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USFS McKenzie River Ranger District – Ice Cap Campground

Latitude 44° 20' 25.0001" N Longitude 121° 59' 57.0001" W

Ice Cap Campground is located 17 miles east of the McKenzie River Ranger Station on Highway 126. The entrance road is shared with the Koosah Falls viewing area parking. The campground sits at an elevation of 3,000 feet and covers 20 acres above the McKenzie River and Carmen Reservoir. The river is not within sight of the camp area. The entire driving route is paved, including the campground road. Parking spurs are gravel or paved.

Park Location – From McKenzie Bridge, travel 17.3 miles east on Hwy 126. Turn left at the Ice Cap Campground/Koosah Falls Sign. Follow signs about half a mile to the campground.

Park Usage – May 16, 2025 thru October 12, 2025

About the Park

There are 22 campsites, 9 of which are walk-in tent only sites; the remaining sites can accommodate trailers up to 20 feet in length.  There are 2 picnic sites located immediately inside the entrance up on a rise.  There are two double vault toilets in the center of the campground; they are wheelchair accessible.  This campground has both reservable and FCFS sites.

This is a Scan and Pay campground. There are no refunds, modifications, cancellations, or other fee changes allowed with Scan and Pay payments. This system is the same as putting cash into a fee tube and cannot be refunded.

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

Ice Cap Campground

Ice Cap Campground will close, for the 2024 season, as of October 13, 2024.  Ice Cap Campground will reopen on May 16, 2025.  The 2025 season will close on October 12, 2025.

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

$21/night

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

Nearby Attractions

Nearby attractions include:  McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass National Scenic Byway, McKenzie River National Recreation Trail (hiking and mountain biking destination), the McKenzie Wild & Scenic River for boating and fishing, Carmen Reservoir for boating and fishing, Sahalie and Koosah Falls and the 3-mile waterfalls loop trail.  This area of the Willamette National Forest is a destination spot for hiking, biking, fishing, and water sports. A boat ramp and lake access are within one mile, and hot springs, river access and a non-motorized boat ramp are within ten miles. Visitors also enjoy the views along the National Scenic Byway.