Foster Lake offers multiple camping options in Oregon's Cascade foothills about 30 miles east of Albany. The 1,220-acre reservoir sits at an elevation of 641 feet and connects to smaller Green Peter Lake via the Santiam River. Winter camping is available at some locations, with overnight temperatures often dropping into the 30s December through February.
What to do
Hiking to waterfalls: At Cascadia State Park Campground, follow the Soda Creek Falls trail for a moderate 0.75-mile climb. "The trail up to the falls is a short .75 miles but don't think it's necessarily an easy one. It's a rocky, narrow trail that requires solid soles and has a good elevation gain through old growth forest," explains one camper.
Disc golf and fishing: Waterloo County Park offers a disc golf course along with fishing opportunities. "This place has it, a dog park, play disc golf, hiking trails, fish, with ADA fishing deck, boat launch, playground, and two camping loops," notes a visitor. The park includes over a mile of frontage along the South Santiam River.
River swimming: Find natural swimming holes near River Bend County Park. A camper shares, "This is a bigger park, but I felt that most of the campers were very courteous, wasn't loud at all. The showers were clean, and there's a nice spot to walk down to the river." Another mentions, "Great location with lots of amenities. One of our favorites for the summer with trail for hiking and access to the river."
What campers like
Private campsites: Some areas offer more secluded spots than others. At Whitcomb Creek County Park, a visitor noted, "We camped in Mid June and were 1 of 3 sites occupied. The campground was extremely clean and quiet. The park host and ranger were helpful and made sure they were available for any questions or needs we had."
Lake access for boaters: Sunnyside Park provides boat moorage right on Foster Lake. One camper explains, "This campground is clean and well organized. The sites are nice and have a great little gravel square behind the trailer spot with a picnic table and fire ring... the ponds are stocked so it's great for taking little ones fishing and Foster Lake is beautiful for kayaking or boating!"
Clean facilities: Campgrounds in the area typically maintain good standards. At River Bend County Park, a camper remarked, "This is the nicest and cleanest park we've stayed at in a long time. Sites are cleaned between guests. Sites are level and well thought out to maximize privacy. The host was great to talk to and had a great insight to the area."
What you should know
Summer crowds: Peak summer weekends can be extremely busy, especially at waterfront sites. A camper at Foster Lake RV Resort shared, "Beautiful. Perfect place for family. Great scenery. Very clean." Consider visiting mid-week if possible.
Seasonal access: Many campgrounds operate between May and September only, though some remain open year-round. Whitcomb Creek is only open during summer months, while River Bend County Park and Sunnyside Park offer extended seasons.
Reservation strategies: For non-reservable sites, early arrival is essential. One camper at Sunnyside Park advises, "We stayed in the non-reservable C Loop meaning I arrived at 7:30 am to get in line for a spot. If you get one, you pay but occupancy is not required. Often people pay for additional days (Tue, Wed, Thur and don't stay) to have a site for the weekend."
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and recreation: Several parks have dedicated play areas. At River Bend County Park, "Quiet and clean, with a great playground for the kids in the central meadow. Took us a while to figure out how to get to the river, we should have consulted the park host since the way we found wasn't the easiest path."
Kid-friendly swimming: Look for shallow areas along the South Santiam River. "This is a very clean campground. It is a ways out of town which I personally prefer! Kid friendly for sure and around the campground it's got many good swimming holes," notes a visitor at River Bend.
Fishing opportunities: Stock ponds offer easier fishing for children. "The ponds are stocked with trout, so bring your poles," mentions one camper about Sunnyside Park. Another notes that Waterloo County Park has "a dog park, play disc golf, hiking trails, fish, with ADA fishing deck, boat launch, playground."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Many campgrounds have mixed reviews about site privacy. At Mallard Creek Golf and RV Resort, "There's a mixture of pull throughs and back-in sites in this CG. Some of the back-in sites would be difficult backing for larger rigs due to the limited road width. We suggest calling and talking to the RV manager to discuss which of those sites will fit your rig."
Hookup considerations: Facilities vary widely between campgrounds. "Sites with electric and water, and those without. Does have a dump station, and bathrooms with showers. Has a few sites set up for ADA. There is only one site with 50amps the rest is set up for 30amp," notes a camper at Waterloo County Park.
Internet and cell access: Signal strength varies by location and provider. At Mallard Creek, "Their free Wifi worked much better than most CGs this size. We got 3 bars on Verizon. There are mature trees but we were able to position Starlink to get a strong enough signal for our needs."
