Whittaker Creek Recreation Site Campground

Walton, OR

4.4(247 reviews)

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About this campground

Whittaker Creek Recreation Site is a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) campground and day use area. The campground has 30 sites. Campground amenities include vault toilets, potable water, picnic areas, a children's play area, an Old Growth Ridge National Recreation Trail (2.5 miles), and a swimming area. In the fall, winter, and spring, busloads of middle school students visit the Whittaker Creek Watchable Wildlife Site to learn about spawning salmon and trout and to assist with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's breeding program.

Facilities include: 30 tent only campsites (not recommended for trailers), an accessible campsite, 2 picnic sites, accessible vault toilets, potable water available from hand pumps, picnic tables, fire rings, swimming beach area (June-September), horseshoe pit, Old Growth Ridge National Recreation Trail (2.5 mile loop trail), and a camp host (June-September). Electricity and firewood are unavailable.

Besides the trail to the wildlife viewing area, you can hike the Old Growth Ridge National Recreation Trail, which climbs 1,000 feet above the river into the Coast Range. The 2.5-mile trail was designated in 1994 as a National Recreation Trail due to the exceptional wildlife, geologic features, and old growth trees that are typical of coast range ecosystems. This moderately difficult trail winds through a stand of old growth Douglas fir and offers a look at geologic and botanical features unique to the area. Chinook and coho salmon, as well as steelhead trout can be observed in the fall and winter months in the creek next to the campground. The site also features a paved boat ramp that provides drift boat and canoe access to the Siuslaw River. No permit required to paddle the 6.5-mile river, with Class II - III rapids.

Camping, hiking, swimming, fishing in Siuslaw River, photography, hunting, Salmon Watch, and nature study.

What campers say

Whittaker Creek Recreation Site offers a shaded, cool riverside campground with a family-friendly swimming hole, trails, and abundant wildlife. Longtime camp hosts are frequently praised for keeping sites tidy and organizing small activities; vault toilets are reported clean. Visitors enjoy the clear water, canopy-covered roads, and nearby Austa Covered Bridge/boat ramp. Tradeoffs: some note occasional overgrown picnic areas and road noise on the approach, and cell service can be limited. A few reviewers mentioned occasional loitering, so expect a peaceful, small campground but be mindful of minor maintenance and local activity variability.

Our summary of 247 traveler reviews.