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Willamette/Cold Water Cove Campground
Overview
Cold Water Cove Campground offers a serene escape within the Willamette National Forest, positioned directly on the shores of the famous Clear Lake. This destination provides a classic Pacific Northwest camping experience, characterized by dense evergreen forests and refreshing mountain air. It is a rustic destination where the focus remains entirely on the stunning natural beauty of the High Cascades, making it a peaceful retreat for those looking to unplug from the modern world.
Location & Surroundings
Situated in Blue River, OR, the campground sits at an elevation of approximately 3,000 feet. The primary draw is the breathtaking Clear Lake, renowned for its transparent waters that reveal a preserved submerged forest beneath the surface. The surrounding area is part of the scenic McKenzie River Corridor, featuring dramatic volcanic landscapes, ancient lava flows, and lush stands of Douglas fir and western red cedar that provide ample shade for campsites.
Amenities & Park Features
As a forest service facility, amenities are focused on the essentials for a primitive experience. RVers will find paved parking spurs that can accommodate various rig sizes, though it is important to note that no hookups are available. Each site includes a heavy-duty picnic table and a fire ring for evening gatherings under the stars. On-site facilities include vault toilets and hand-pumps for potable water, encouraging a self-contained and traditional camping style for visitors.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
Outdoor enthusiasts can access the McKenzie River Trail directly from the area, which is widely considered one of the premier mountain biking and hiking paths in the United States. Just a short drive or hike away are the thunderous Sahalie and Koosah Falls, which showcase the raw power of the McKenzie River. Clear Lake itself is perfect for non-motorized boating, and the nearby lodge offers boat rentals for those wishing to explore the lake's unique underwater views.
Who This Park Is Best For
This campground is ideal for nature photographers and hikers who prioritize world-class scenery over resort-style luxuries. It is a fantastic choice for RVers seeking a peaceful boondocking experience away from the noise of commercial parks. If you enjoy waking up to lakefront views and having direct access to challenging trail systems, Cold Water Cove provides the perfect rustic basecamp for your Oregon adventure.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Facility
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
Amber S
We stayed here for one night 9/10/2025. We were a little hesitant to come due to the reviews about the rude camp host and the terrible bathrooms. However, the camp host was let go the day before we arrived. There was a new guy, Eldon, there and he was an absolute pleasure to talk to. He helped us pick out the perfect spot and we saw him help an elderly couple back their trailer in. The pit toilet was so clean! I would absolutely stay here again and highly recommend to anyone else!
Amanda
We stayed for 4 days in August. The views by site 17 a double tent site were great. We were there for a couple days then moved to a first come first serve site. But the site has a lot of things that need improving. For water there's 2 extremely squeaky and loud hand pumps that are hard to work without 2 people. There's no sinks or places to wash things. The bathrooms were these vault toilets, again with no sinks or hand sanitizer. They did have tolit paper when we were there. The lake is nice but so cold even in August that we couldn't get in to wash ourselves so was just dirty throughout the time there. If none of those things matter to you then it is a fine place to stay. For us I don't think I would want to stay there for so long in the future at least when tent camping. There are some nice hikes in the area really close by so that's a plus. We did tend to have cell service variably at the camp with T-Mobile.
Chelsea Lindsey
Beautiful, clean and highly recommended! My family had a great time here. Caught tons of fish and the weather was great.
Chadd Ficcadenti
Clean and easy to find. Plenty of available camp spots. The one my group got was near the river and was very beautiful as the sun was rising. Access was convenient and even though there was a fire restriction we had a great time. 9/10
Brittany McDaniel
We camped here for Memorial Weekend 2024 and really enjoyed ourselves. They have a kayak launch here and our site was close enough to roll our kayaks down to the launch. Very easy exit and entry to lake. The campground itself was extremely quiet. We were shocked at how quiet it was especially for a holiday weekend and not all of the spots were filled. We stayed in space #32. It was a large site with plenty of room but it was kind of in the middle of the campground with other sites surrounding it. I think next time if we stayed here we’d pick a corner spot a little closer to the restrooms. My only complaint is we couldn’t manage to find the camp host all weekend. We assumed which spot they were in but there were no markers that we could see and we never saw anyone until the last day someone in a white truck with an OR rec sticker was coming by checking sites. Lake is small but gorgeous and gets really busy if it’s nice and sunny! Overall we would definitely stay here again. ** Also - zero cell phone service anywhere in the campground had to drive 5 miles up the road to handle work emails **