-hour arrival policy is temporarily suspended until further notice.
Oregon Dunes Visitor Center 855 HWY 101 Reedsport OR 97467
For campground inquiries, please call: 541-271-6000
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
From Reedsport, Oregon travel south for 10 miles to Eel Creek Campground. The campground entrance is located on the right (west) side of Highway 101 near mile post 222.