Bureau of Land Management · Oregon
Elkhorn Valley Recreation Site
Bureau of Land Management · Oregon, United States
- Sites
- 23
- Hookups
- 23 no hookups
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 994 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
- Salem
- Address
- Northwest Oregon District, Salem, OR, 97306
- Phone
- 503-897-2171
About
Overview
Limited picnic areas at Elkhorn Valley Recreation Site are open for day use, but camping remains closed. Canyon Creek Recreation Site is open for day use.
Nearby Attractions:
Canyon Creek Recreation Site is located downstream from Elkhorn Valley and is open for day use including swimming, fishing, and picnicking. Fishermen's Bend Recreation Site, along Hwy 22 closer to Mill City, is open to day use where you can picnic, hold events and gatherings, relax, cool off, fish and put in a non-motorized boat.
Along Forest Road 2209 in the Willamette National Forest the sites Three Pools, Shady Cove, Opal Creek Wilderness, and Jawbone Flats are closed until further notice.
Recreation
-
Facilities
Camping at Elkhorn Valley Recreation Site remains closed due to heavy wildfire damage, but day use amenities such as picnic sites, vault toilets, and trash services are available in the first loop.
Natural Features
During your stay, view the deep emerald pools, surrounding cliffs, waterfalls and old-growth forest. Enjoy some of the best swimming in Oregon by cooling off in the refreshing Little North Santiam River on a hot summer day.
Nearby Attractions
Charges & Cancellations
Standard fees apply and are non-refundable.
Visit https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies for more information.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 48° | 37° | 20° | 64° | 6 of 11 |
| February | 45° | 35° | 15° | 66° | 8 of 11 |
| March | 51° | 35° | 25° | 71° | 7 of 11 |
| April | 54° | 39° | 25° | 75° | 4 of 11 |
| May | 62° | 48° | 37° | 86° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 69° | 50° | 42° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 80° | 57° | 50° | 100° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 82° | 58° | 51° | 105° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 74° | 55° | 43° | 98° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 62° | 47° | 41° | 86° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 55° | 42° | 29° | 67° | 2 of 10 |
| December | 47° | 36° | 20° | 64° | 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
- John Neal Memorial Park Campground · City, County & Regional Parks · 7 mi
- Shady Cove · USDA Forest Service · 8 mi · 4 sites
- Silver Falls State Park · Oregon State Parks · 11 mi · 96 sites
- Aquila Vista Recreation Site · Bureau of Land Management · 13 mi · 1 sites
- Detroit Lake State Recreation Area · Oregon State Parks · 14 mi · 272 sites
All public campgrounds in Oregon · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-05-08. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.