Bureau of Land Management · Oregon

Sharps Creek Recreation Site

Bureau of Land Management · Oregon, United States

Open on the map Drive there Reserve Directions
Sites
12
Hookups
12 with water, 12 no hookups
Season
May 16 to September 28
Drinking water
Yes
Restrooms
Yes
Pets
Yes
Elevation
1,181 ft
Dark sky
Bortle class 1
Cell coverage
T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
Nearest town
Springfield
Address
Springfield Interagency Office, Springfield, OR, 97477
Phone
503-375-5646
Activities
Camping, Day Use Area, Gold Panning, Picnicking, Water Access, Water Activities

About

Overview

Payment is done via Electronic Fee machine on site ONLY. NO CASH PAYMENTS ACCEPTED ON SITE

Reserve a site at Sharps 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.

Step off the beaten path and explore a delightful gem nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains with ties to the historic Bohemia Mining District, 18 miles southeast of Cottage Grove. The site offers a 12-unit campground, day-use picnicking area, and a nearby swimming hole formed naturally among rounded boulders at the base of an overlook extending above Sharps Creek. Cool and delightful waters entice the visitor to swim or simply 'dabble' along the bank while enjoying the surrounding beauty of the forest. For those with a penchant for gold panning, the site offers exciting opportunities to try one's skill and luck!

The Springfield Office of the Northwest Oregon District of the Bureau of Land Management manages the Sharps Creek Recreation Site.

Recreation

Sharps Creek Recreation Site consists of a small, family campground and a day-use area overlooking Sharps Creek. A swimming hole at the base of the overlook provides a refreshing place to cool down on hot, summer days. All swimmers should use caution.

Facilities

Sharps Creek Campground offers 12 campsites with easy access to the day use swimming area next door. The campground has vault toilets and running water. There is no Cellular Service at the site.

Natural Features

Sharps 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.

Nearby Attractions

The Row River National Recreation Trail/Covered Bridges State Scenic Bikeway is located less than 4 miles northwest of Sharps Creek Recreation Site.

Dorena Lake

City of Cottage Grove

Charges & Cancellations

Standard fees apply and are non-refundable.

Visit https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies for more information.

Fees

Campsite fee includes one vehicle per site. Extra camping vehicle fee of $5 each is collected at the site. Cash or check, made out to Bureau of Land Management, is accepted. Fee envelope receipt stub must be displayed on the dash.

Weather, month by month

MonthTypical highTypical lowColdest nightHottest dayYears with a night below 32°F
January50°36°24°66°5 of 11
February47°36°6°71°7 of 11
March53°36°21°75°7 of 11
April57°39°20°77°2 of 11
May64°48°37°87°0 of 11
June71°51°41°95°0 of 11
July83°58°52°100°0 of 11
August85°59°52°106°0 of 11
September76°54°47°99°0 of 11
October66°47°39°87°0 of 10
November57°42°32°71°1 of 10
December48°36°20°65°5 of 10

Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.

Nearby campgrounds

All public campgrounds in Oregon · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-07-15. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.