Blue Pool Campground and Day-Use at Salt Creek in Oregon – Blue Pool Crystal Clear WaterBlue Pool Campground and Day-Use at Salt Creek in Oregon – The picture "Blue Pool Crystal Clear Water" features the transparent waters of Salt Creek, where the rocky bottom is visible beneath the surface, with mossy rocks and green forest vegetation along the bank.
Blue Pool Salt Creek Swimming Hole

• Blue Pool Campground sits in old-growth Douglas-fir along Salt Creek

BoatingSwimmingPhotographingHiking OregonCamping OregonPicnicking

Blue Pool Campground and Day-Use Area sits right off Oregon Highway 58, about 9 miles east of Oakridge and 45 miles southeast of Eugene, in the Willamette National Forest.

Big Douglas-firs and vine maples shade the banks of Salt Creek here, and the campground includes a large creekside picnic area with picnic tables and a grassy field.

This is a great place for fishing, swimming, camping, and picnicking, with a nearby hot spring and several good hikes a short drive away.

Things to Do at Blue Pool Campground

Swimming in Salt Creek

The day-use area spreads along the creek with picnic tables and a large grassy field for tossing a football or spreading out a blanket. Below the creekside sites, deep pockets form behind boulders, while shallow gravel bars work well for small kids.

Salt Creek water is cold. In May and June, snowmelt can make the creek high and fast, so avoid swimming when the water is running high. By late July and August, the water level is usually lower and a little warmer. Rocks can be slippery, so water shoes are helpful.



Fishing at Blue Pool

Fishing is one of the top activities here. Salt Creek holds wild rainbow trout, and the pools below the campground provide convenient places to cast. I hooked a small rainbow on my third cast where fast water met slow water.

Fish the first hour after sunrise or the last hour before dark. Small spinners and flies can both work. Check the current ODFW Willamette Zone rules before fishing, since regulations can change. Children under 12 do not need a fishing license in Oregon.

Soaking at McCredie Hot Springs

Here's my favorite part. The McCredie Hot Springs Day Use Area sits just half a mile east on Highway 58, a one-minute drive. Park, then walk about two minutes down to the creek.

Mineral water bubbles up at nearly 130°F and fills rock pools where it mixes with cold Salt Creek water. Temperatures swing from lukewarm to scalding, so check the temperature before entering in a pool.



McCredie Hot Springs, Oregon
McCredie Hot Springs - South Bank

Hiking Nearby

No trails begin at Blue Pool Campground, but a few good hikes are a short drive away.

For a quick waterfall stop or a longer forest hike, head east on Highway 58 to the Salt Creek Falls Observation Site, reached via Forest Road 5893. The two outings below start from the same parking area.

Salt Creek Falls: This 286-foot waterfall makes an impressive stop without requiring a long hike. The main overlook is about 50 yards from the parking lot along a wheelchair-accessible route.

Diamond Creek Falls: Allow more time for this roughly 3.2-mile loop through the forest along the Salt Creek and Diamond Creek canyon rims. The route offers waterfall viewpoints, with a steep side trail leading toward the base of Upper Diamond Creek Falls.



Blue Pool Campground and Day-Use at Salt Creek in Oregon – Blue Pool Picnic Table and Fire RingBlue Pool Campground and Day-Use at Salt Creek in Oregon – The picture "Blue Pool Picnic Table and Fire Ring" shows a rustic campsite with a wooden picnic table, campfire ring, and a log bench set among tall, mossy trees in a sun-dappled forest setting.
Blue Pool Campsite

Blue Pool Campground Camping & Lodging

Blue Pool offers 24 sites, including walk-in tent sites right along the creek that feel far more private than the drive-in spots. Book through Recreation.gov, though some sites are first-come, first-served.

There are no hookups, and only small RVs and trailers fit. Every single site allows 6 people, 2 vehicles, and 2 tents. Check-in runs 2:00 p.m., check-out 12:00 p.m., and quiet hours start at 10:00 p.m.

Oakridge, 9 miles west, has motels, vacation rentals, gas, groceries, and a brewery. Locals call it the mountain biking capital of the Northwest. Eugene got even more choices for stays.

Lodging in Oakridge

Affordable vacation rentals for short and long-term stays at Oakridge

Lodging in Eugene

Affordable vacation rentals for short and long-term stays at Eugene



Blue Pool Campground and Day-Use at Salt Creek in Oregon – Blue Pool Stony Shoreline Blue Pool Campground and Day-Use at Salt Creek in Oregon – The picture "Blue Pool Stony Shoreline" displays a view of Salt Creek alongside a rocky, sunlit bank, with lush green trees overhanging the clear water and a person walking in the distance.
Blue Pool Salt Creek Stony Shoreline

Blue Pool Campground and Day-Use at Salt Creek | Facts

Open: May through September
Managed by: Willamette National Forest, Middle Fork Ranger District

Amenities: 24 campsites including walk-in tent sites, flush and vault toilets, fire rings, picnic tables, large grassy day-use area
Activities: Camping, swimming, hiking, fishing, and hot springs soaking nearby

Distance from the parking: Short
Road access: Any passenger vehicle
Day-use fees: Yes, or a Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass

Elevation: 2,000 ft (610 m)

Blue Pool Campground and Day-Use at Salt Creek is located:

  • 9 miles east of Oakridge
  • 12 miles west of Salt Creek Falls
  • 45 miles southeast of Eugene.



Adventures Nearby

Directions to Blue Pool Campground

From Oakridge,

  • Travel 9 miles east on Highway OR-58 to the Blue Pool Campground.

Day-Use Area entrance is on the north side of the road.

Blue Pool Campground Directions



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