Clay Creek Recreation Site
Day-use recreation areas remain open for public use. You must download before you reach the site since there is no cell reception in the drainage. Clay Creek Recreation Site is nestled in the Coast Range of Oregon between Eugene and the Oregon coast at an elevation of 436-492 feet. Located at the confluence of Clay Creek and the Siuslaw River, this recreation site offers a wealth of activities including forest hiking, fishing, wildlife viewing, picnicking and camping. The Springfield Office of the Northwest Oregon District of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages the Clay Creek Recreation Site.
More like this: reservable in Oregon · pets allowed in Oregon
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 30 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | Campsite fee includes one vehicle per site. Extra camping vehicle fee of $5 each is collected at the site. Cash or check, made out to Bureau of Land Management, is accepted. Fee envelope receipt stub must be displayed on the dash. |
| Accessibility | Site 06 is listed accessible |
Clay Creek offers 21 individual campsites to accommodate 32 feet of RV, truck and trailer, or tents. Most sites contain fire ring, barbeque grill, picnic table, and tent pad. In addition, the site contains vault toilets, a summer swimming area with dressing rooms nearby, individual picnic sites, a children’s play area, horseshoe pits, potable water, volleyball area (bring your net and ball), and a ball field.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Eugene (valley): From Interstate 5 go west on Beltline Road to West 11th Avenue. Turn right onto West 11th Avenue (Highway OR-126). Follow Highway 126 about 29 miles to Siuslaw River Road just west of Walton. Turn left on Siuslaw River Road and follow about 10 miles to the intersection of BLM Road 19-7-20.1.
| Nearest town | Walton, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 43.9051° N, 123.5683° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Reserve a campsite at Clay Creek 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.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedMarys Peak Rx
42 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 | Outdoor gear ↗ | 16 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 19.3 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV Sales of Oregon ↗ | 23.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Explore Oregon Recreation: Clay Creek Recreation Area
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Wildcat Creek BridgeStructure · Walton · 8 mi
- Coyote Creek BridgeStructure · Crow · 12.1 mi
- Lake Creek BridgeStructure · Greenleaf · 14.7 mi
Natural features
Clay Creek campground and the surrounding area are home to large canopy trees such as Douglas fir, western hemlock, red cedar, red alder and big leaf maple. The forest understory features a host of native plants like rhododendron, salal, various fern species, salmonberry and vine maple. On the forest floor, oxalis, Calypso orchids and mosses compliment the scenery. A diverse variety of bird life, from the seldom seen pileated woodpecker, northern spotted owl and marbled murrelet to the ever-present Oregon junco, frequent this area. Signs of larger animals, such as raccoon, mink, bear, elk, deer and beaver are evident. Clay Creek is part of the Siuslaw River watershed that drains water from the Coast Range to the Pacific Ocean. The river flows broad, cloudy, and green and calls to anglers; check current fishing regulations before casting your line. The Siuslaw River is a salmon watch site that runs fast and cold during the winter months, where you can observe spawning Coho and Chinook salmon in the river’s exceptional habitat during the fall and winter.
Recreation
This quiet family oriented recreation site is a favorite if you enjoy riverside camping with an interpretive trail to old-growth timber. Spacious campsites with paved parking pads, mossy vine-maple tangles, and tall straight firs make up this camping area. The recreation site also boasts large group shelters available by reservation for group outings, weddings, or other events. The Clay Creek Trail, created in 1991 for hiking, provides access to a stand of Douglas fir high above the campground and the Siuslaw River. The site’s Clay Creek Trail ascends a ridge above the campground to a remnant old-growth stand. From camp, you cross the concrete bridge on Clay Creek Road and river to begin the hike.
Nearby
Put-ins for the river downstream, along the Siuslaw River Road. No permit required to paddle the 6.5 mile river, with Class II - III rapids. Whittaker Creek Recreation Site (Florence) Alder Dune Campground (Florence) Archie Knowles Campground (Florence) B & E Wayside Mobile and RV Park (Cottage Grove) Baker Bay Campground (Dorena) Baker Bay County Park (Westfir) Bedrock Camp
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Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Clay Creek Recreation Site?
Sites at Clay Creek 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 Clay Creek Recreation Site?
Campsite fee includes one vehicle per site. Extra camping vehicle fee of $5 each is collected at the site. Cash or check, made out to Bureau of Land Management, is accepted.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Clay Creek Recreation Site?
Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Clay Creek Recreation Site have?
23 sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Clay Creek Recreation Site?
The longest site here provides 30 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 Clay Creek Recreation Site?
Yes, pets are allowed at Clay Creek Recreation Site. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Clay Creek Recreation Site?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at Clay Creek Recreation Site?
Site 06 is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Clay Creek Recreation Site?
This quiet family oriented recreation site is a favorite if you enjoy riverside camping with an interpretive trail to old-growth timber. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Clay Creek Recreation Site?
Walton, Oregon. Put-ins for the river downstream, along the Siuslaw River Road.
Source: Getting there
What if Clay Creek Recreation Site is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Whittaker Creek Recreation Site (7.3 mi), Archie Knowles Campground (14.2 mi, first-come), and Richardson Campground (19.2 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby