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Activities

Established Camping

Sharps Creek

Sharps Creek is located near Dorena, Oregon, and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The area features forested terrain with a creek running through it. Campers can explore nearby attractions such as Dorena Lake and the Row River Trail, with temperatures ranging from 30°F in winter to 85°F in summer.

Description

Bureau of Land Management

Bureau of Land Management

Overview

Reserve a site at Sharps Creek on recreation.gov or pay when you arrive for non-reserved campsites using the Recreation.gov Mobile App. You must download before you reach the site since there is no cell reception in the drainage. Step off the beaten path and explore a delightful gem nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains with ties to the historic Bohemia Mining District, 18 miles southeast of Cottage Grove. The site offers a 12-unit campground, day-use picnicking area, and a nearby swimming hole formed naturally among rounded boulders at the base of an overlook extending above Sharps Creek. Cool and delightful waters entice the visitor to swim or simply 'dabble' along the bank while enjoying the surrounding beauty of the forest. For those with a penchant for gold panning, the site offers exciting opportunities to try one's skill and luck! The Springfield Office of the Northwest Oregon District of the Bureau of Land Management manages the Sharps Creek Recreation Site.

Recreation

Sharps Creek Recreation Site consists of a small, family campground and a day-use area overlooking Sharps Creek. A swimming hole at the base of the overlook provides a refreshing place to cool down on hot, summer days. All swimmers should use caution.

Natural Features

Sharps Creek campground and the surrounding area are home to large canopy trees such as Douglas fir, western hemlock, red cedar, red alder and big leaf maple. The forest understory features a host of native plants like rhododendron, salal, various fern species, salmonberry and vine maple. On the forest floor, oxalis, Calypso orchids and mosses compliment the scenery. A diverse variety of bird life, from the seldom seen pileated woodpecker, northern spotted owl and marbled murrelet to the ever-present Oregon junco, frequent this area. Signs of larger animals, such as raccoon, mink, bear, elk, deer and beaver are evident.

Nearby Attractions

The Row River National Recreation Trail/Covered Bridges State Scenic Bikeway is located less than 4 miles northwest of Sharps Creek Recreation Site. Dorena Lake City of Cottage Grove

Charges & Cancellations

Standard fees apply and are non-refundable. Visit https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies for more information.

Fee Info

Campsite fee includes one vehicle per site. Extra camping vehicle fee of $5 each is collected at the site. Cash or check, made out to Bureau of Land Management, is accepted. Fee envelope receipt stub must be displayed on the dash.

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Location

Sharps Creek is located in Oregon

Detail location of campground

Directions

Take Cottage Grove exit 174 from Interstate Highway 5. Turn left onto Row River Road and follow signs to Dorena Lake (Approximately 4 miles). Continue straight on Shoreview Drive for 6.6 miles to rejoin Row River Road (covered bridge to the right). Continue traveling east 4.2 miles to Sharps Creek Road. Turn right and continue 3.1 miles. The campground is located on the right side of the road; the day use area is on the left.

Coordinates

43.6659 N
122.80733 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Available
  • Verizon
    Good
  • AT&T
    Good
  • T-Mobile
    Good

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)

Features

For Campers

  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

Reviews

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4.0

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2 Reviews

Reviewed Jul. 28, 2023

Good Camping and Good Swimming!

This place has a host but they stay out of your business, There are three bathrooms that they keep pretty clean.  Half is reservable and the other half is a free for all.   The site are good sized and the fire pits are usable for cooking, they have a locked in grill that can adjust its height. The table leg on our site was pretty bad and definitely not movable.  The tree placement was good, we had a couple options to put our hammock, and was able to have a good run for our dogs.  There were paths leading to the other two campsites next too me and I could see them clearly.  What you go here for is the swimming and the gold panning. There is Gold Panning done at a lot of creeks all around this campground, and thats I know. The swimming spot is across the street and it is semi hard to get down but once you are down, there are two beautiful areas, one has a 10 ft jumping rock. The other spot is a long channel made by smooth white rocks with deep clear  water.  This area is great for pictures.

Site9
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Sharps Creek by Stephen T., July 28, 2023
  • Review photo of Sharps Creek by Stephen T., July 28, 2023
  • Review photo of Sharps Creek by Stephen T., July 28, 2023
  • (9) View All
Reviewed Dec. 6, 2020

Fun but be cautious.

Fun spot, though not very big and not really suited for younger kids. Steep drops to the creek

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the max vehicle length at Sharps Creek?

    Sharps Creek allows vehicles up to 40 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Sharps Creek?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Sharps Creek, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Does Sharps Creek have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Sharps Creek does not have wifi.

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Sharps Creek?

    Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Sharps Creek. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Sharps Creek, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Sharps Creek?

    There are 12 campsites at Sharps Creek and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts