BLM · Nestucca River Recreation Area · Salem, OR

Elk Bend Recreation Site

Want to camp? Camping season is generally May-September, with Alder Glen and Elk Bend remaining open through the weekend following General Western Oregon Coast 2nd Season for elk. During months with reduced sunlight, potable water may be turned off. Be prepared to bring your own wash and drinking water. You must download before you reach the site since there is no cell reception in the drainage. A place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the electronic age. Elk Bend is the Bureau of Land Management’s group campground within the Nestucca River Recreation Area. The campground sits along the Nestucca River National Back Country Byway and newly designated Nestucca Wild and Scenic River.

More like this: reservable in Oregon · pets allowed in Oregon · group sites in Oregon

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Elk Bend viewElk Bend accessible campsiteElk Bend accessible pathElk Bend parking area
Photos courtesy of BLM · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Group sites1
This site is booked as a single unit on Recreation.gov. The booking page shows which dates are open and how far ahead they release. How the booking window works

Site guide

1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteSurfaceShadeWater / sewerWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresRating
1PavedPartialNo / –Riverfront40 / 10YesBasic

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 01:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
FeesCampground fee of $75 per night up to 25 people. Each additional person is $2.50 per night. Additional service fees apply and are non-refundable.

Each campsite contains a picnic table and fire ring. A centralized paved parking area is centralized up on the Nestucca Back Country Byway. There is one vault toilet and seasonal potable drinking water.

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

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Elk Bend Recreation Site40°50°60°January: 11.81 inches of precipitationFebruary: 9.37 inches of precipitationMarch: 9.54 inches of precipitationApril: 6.95 inches of precipitationMay: 4.43 inches of precipitationJune: 3.28 inches of precipitationJuly: 0.86 inches of precipitationAugust: 1.33 inches of precipitationSeptember: 3.33 inches of precipitationOctober: 7.40 inches of precipitationNovember: 12.41 inches of precipitationDecember: 13.68 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 43.4°F averageFebruary: 44.0°F averageMarch: 45.4°F averageApril: 47.6°F averageMay: 51.5°F averageJune: 55.7°F averageJuly: 59.0°F averageAugust: 59.6°F averageSeptember: 57.5°F averageOctober: 51.6°F averageNovember: 46.0°F averageDecember: 42.5°F average0 in5 in10 in15 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Tillamook 6Se, 15 miles from the campground at 140 feet, station USC00358498 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 84 inches a year.

Getting there

From Coastal Hwy 101 at Beaver: Turn right onto Blaine Road. Drive 7 miles to reach the Nestucca Byway. From Willamina: Take Willamina Creek Road, to Coast Creek Road, to Gilbert Creek Road, to Bald Mountain Access Road, to Bible Creek Road to the Nestucca Byway. From Carlton: Take Meadow Lake Road west 12 miles, continue onto the Nestucca Byway.

Nearest townSalem, Oregon
Coordinates45.2829° N, 123.5403° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • Reserve a site at one of our four campgrounds on recreation.gov or pay when you arrive for non-reserved campsites using the Recreation.gov Mobile App.

Charges and cancellations

Standard fees apply and are non-refundable.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗28.2 mi
Outdoor gearSafari Town Surf Shop ↗30.5 mi
RV sales & serviceCamping World ↗33.8 mi

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

Explore

Worth a stop

The Nestucca Off-Highway Vehicle Area is located in the Nestucca Backcountry Byway, and includes Whipup Flat, Elk Flat, and Grassy Flat. Oregon ATV permits required.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Recreation

A small group campground offering 5 individual campsites in the Oregon Coast Range.

Guidebooks for Oregon

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

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

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Elk Bend Recreation Site?

Sites at Elk Bend Recreation Site 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 Elk Bend Recreation Site?

Campground fee of $75 per night up to 25 people. Each additional person is $2.50 per night. Additional service fees apply and are non-refundable.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Elk Bend Recreation Site?

Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 01:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Elk Bend Recreation Site have?

1 site, including 1 group site.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Elk Bend Recreation Site?

Yes, pets are allowed at Elk Bend Recreation Site. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Elk Bend Recreation Site?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is the nearest town to Elk Bend Recreation Site?

Salem, Oregon. The Nestucca Off-Highway Vehicle Area is located in the Nestucca Backcountry Byway, and includes Whipup Flat, Elk Flat, and Grassy Flat.

Source: Getting there

What if Elk Bend Recreation Site is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Alder Glen Recreation Site (2.3 mi), Fan Creek Recreation Site (2.3 mi), and Dovre Recreation Site (3.7 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby