About this campground
Eel Creek Campground in sits among coastal shrubbery on the edge of the sandy dunes within the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. The campground provides a peaceful and attractive atmosphere for hikers and birders. The most popular non-motorized trail here is the John Dellenback Dunes Trail, which guides hikers through the scenic dunes to the Pacific beach. This section of dunes features spectacular heights and stunning, expansive vistas.
The campground is divided into a north loop and a south loop. Amenities include flush toilets, drinking water, picnic tables, fire rings, and a self pay station. A campground host is available and an amphitheater sits between the two loops. This campground has 51 reservable sites.
Most sites are secluded and private due to dense shrubbery like rhododendrons and salal. Sites 7, 8, 42, and 43 are perched on the sand of the dunes. The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area is known for its wind-sculpted sand dunes towering up to 500 feet above sea level.
The John Dellenback Dunes Trail takes hikers on a 2.7-mile (one way) trek from a conifer forest across the open dunes to the beach at the Pacific Ocean. Along the way, hikers will be treated to expansive views of the surrounding landscape. This hike makes for an incredible workout, due to tall dunes and soft sand. Quality wildlife watching is also available at the campground.
What campers say
Jackson Campground on the Applegate River is a small, riverside site with a mix of tent-only camps, a few RV spots, and a group area. Many sites have direct river views and beach access; weekends fill up so reservations are common. Facilities are basic: flush toilets but no showers or hookups, and cell service is spotty or absent. Grounds are generally clean and sites offer privacy, though poison oak grows nearby and restroom cleanliness reports are mixed. Park hosts are frequently described as friendly and helpful, but experiences with staff and noise from the nearby road have varied.
Our summary of 119 traveler reviews.
Amenities
Sites
- Back-In
Setting
- Forest
- Lake
More
- .GOV
- .RECREATION
- Biking
- Boat Launch
- Boat Ramp
- Campfire
- Canoeing
- Dirt
- Dogs
- Family Friendly
- Firepits
- Fishing
- Forest Service
- Group
- Hiking
- Kayaking
- Pets
- Primitive
- Public Park
- RV
- Scenic
- Shade
- Swimming
- Tents
- Trails
- Trees
- US Forest Service
- Water
- Wildlife
119 reviews
Photos
Location
- Address
- Upper Applegate Road, Jacksonville, OR 97530
- GPS
- 42.1140° N, 123.0871° W
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