BLM · Lyons, OR

Elkhorn Valley Recreation Site

Limited picnic areas at Elkhorn Valley Recreation Site are open for day use, but camping remains closed. Canyon Creek Recreation Site is open for day use. Nearby Attractions: Canyon Creek Recreation Site is located downstream from Elkhorn Valley and is open for day use including swimming, fishing, and picnicking. Fishermen's Bend Recreation Site, along Hwy 22 closer to Mill City, is open to day use where you can picnic, hold events and gatherings, relax, cool off, fish and put in a non-motorized boat.

Reservable · Recreation.gov23 sites49 ft maxPets okFires okTents only

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

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Elkhorn Valley Recreation SiteFalse Lily of the ValleyCampsite 15, Loop BCampsite 11, Loop B
Photos courtesy of Steve Baldwin-BLM, Traci Meredith-BLM, BLM · Recreation.gov
4fires
active
Camas Ts Rx (prescribed burn) · 27 mi away
3 more within 50 miles
Incident details ↓

Site mix

Standard, no hookups17
Tent-only6
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

23 sites in 3 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresAccessibleRating
001A LoopStandardBack-in40PavedFullRiverfront10 / 3YesYesBasic
002A LoopStandardBack-in27PavedFullRiverfront8 / 2YesYesBasic
003A LoopStandardBack-in22PavedFullRiverfront8 / 2YesYesBasic
004A LoopStandardBack-in22PavedFullRiverfront8 / 2YesYesBasic
005A LoopStandardBack-in21PavedFullRiverfront8 / 2YesYesBasic
006A LoopStandardBack-in26PavedFullRiverfront8 / 2YesYesBasic
007A LoopStandardBack-in16PavedFullRiverfront8 / 2YesYesBasic
008A LoopStandardBack-in22PavedFullRiverfront8 / 2YesYesBasic
009A LoopStandardBack-in18PavedFullRiverfront8 / 2YesYesBasic
010B LoopStandardBack-in16PavedFullRiverfront8 / 2YesYesBasic

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 1:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

Max vehicle length49 ft
EquipmentTents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Tent padsYes
AccessibilitySites 001, 002, 003, 004 and 6 more are listed accessible

Camping at Elkhorn Valley Recreation Site remains closed due to heavy wildfire damage, but day use amenities such as picnic sites, vault toilets, and trash services are available in the first loop.

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

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Elkhorn Valley Recreation Site30°40°50°60°70°January: 8.83 inches of precipitationFebruary: 8.37 inches of precipitationMarch: 8.09 inches of precipitationApril: 6.43 inches of precipitationMay: 4.40 inches of precipitationJune: 2.96 inches of precipitationJuly: 0.66 inches of precipitationAugust: 0.80 inches of precipitationSeptember: 2.27 inches of precipitationOctober: 5.51 inches of precipitationNovember: 9.39 inches of precipitationDecember: 11.21 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 37.7°F averageFebruary: 39.2°F averageMarch: 41.9°F averageApril: 45.8°F averageMay: 52.4°F averageJune: 56.7°F averageJuly: 63.2°F averageAugust: 63.0°F averageSeptember: 57.9°F averageOctober: 49.1°F averageNovember: 41.5°F averageDecember: 37.1°F average0 in5 in10 in15 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Silver Creek Falls, 11 miles from the campground at 1,350 feet, station USC00357809 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 69 inches a year.

Getting there

From Salem: Take State Hwy 22 East for 24 approximately miles. Turn left on North Fork County Road. Elkhorn Valley is 8.5 miles up North Fork County Road. Traffic is high during the summer season. Please drive carefully. Be aware of slippery roads during wet and icy weather.

Nearest townLyons, Oregon
Coordinates44.7978° N, 122.4558° W · Directions ↗

Charges and cancellations

Standard fees apply and are non-refundable.

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Camas Ts Rx

    27 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    Podunk Admin Rx - West

    27 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    Austin Repair Pile Rx - West

    28 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    Timber Lake/Ripplebrook Admin Rx - West

    28 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 gearTimber Town Resale ↗3.5 mi
RV sales & serviceRV sales & service ↗25.3 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗27.9 mi

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

Explore

Video

Campground chronicals . Elkhorn campground in Kentucky

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

Table Rock Wilderness begins about 11 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

During your stay, view the deep emerald pools, surrounding cliffs, waterfalls and old-growth forest. Enjoy some of the best swimming in Oregon by cooling off in the refreshing Little North Santiam River on a hot summer day.

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 Elkhorn Valley Recreation Site?

Sites at Elkhorn Valley Recreation Site are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Elkhorn Valley Recreation Site?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Elkhorn Valley Recreation Site have?

23 sites, including 17 standard sites without power and 6 tent-only sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Elkhorn Valley Recreation Site?

The longest site here provides 49 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 Elkhorn Valley Recreation Site?

Yes, pets are allowed at Elkhorn Valley Recreation Site. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Elkhorn Valley Recreation Site?

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

Are there accessible sites at Elkhorn Valley Recreation Site?

Sites 001, 002, 003, and 004 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 10 sites in all. 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 Elkhorn Valley Recreation Site?

Lyons, Oregon.

Source: Getting there

What if Elkhorn Valley Recreation Site is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Shady Cove (8.3 mi, first-come), Aquila Vista Recreation Site (13 mi), and Yellowbottom Recreation Site (15 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby