BLM · Shotgun Creek OHV Staging Area · Marcola, OR

Shotgun Creek Recreation Site

The refreshing location with its lush, forest setting, coupled with comforts normally associated with an urban park, blend seamlessly at this popular day-use site. Here, one can immerse in the enjoyment of surrounding hiking trails, a swimming area, meandering creeks, and picnicking units. Whether seeking trail solitude, a fun day of water play during the heat of summer, or the lingering memory of that very special celebration, this special place awaits your arrival. Shotgun Creek Recreation Site is open to day use year round. Shelter reservations are available from May 1-September 30 each year.

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

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Reservable Day Use ShelterSelf service fee station.Shotgun Loop Trail.Horseshoe pits.
Photos courtesy of Lauren Bonney - BLM · Recreation.gov

Site mix

group standard electric2
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

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 20 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

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

SiteFits, ftSurfaceShadePowerPeople / vehiclesFiresAccessibleRating
Shelter 120PavedPartial20 amp300 / 75YesYesBasic
Shelter 220PavedPartial20 amp300 / 75YesYesBasic

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 09:00 AM, checkout 09:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsElectric
Max vehicle length20 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
FeesDay use fees and on site shelter rentals are available on site at the electronic fee station near the entrance. A $5 daily vehicle fee is not included with shelter reservations and is collected on site. Cash or check made out to Bureau of Land Management is accepted.
AccessibilitySites Shelter 1, Shelter 2 are listed accessible
  • Reserve one or both large group day-use shelters each equipped with fireplace, lights, sinks, potable water, and picnic tables that will accommodate up to 112 people comfortably for events.
  • 23 individual picnic sites
  • 6.43 miles of hiking trail

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

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Shotgun Creek Recreation Site40°50°60°70°January: 9.01 inches of precipitation, 0.5 inches of snowFebruary: 6.96 inches of precipitation, 1.2 inches of snowMarch: 7.55 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowApril: 6.65 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowMay: 4.28 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 2.84 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 0.52 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 0.62 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 2.13 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 5.68 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 9.70 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowDecember: 10.69 inches of precipitation, 1.3 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 41.9°F averageFebruary: 44.2°F averageMarch: 46.9°F averageApril: 50.7°F averageMay: 56.5°F averageJune: 61.4°F averageJuly: 67.7°F averageAugust: 67.7°F averageSeptember: 62.9°F averageOctober: 54.3°F averageNovember: 46.2°F averageDecember: 40.8°F average0 in5 in10 in15 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Leaburg 1 SW, 12 miles from the campground at 675 feet, station USC00354811 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 67 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 3 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From the North. Take Interstate 5 south, exit 216, OR-228 towards Brownsville/Crawfordsville. Turn right on Bush Creek Road just east of Crawfordsville. Drive 12.4 miles on Bush Creek Road that turns into Marcola Road. Turn right just past the community of Mabel onto Shotgun Creek Road. Follow Shotgun Creek Road approximately 1.5 miles.

Nearest townMarcola, Oregon
Coordinates44.2288° N, 122.8464° W · Directions ↗

Charges and cancellations

Standard fees apply and are non-refundable.

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Camas Ts Rx

    28 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    Marys Peak Rx

    40 mi from the campground

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

RV sales & serviceMarathon Coach ↗11.9 mi
Dump stationSweet Home RV Dump ↗13.5 mi
Outdoor gearCabela's ↗14.6 mi

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

Explore

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

Willamette National Forest begins about 4 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.

Natural features

The beautiful, well-equipped wooden shelters, available by reservation, offer a fine place to celebrate special events such as weddings, anniversaries or birthday parties.

Recreation

Hiking, picnicking, family gatherings, sand volleyball, softball, playground, horseshoe pits, and seasonal water play.

Nearby

  • The 34-mile Shotgun OHV Trail System is located immediately north of the recreation site. Nearby staging facilities offer free amenities such as picnic tables, bathrooms, and trash facilities. Elevations from 758 to 2,864. Current fire restrictions: Fire Closures and Restrictions. Public Fire Restriction lev els can be found on Oregon Department of Forestry's website.
  • Earnest Bridge south on Marcola Rd about a mile on the left on Paschelke Rd.
  • Springfield Golf Club south on Marcola Rd about 9 miles turn left on Sunderman Rd.
  • McGowan Environmental Education Area is located along McGowan Creek Road west of Shotgun Creek Rd.

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 Shotgun Creek Recreation Site?

Sites at Shotgun 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 Shotgun Creek Recreation Site?

Day use fees and on site shelter rentals are available on site at the electronic fee station near the entrance. A $5 daily vehicle fee is not included with shelter reservations and is collected on site. Cash or check made out to Bureau of Land Management is accepted.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Shotgun Creek Recreation Site?

Check-in 09:00 AM, checkout 09:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Shotgun Creek Recreation Site have?

2 sites, including 2 group standard electric.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Shotgun Creek Recreation Site?

The longest site here provides 20 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

Does Shotgun Creek Recreation Site have hookups?

Yes, electric hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Shotgun Creek Recreation Site?

Yes, pets are allowed at Shotgun Creek Recreation Site. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Shotgun Creek Recreation Site?

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.

Source: Fire nearby

Are there accessible sites at Shotgun Creek Recreation Site?

Sites Shelter 1 and Shelter 2 are 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 the nearest town to Shotgun Creek Recreation Site?

Marcola, Oregon. The 34-mile Shotgun OHV Trail System is located immediately north of the recreation site. Nearby staging facilities offer free amenities such as picnic tables, bathrooms, and trash facilities. Elevations from 758 to 2,864. Current fire restrictions: Fire Closures and Restrictions. P

Source: Getting there

What if Shotgun Creek Recreation Site is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Whispering Pines Horse Camp (12.6 mi), Graham Corral Horse Campground (12.6 mi), and South Twin Lake Campground (12.6 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby