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 the low-elevation Fall Creek. The scenic area offers a variety of recreational opportunities including camping, picnicking, swimming, fishing, and, certainly, exciting hiking along the 13.7 miles 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, ferns, a small Slim Creek cave, rock outcrops, and a section of forest that was 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 of them are small and offer primitive camping experience on a first-come, first-served basis.
Hiking
A hiker-only route, the 13.7 miles 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. Trail distance from this point: 13.7 miles.
GPS (1st Trailhead) 43.963564, -122.619057
The second trailhead is before Forest Road 1821. Trail distance from this point: 10 miles.
GPS (2nd Trailhead): 43.973161, -122.570792
The third trailhead is located at the northwest edge of the Bedrock Campground. Trail distance from this point: 8 miles.
GPS (3rd Trailhead): 43.972432, -122.545670
The fourth trailhead is near the spot where Forest Road 1828 crosses Fall Creek Road. Trail distance from this point: 4 miles.
GPS (4th Trailhead): 43.982338, -122.500086
The fifth trailhead is on Forest Road 1833 near the bridge over Fall Creek.
GPS (5th Trailhead): 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
Camping
Dolly Varden Campground
Dolly Varden Campground is the first camp along Fall Creek. The camp is located near the beginning of the 13.7-mile Fall Creek National Recreation Trail.
Open: April - September
Services: Vault toilet
Accommodations: 5 tent sites
Camping reservation: First come - first served
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
Services: Flush toilets, faucet water
Accommodations: 16 campsites (including 10 tents only)
Camping reservation: First come - first served
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
Services: Vault toilet
Accommodations: 5 campsites (including 4 tents only)
Camping reservation: First come - first served
Clark Creek Organization Camp & 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, cooking and dining shelter, vault toilets, chapel, and amphitheater.
Located on the opposite side of Clark Creek, the day-use site is accessible by a foot bridge.
Open: April - September
Services: Vault toilet, fields, hand pump drinking water, cooking and dining shelter, amphitheater
Accommodations: 5 sleeping shelters
Fees (day-use): None
Reservation (phone): 877-444-6777
Online reservation
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 as well. The campground contains 22 sites. The bedrock day-use site is located near the campground.
Open: April - September
Services: Vault toilet
Accommodations: 22 campsites (including 1 accessible and 6 tents only)
Fees (day-use): None
Camping reservation: First-come, first-served
Puma Campground
Puma Campground, the farthest developed camp along Fall Creek is located near Fall Creek National Recreation Trail. The camp offers 11 campsites on a first come, first served basis.
Open: April - September
Services: Vault toilets, hand pump water
Accommodations: 11 campsites (including 2 accessible and 3 tents only)
Camping reservation: First-come, first-served
