Shadow Bay
Shadow Bay Campground rests on the shores of Waldo Lake in a forest of towering conifers. This large recreation area provides plenty of things to see and do like sailing, canoeing, fishing and swimming.
The group sites take reservations.
More like this: first-come in Oregon · reservable in Oregon · big rigs in Oregon · pets allowed in Oregon · group sites in Oregon
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 52 |
| Group sites | 3 |
| Host/management | 2 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
21 sites in 6 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001-24 | LOOA | Standard | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| GP_B | LOOB | Group | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | 120 / 19 | Yes |
| GP_C | LOOC | Group | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | 120 / 17 | Yes |
| 061-70 | LOOD | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| GP_E | LOOE | Group | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | 30 / 5 | Yes |
| 076 | LOOF | Standard | Back-in | 24 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 077 | LOOF | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 078 | LOOF | Standard | Back-in | 24 | Gravel | Full | 12 / 3 | Yes |
| 079 | LOOF | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 080 | LOOF | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 1 | 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 | 40 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
This 92 site campground is less busy than its neighboring campground, North Waldo, resulting in a quieter atmosphere. Nineteen sites are reservable. Garbage containers and gray water disposal areas are available at the campground.
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 | June to September |
| Forest | Willamette National Forest |
| Booking | Reserve online at www.recreation.gov or phone 1.877.444.6777. There are 19 reservable sites, including 3 group sites; the remaining 35 sites are first come first serve. |
| Fees | Single Campsites - $29 per night. Multiple Campsites - $58 per night. Group Sites Site B and C - $465 per night. Site E - $130 per night. Extra Vehicles - $10 per vehicle, per night. Day Use - $10 per vehicle, per day. |
| Rules | Single campsite capacity: 6 persons, 2 vehicles, and 2 tents*. Multiple campsite capacity: 8 persons, 3 vehicles, and 3 tents*. See special regulations for Waldo Lake 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 Oakridge, Oregon: At the intersection of Crestview Street and Oregon State Highway 58 (the only traffic light on State Highway 58 in Oakridge), travel east on Highway 58 for 23.3 miles. Turn left on the Waldo Lake Road/Forest Road 5897 and travel 6.7 miles to Forest Road 5896.
| Nearest town | Oakridge, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 43.6931° N, 122.0417° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx Cold Springs
29 mi from the campground · 158 acres
- PrescribedJunction Rx
34 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | REI ↗ | 43.7 mi |
| RV sales & service | Blue Compass RV Bend ↗ | 45.6 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Video of Shadow Mountain Dispersed Camping, WY from Ruby W.
Worth a stop
Explore Waldo Lake and surrounding hiking trails for views of the snow-capped North, Middle and South Sisters, three of the seven major peaks in Willamette National Forest.
- 4.1 mi
- 4.6 mi
- 7.6 miTrapper Creek Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
- 13.6 miCrescent Lake Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
- 13.8 miSimax Beach Picnic Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miShadow Bay Snowmobile2.1 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 0.3 miShadow Bay Shoreline1.3 mi trail · hiking, bike
- 0.3 miBetty Lake1.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.2 miHigh Divide ↗5.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.2 miSouth Waldo Shelter Nordic3.9 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 1.3 miSouth Waldo ↗7.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 1.4 miTwin Peak Trailhead ↗Willamette National Forest
- 1.8 miBetty Lake Trailhead ↗Willamette National Forest
- 1.8 miBobby Lake Trailhead ↗Willamette National Forest
- 2.7 miMt. Ray 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, which overlaps Deschutes National Forest.
- inWillamette National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,801,292 acres
- inDeschutes National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,870,116 acres
- 2.3 miWaldo Lake Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 36,865 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
Natural features
Shadow Bay Campground is located on a large bay at the south end of Waldo Lake. It is considerably wetter than either North Waldo or Islet Campground, supporting a more diverse and prolific ground cover, and also more mosquitos. Situated high on the western slopes of the Oregon Cascades at 5,400 feet in elevation, Waldo Lake is one of the purest lakes in Oregon (9.8 square miles with a maximum depth of 427 feet). It has no permanent inlet to bring nutrients into the lake for plant growth. The lack of plant life contributes to its purity, allowing you to see to depths of 120 feet on a calm day.
Recreation
Waldo Lake is circled by the Jim Weaver Loop, a 22-mile hiking and biking trail. The Shoreline Trail lines the lakeside of the campground and takes hikers and bikers to a network of other trails. From there, hikers can continue into the Waldo Lake Wilderness, but mountain bikers are not allowed in Wilderness. The lake offers boating and swimming. A boat ramp is located on-site.
Guidebooks for Oregon
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Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Shadow Bay?
For some sites. The group sites take reservations.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Shadow Bay?
Single Campsites - $29 per night. Multiple Campsites - $58 per night. Group Sites Site B and C - $465 per night.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Shadow Bay?
Check-in 0:00 AM, checkout 0:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Shadow Bay open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season June to September.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Shadow Bay have?
57 sites, including 52 standard sites without power and 3 group sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Shadow Bay?
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Shadow Bay?
Yes, pets are allowed at Shadow Bay. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Shadow Bay?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 2 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Single campsite capacity: 6 persons, 2 vehicles, and 2 tents*.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Shadow Bay?
Waldo Lake is circled by the Jim Weaver Loop, a 22-mile hiking and biking trail. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Shadow Bay?
Oakridge, Oregon. Explore Waldo Lake and surrounding hiking trails for views of the snow-capped North, Middle and South Sisters, three of the seven major peaks in Willamette National Forest.
Source: Getting there
What if Shadow Bay is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Islet Campground (4.1 mi, partly first-come), Gold Lake Campground (4.5 mi, first-come), and North Waldo (4.9 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby