Clay Creek Recreation Site
Reserve a site at Clay Creek on recreation.gov or pay when you arrive for non-reserved campsites using the Recreation.gov Mobile App. You must download before you reach the site since there is no cell reception in the drainage.
Clay Creek Recreation Site is nestled in the Coast Range of Oregon between Eugene and the Oregon coast at an elevation of 436-492 feet. Located at the confluence of Clay Creek and the Siuslaw River, this recreation site offers a wealth of activities including forest hiking, fishing, wildlife viewing, picnicking and camping. The Springfield Office of the Northwest Oregon District of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages the Clay Creek Recreation Site.
Clay Creek offers 21 individual campsites to accommodate 32 feet of RV, truck and trailer, or tents. Most sites contain fire ring, barbeque grill, picnic table, and tent pad. In addition, the site contains vault toilets, a summer swimming area with dressing rooms nearby, individual picnic sites, a children’s play area, horseshoe pits, potable water, volleyball area (bring your net and ball), and a ball field.
Notifications and Alerts
Clay Creek Campground is closed for the 2024 season due to Public Health and Safety concerns due to lack of seasonal staff availability and site hosts.
Need to Know
Campfires? Please see here for current campfire restrictions: Fire Closures and Restrictions Typically, campfires are limited to the steel fire rings or BBQ grills provided within the recreation site. No building rock campfire rings.
The Day Use Area and Campground are open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Camping stay limit is 14 days in a 28 day period.
Quiet hours are from 10:00 pm to 7:00 am.
Pets are ALLOWED but must be LEASHED (max. 6 feet) in the parking lot. Please dispose all pet waste in trash receptacles.
The maximum RV or truck/trailer length is 32 feet from front bumper of tow vehicle to back bumper of trailer.
No ATVs or ORVs allowed within the recreation site.
No fishing in Clay Creek - fishing allowed per Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife fishing regulations.
Natural Features
Clay Creek campground and the surrounding area are home to large canopy trees such as Douglas fir, western hemlock, red cedar, red alder and big leaf maple. The forest understory features a host of native plants like rhododendron, salal, various fern species, salmonberry and vine maple. On the forest floor, oxalis, Calypso orchids and mosses compliment the scenery. A diverse variety of bird life, from the seldom seen pileated woodpecker, northern spotted owl and marbled murrelet to the ever-present Oregon junco, frequent this area. Signs of larger animals, such as raccoon, mink, bear, elk, deer and beaver are evident.
Clay Creek is part of the Siuslaw River watershed that drains water from the Coast Range to the Pacific Ocean. The river flows broad, cloudy, and green and calls to anglers; check current fishing regulations before casting your line. The Siuslaw River is a salmon watch site that runs fast and cold during the winter months, where you can observe spawning Coho and Chinook salmon in the river’s exceptional habitat during the fall and winter.
Nearby Attractions
Put-ins for the river downstream, along the Siuslaw River Road. No permit required to paddle the 6.5 mile river, with Class II - III rapids.
Whittaker Creek Recreation Site
(Florence) Alder Dune Campground
(Florence) Archie Knowles Campground
(Florence) B & E Wayside Mobile and RV Park
(Cottage Grove) Baker Bay Campground
(Dorena) Baker Bay County Park
(Westfir) Bedrock Camp
Recreation
This quiet family oriented recreation site is a favorite if you enjoy riverside camping with an interpretive trail to old-growth timber. Spacious campsites with paved parking pads, mossy vine-maple tangles, and tall straight firs make up this camping area. The recreation site also boasts large group shelters available by reservation for group outings, weddings, or other events.
The Clay Creek Trail, created in 1991 for hiking, provides access to a stand of Douglas fir high above the campground and the Siuslaw River. The site’s Clay Creek Trail ascends a ridge above the campground to a remnant old-growth stand. From camp, you cross the concrete bridge on Clay Creek Road and river to begin the hike.
Changes & Cancellations
Standard fees apply and are non-refundable.
Visit https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies for more information.
Contact Information
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT SPRINGFIELD INTERAGENCY OFFICE 3106 PIERCE PARKWAY, SUITE E SPRINGFIELD OREGON 97477
Mailing
Springfield Interagency Office Recreation Operations 3106 Pierce Parkway, Suite E Springfield OR 97477
Physical
No physical address Walton OR 97490
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 541-683-6600
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From Eugene (valley): From Interstate 5 go 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. The main entrance to the recreation site is located on the right.
From Florence (coast): 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. The main entrance to the recreation site is located on the right.
