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USFS McKenzie River Ranger District – Coldwater Cove Campground and Day Use

Latitude 44° 21' 50.0000" N Longitude 121° 59' 20.0000" W

Coldwater Cove Campground and Day Use Area are located on the shores of Clear Lake, 18 miles northeast of McKenzie Bridge on Highway 126, at an elevation of 3,000 feet. The site covers 80 acres. The entire route is paved, including the campground road and parking spurs.

Park Location – From Eugene, Oregon, take I-105 east to McKenzie Highway 126. Travel east on 126 for 55 miles to McKenzie Bridge. From McKenzie Bridge,OR, travel east on Highway 126 for 18 miles to the Clear Lake Area. Before reaching Clear Lake, turn right on Forest Road 770, heading northeast 1 mile to Coldwater Cove Campground at the end of the road.

Park Usage – May 17, 2024 thru October 13, 2024

About the Park

This campground provides 34 campsites, 31 singles and 3 double, that accommodate vehicles 18 to 50 feet in length depending on site.  No sites are directly on the shoreline of the lake, but several offer views of the lake.  Drinking water is available at two handpumps, one in the campground and one in the boat launch area.  There are four double vault toilets shared by both sites.  The boat launch area includes a boat launch for canoes or small non-motorized crafts (no motors are allowed on the lake), a small fish cleaning station, and a picnic site.  There is also an extra vehicle, or overflow, parking area.  

Cold Water Cove Campground offers stunning views of turquoise-colored Clear Lake and 3,000-year-old lava fields, making it an ideal location. On clear days, visitors can catch a glimpse of the Three Sisters and Mount Washington. Fishing, hiking, canoeing and boating are popular activities.  

The campground sits at the south end of the lake at an elevation of 3,100 feet. A mix of maple, alder and Douglas fir trees cover the area. Some sites have limited views of the lake, and all sites have privacy from neighboring campers. Cold Water Cove sits in the midsection of the Cascades mountain range.

This campground offers both reservable and FCFS campsites.  

Reservation may be made up to 6 months in advance of arrival date by reserving online at RECREATION. GOV or by calling 877-444-6777.

Coldwater Cove Campground

 

Reservation Rules

Reservations, Cancellations and Changes must be made through RECREATION.gov

If I book this reservation today, what are my options to change or cancel?

Please remember that reservations at these facilities prevent other visitors from using these sites. Planned changes to your stay should be made as far in advance as possible. You can make changes to your reservation ahead of your arrival date in My Reservations via the Rec.Gov website.

Changes

If your new stay dates are completely different from your original stay dates, there is a $10 change fee (per reserved site). There are no additional fees for:

  • Adding or removing nights to your stay.
  • Changing to a different campsite.

Balances will adjust based on your new stay’s nightly rate.

Cancellations

You can cancel the reservation any time before the date of your scheduled arrival. You will receive a refund for your stay, minus the following fees:

  • $10 cancellation fee
  • Any reservation fees (only if paid when booking)
  • Any previous change fees

Late cancellation penalties may also apply:

What is “Late”?

For individual campsites, a late cancellation applies starting from midnight 1 calendar day before your scheduled check-in. For cabins and group sites, a late cancellation applies starting from midnight 14 calendar days or fewer before your scheduled check-in.

Late Fee

In addition to the fees listed above, a late cancellation will also subtract your first night’s recreation use fee from any refund owed. As of the expected check-in day, cancellations or changes to your stay are not possible through My Reservations. It is at the facility’s discretion to support additional Late Cancellations, No Show, or Early Departure updates – on-site personnel may not be able to assist. These changes carry penalties and may forfeit recreation use fees. For additional details, please visit  here.

Facility Rates

Single is $25/night

Double is $46/night

Day Use Fee is $9

Limit 1 vehicle per site; an $8 fee, per night,  will be charged for additional vehicles.

Nearby Attractions

Nearby attractions include:  Clear Lake for fishing, non-motorized rowboat use and hiking.  Rowboats and Kayaks are available to rent at nearby Clear Lake Resort.  Clear Lake is the head waters for the McKenzie River, and is renowned for its cold, clear water and preserved grove of underwater trees.   The McKenzie River National Scenic Trail is on one side of Clear Lake, and a connecting trail offers a loop hiking trail opportunity around the lake.  Trails also connect the campground to short hikes to Sahalie and Koosah Falls, spectacular waterfalls located within a mile of the campground.  Also, close in proximity, is the McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass National Scenic Byway and Mt. Washington Wilderness.