Scenic Fall Creek Corridor in the Willamette National Forest

Fall Creek Corridor is a beautiful 3,300-acre recreation area in the stunning Willamette National Forest featuring deep, crystal-clear pools and rapids of low-elevation Fall Creek. The scenic location offers a variety of recreational opportunities, including camping, picnicking, swimming, fishing, and, certainly, exciting hiking along the 13.7-mile-long Fall Creek National Recreation Trail, which mostly runs along Fall Creek.

There are plenty of things to see on the trail, including old-growth Douglas firs and ferns, a small Slim Creek cave, rock outcrops, and a section of forest burnt in the 2003 wildfire. This is a drastic change of scenery from the lush ancient forest to burnt remnants. Thankfully, the forest is recovering from devastating wildfires.

There are six campgrounds along the Fall Creek Corridor. Most are small and offer primitive camping experiences on a first-come, first-served basis.

Hiking

A hiker-only route, the 13.7-mile-long Fall Creek National Recreation Trail runs from the Dolly Varden Campground to a trailhead at Tiller Creek. Five other trailheads provide access to the trail. If you are considering a short-distance hike, use one of the trailheads along the route.

The first trailhead is located near Dolly Varden Campground (43.963564, -122.619057). The trail distance from this point is 13.7 miles.

The second trailhead is before Forest Road 1821 (43.973161, -122.570792). Trail distance from this point: 10 miles.

The third trailhead is located at the northwest edge of the Bedrock Campground (43.972432, -122.545670). The trail distance from this point is 8 miles.

The fourth trailhead is near where Forest Road 1828 crosses Fall Creek Road (43.982338, -122.500086). The trail distance from this point is 4 miles.

The fifth trailhead is on Forest Road 1833 near the bridge over Fall Creek (43.984828, -122.432976).

Swimming

There are plenty of excellent swimming holes along the scenic Fall Creek Corridor, including:

Fall Creek – Day Use Area
Fall Creek – Bedrock
Fall Creek – Big Pool
Fall Creek – Broken Bowl
Fall Creek – Clark Creek

Fall Creek Corridor Camping

Reservation is recommended for all campgrounds at www.recreation.gov.

Dolly Varden Campground

Dolly Varden Campground is the first camp along Fall Creek, near the beginning of the 13.7-mile Fall Creek National Recreation Trail.

Open: April - September
Amenities: Vault toilet
Accommodations: 5 tent sites

Broken Bowl Campground

Located just 0.25 miles east of Dolly Varden Campgrounds along Fall Creek, Broken Bowl Camp is known for a quiet friendly environment.

Open: April - September
Amenities: Flush toilets, drinking water
Accommodations: 16 campsites (including 10 tents only)

Big Pool Campground

Big Pool is a small campsite, located between the Forest Service Road 18 and Fall Creek, 0.75 miles east of Broken Bowl Camp.

Open: April - September
Amenities: Vault toilet
Accommodations: 5 campsites (including 4 tents only)

Clark Creek Organization Camp and Day Use Area

A historic Clark Creek Organization campground was constructed in the 1930s on public lands. The popular campground along Fall Creek has five sleeping shelters for 80 guests, a field, a cooking and dining shelter, vault toilets, a chapel, and an amphitheater.

Located on the opposite side of Clark Creek, the day-use site is accessible by a footbridge.

Open: April - September
Amenities: Vault toilet, fields, hand pump drinking water, cooking and dining shelter, amphitheater
Accommodations: 5 sleeping shelters
Fees (day-use): None

Bedrock Campground and Day Use Area

Bedrock Campground and Day Use Site are situated on a terrace above Fall Creek near the start of the 2003 Clark Fire. The campsite was restored in 2005, and the forest is recovering. The campground contains 22 sites. The bedrock day-use site is located near the campground.

Open: April - September
Amenities: Vault toilet
Accommodations: 22 campsites (including 1 accessible and 6 tents only)
Fees (day-use): None

Puma Campground

Puma Campground, the farthest developed camp along Fall Creek is located near Fall Creek National Recreation Trail.

Open: April - September
Amenities: Vault toilets, hand pump water
Accommodations: 11 campsites (including 2 accessible and 3 tents only)

From I-5,

Take Exit 194 A in Eugene for Highway 126 East
Travel on Highway 126 for 6.8 miles to Bob Straub Parkway
Follow 7.6 miles straight onto Bob Straub Parkway, then Highway 222 South and Jasper/Jasper Lowell Roads to Place Road
Turn left onto Place Road/Big Fall Creek Road and continue 4.5 miles
Bear left after passing Winberry Creek Road and follow 10.2 miles to Dolly Varden Campground, 10.7 miles to Broken Bowl Campground, 11.5 miles to Big Pool Campground, 12.7 miles to Clark Creek Organization Camp, 14.5 miles to Bedrock Campground, and 16.1 miles to Puma Campground.

GPS ( Dolly Varden Campground): N 43°57.807' W 122°37.088' | 43.96345, -122.61814