Slide Creek
Slide Creek Campground is a unique camping destination just 50 miles from Eugene, Oregon. Located on the east bank of the Cougar Reservoir, it is known for handy access to boating and many water activities. It is also near Terwilliger Hot Springs, a pristine area with 5 soaking pools fed by the Rider Creek waterfall.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in Oregon · reservable in Oregon · big rigs in Oregon · pets allowed in Oregon
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 15 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 90 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
15 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Back-in | 20 | Partial | |||
| 002 | Pull-through | 20 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 003 | Back-in | 20 | Partial | |||
| 004 | Pull-through | 35 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 005 | Back-in | 20 | Partial | |||
| 006 | Pull-through | 35 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 007 | Back-in | 20 | Partial | |||
| 008 | Pull-through | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 009 | Back-in | 20 | Partial | |||
| 010 | Pull-through | 15 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 90 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
Both campground and the day use area guests have access to drinking water, vault toilets, a boat ramp, ample parking and a swimming beach. A separate parking lot is available for boat trailers. The facility has 15 campsites that can accommodate tents, trailers or RVs and come equipped with campfire rings and picnic tables.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Season | April to September |
| Forest | Willamette National Forest |
| Booking | Reserve online at www.recreation.gov or phone 1.877.444.6777. Over half the campsites are available for advance reservation via recreation.gov. |
| Fees | Single Campsites - $23 per night. Multiple Campsites - $46 per night. Extra Vehicles - $10 per vehicle, per night. Day Use - $10 per vehicle, per day |
| Rules | Camping is restricted to developed campgrounds in the Cougar Recreation Area. Camping is not allowed more than 14 days in a 60 day period. Check-in time: 2:00 pm or later. Check-out time: 1:00 pm. Use of chainsaws in the campground is prohibited. Dogs MUST be on leash at all times within the campground |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Blue River, travel 4 miles east on Hwy 126 to Aufderheide Drive (FS road 19). Proceed on Aufderheide Drive for 9.5 miles to FS road 1900-500 and continue for 1.5 miles to Slide Creek Campground.
| Nearest town | Blue River, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 44.0747° N, 122.2247° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedCamas Ts Rx
25 mi from the campground
- PrescribedJunction Rx
38 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Sweet Home RV Dump ↗ | 33.2 mi |
| RV sales & service | Oregon West RV ↗ | 40.4 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Cabela's ↗ | 40.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Slide Creek Campground - Willamette National Forest, OR
Worth a stop
- 0.7 mi
- 6.4 miLowder Mountain, Upper Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 7.5 mi
Trails nearby
- 0.7 miRider Creek0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.4 miWalker Creek ↗7.7 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 2 miLowder Mountain ↗10.8 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 2.4 miFrench Pete ↗9.7 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 3.1 miEast Fork ↗5.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.2 miEcho2.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.7 miTerwilliger (Cougar) Hot Springs Trailhead ↗Willamette National Forest · Season Year Round, but Forest Service Rd 19 is not maintained for snow and ice in the winter
- 2 miLowder Mountain, Lower Trailhead ↗Willamette National Forest
- 2.3 miFrench Pete Trailhead ↗Willamette National Forest
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Willamette National Forest.
- inWillamette National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,801,292 acres
- 4.4 miThree Sisters Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 283,818 acres
- 7.5 miDeschutes National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,870,116 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Belknap BridgeStructure · Rainbow · 6.5 mi
- Log Cabin Inn EnsembleBuilding · McKenzie Bridge · 7.6 mi
Natural features
The Willamette National Forest stretches for 110 miles with varied landscapes of high mountains, narrow canyons, cascading streams, and wooded slopes. Native wildlife includes Roosevelt elk, black bear, bald eagles, black tail deer and bobcats. Cougar Reservoir sits at 1,700 feet in elevation and is an estimated 1,280 acres. Some campsites have views of Cougar Reservoir and all sites are an easy walk to the swimming area.
Recreation
Activities on the reservoir include water skiing, swimming, fishing and canoeing. Anglers might catch some quality rainbow trout. The campground is close to a large network of hiking trails in the Olallie Trail Area. Half of the trails are open to biking as well.
Guidebooks for Oregon
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Slide Creek?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Slide Creek?
Single Campsites - $23 per night. Multiple Campsites - $46 per night. Extra Vehicles - $10 per vehicle, per night.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Slide Creek?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Slide Creek open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season April to September.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Slide Creek have?
15 sites, including 15 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Slide Creek?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Slide Creek?
Yes, pets are allowed at Slide Creek. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Slide Creek?
Activities on the reservoir include water skiing, swimming, fishing and canoeing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Slide Creek?
Blue River, Oregon.
Source: Getting there
What if Slide Creek is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Sunnyside Campground (1.1 mi, partly first-come), Cougar Crossing Campground (1.2 mi, partly first-come), and French Pete Campground (2.4 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby