BLM · Molalla · Salem, OR

Three Bears Campground

No cash, check, or cards are accepted on site. Make a reservations online or use the mobile app. Three Bears campsites are only available by making a reservation. There is no cell reception in the drainage. Situated in a picturesque grove of western red cedar 4 miles south of Glen Avon Bridge, the site has 15 tent campsites, each equipped with a tent pad, metal fire ring, BBQ grill, and picnic table. The campground also has vault toilets and access to a beautiful cobble beach and swimming hole.

Reservable · Recreation.gov15 sitesFrom $15 per night12 ft maxPets okFires okTents only

More like this: reservable in Oregon · tent only in Oregon · pets allowed in Oregon

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Three Bears portal signKioskWater PumpRocky River Access
Photos courtesy of BLM · Recreation.gov
4fires
active
Podunk Admin Rx - West (prescribed burn) · 15 mi away
3 more within 50 miles
Incident details ↓

Site mix

Walk-in15
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

15 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteSurfaceShadeWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFiresRating
01PavedPartialNo / –12 / –YesBasic
02PavedPartialNo / –8 / –YesBasic
03PavedPartialNo / –8 / –YesBasic
04PavedPartialNo / –12 / –YesBasic
05PavedPartialNo / –12 / –YesBasic
06PavedPartialNo / –12 / –YesBasic
07PavedPartialNo / –8 / –YesBasic
08PavedPartialNo / –8 / –YesBasic
09PavedPartialNo / –8 / –YesBasic
10PavedPartialNo / –8 / –YesBasic

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Amenities & rules

Max vehicle length12 ft
EquipmentTents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Fees$15-30 per night plus fees. Standard fees apply and are non-refundable.

Amenities includes a vault restroom, individual campsites with picnic tables, BBQ grill, and a metal fire ring. There are two parking spots for each campsite located in the central parking lot. There is a central hand pump for potable water off-site at Cedar Grove campground 1 mile east of Three Bears. There is no firewood at the site or firewood collection allowed, please bring your own firewood if you wish to have a fire.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Three Bears Campground30°40°50°60°70°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 38.7°F averageFebruary: 39.5°F averageMarch: 41.6°F averageApril: 45.0°F averageMay: 50.9°F averageJune: 55.5°F averageJuly: 62.4°F averageAugust: 62.9°F averageSeptember: 59.3°F averageOctober: 48.9°F averageNovember: 41.9°F averageDecember: 37.5°F averageTemp °F
The line is the average temperature at Scotts Mills 9 SE, 7 miles from the campground at 2,315 feet, station USC00357631 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020.

Getting there

The Molalla River is located approximately 10 miles southeast of Molalla in Clackamas County. From the town of Molalla, drive east on Main St/OR 211. Veer right at the OR 211/Mathias Road intersection, follow signs for Feyrer Park. Once past Feyrer Park, cross over the Molalla River, turn right, and follow signs for Dickey Prairie Rd.

Nearest townSalem, Oregon
Coordinates45.0455° N, 122.4895° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • Reserve a campsite on recreation.gov or Recreation.gov Mobile App prior to entering the Molalla River Recreation Corridor.

Charges and cancellations

Standard fees apply and are non-refundable.

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Podunk Admin Rx - West

    15 mi from the campground

  • Wildfire
    The Narrows

    21 mi from the campground · 305 acres · 98% contained

  • Prescribed
    Timber Lake/Ripplebrook Admin Rx - West

    21 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    Fawn Stew Piles Rx - West

    21 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 stationDump station ↗18.8 mi
RV sales & serviceAdventure Trading RV ↗20.2 mi
Outdoor gearTimber Town Resale ↗20.3 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Three Bears Family Camping Tents | POV | Would you buy it?

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

Table Rock Wilderness begins about 7.5 miles away, and it is the closest of these.

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.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

Molalla Wild and Scenic River and forested environment.

Recreation

Camping, fishing, swimming, hiking and biking on nearby trails (Hardy Creek TH closest)

Nearby

Enjoy a scenic drive along the Molalla Wild and Scenic River which offers easy river access and opportunities for picnicking, swimming, camping, whitewater boating and fishing. The Molalla is one of the few undammed tributaries of the Willamette River and cuts a picturesque gorge on its way to the valley floor. Table Rock Wilderness is further up the canyon and accessible through three trailheads.

Guidebooks for Molalla and Oregon

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Road Trip Explore! Oregon--Molalla River Corridor and Table Rock Wilderness
    Cat McMahon, 2015
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Oregon camping
    Tom Stienstra, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Oregon's Ancient Forests
    Chandra LeGue, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Three Bears Campground?

Sites at Three Bears Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Three Bears Campground?

$15-30 per night plus fees. Standard fees apply and are non-refundable.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Three Bears Campground?

Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Three Bears Campground have?

15 sites, including 15 walk-in sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Three Bears Campground?

The longest site here provides 12 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 Three Bears Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Three Bears Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Three Bears Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 4 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.

Source: Fire nearby

What is the nearest town to Three Bears Campground?

Salem, Oregon. Enjoy a scenic drive along the Molalla Wild and Scenic River which offers easy river access and opportunities for picnicking, swimming, camping, whitewater boating and fishing.

Source: Getting there

What if Three Bears Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Cedar Grove Campground (0.9 mi), Aquila Vista Recreation Site (4.2 mi), and Shady Cove (16.7 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby