The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
Yellowbottom Recreation Site is a day-use and campground that is open to the public and overseen by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a U.S. government organization tasked with managing public lands. This recreation site in Oregon features a short forested hiking trail, direct access to Quartzville Creek Wild and Scenic River, and a small campground designed to accommodate tents and small RVs. The campground is popular since it is one of very few Bureau of Land Management campgrounds to accept reservations, and it features 22 campsites with picnic tables, fire rings and grills, vault toilets, and tent pads. Outside of this recreation site are popular attractions like the Middle Santiam Wilderness, the Quartzville National Back Country Byway, the Green Peter Reservoir, and the Wild and Scenic Quartzville Creek. The city of Salem can be found to the west, while Willamette National Forest can be found to the south, and Mount Hood and Mount Hood National Forest can be found to the north.
Chimney Peak Trail can be accessed via the McQuade Creek Trailhead, and it features a steep, shaded path to the top of Chimney Peak. To reach the peak, hikers will need to tackle many rock scrambles. Length: 10.6 miles Intensity: Difficult
This short and slightly steep trail is often icy or snow-covered, so it is best hiked with snowshoes or microspikes. Length: 2.5 miles Intensity: Moderate
The Monument Peak Trail is a combination of multiple trails within a larger system, and it is popular with mountain bikers. Length: 12 miles Intensity: Moderate
The Yellowbottom Recreation Site provides visitors and campers with direct access to Quartzville River, which is popular with those who want to try out kayaking Class IV rapids. Anglers love the river for its stream trout, and photographers come to the river frequently to take snapshots of the river as it flows through old-growth forests. Visitors to the river can also pan for gold since the river was once the center of a brief mining operation in the mid-1800s, and some gold still remains in the river and its creeks today.
If you'd like to have a picnic near Yellowbottom Recreation Site, consider visiting Dogwood Picnic Area, located downstream on the Quartzville River by just a few miles. This picnic site features multiple picnic tables that are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and there is a small waterfall on the site to check out after you eat.
You can go RV camping at Yellowbottom Recreation Site if you have a relatively small RV to take into the campground. Larger RVs may still be able to fit into the provided campsites there, but they may have trouble navigating the narrow paths into the campground. When you stay at this campground, you will only have to pay a small fee, but you will not have access to any hookups, including water. For camping with full hookups, check out a different nearby campground, such as River Mountain RV Park. This campground offers full hookups, including water and electricity, plus a laundry facility, shower and restroom facility, and access to Detroit Lake. Another great option is Country Star RV Park, which has all the same amenities, plus a pool and a location right on Foster Reservoir.
When you are looking for BLM camping near me, check out Alder Springs Campground, which is located near Proxy Creek and many hiking trails through the forest. This Bureau of Land Management free camping option has vault toilets and spaces large enough for most RVs, and you are permitted to stay there for up to 14 days a time.
Whether you plan to visit Yellowbottom Recreation Site during the day or overnight at its campground, be sure to pack all the drinking and cleaning water that you will need for your trip since there are no water outlets there. In the summer, you may also want to pack insect repellent since there can be many mosquitos near the river. It is also helpful to check the weather forecast before your trip to see whether or not you will need to pack rain or snow gear like boots, coats, and ponchos. Remember that the campground at this recreation site does not offer any hookups, and it can be difficult to navigate the road to and from the site. That being said, make sure you take a high-clearance vehicle to the site and avoid taking multiple trips in and out by packing everything you need for your stay. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
All visitors to Yellowbottom Recreation Site are required to follow the Leave No Trace rules put in place by the Bureau of Land Management. These rules are made to help protect the wildlife that lives in the area as well as help keep the land clean for future visitors to enjoy. You can follow these rules by doing things like packing out what you pack in, watching your campfires at all times, and avoiding feeding the wildlife.
To reach Yellowbottom Recreation Site from Salem, take I-5 South to Eugene, about 26 miles. From there, take exit 228 toward Lebanon/Corvallis and turn left onto OR-34 East. Travel for about five miles; then, take the Denny School Road exit and follow Denny School Road for 1.2 miles. Continue onto Airport Drive, and after two more miles, turn right onto US-20 East. Drive for 19 miles, then turn left onto Quartzville Road. Follow this road for 23.6 miles, and you will find the entrance to the recreation site on the left. Latitude/ Longitude: 44.58891, -122.37336 Ready to visit Yellowbottom Recreation Site? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day exploring, you'll have your RV to return to for the night, where you'll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here's a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.
