The Long Way
Linn County
A forested campsite with a picnic table and fire ring.
Plate I. Picnic area at Yellowbottom Recreation Site. From blm.gov
A paved road winds through a dense forest with tall trees.
Plate II. Loop road, Yellowbottom Recreation Site. From blm.gov
A campsite surrounded by tall trees in a forest.
Plate III. Campsite surrounded by trees, Yellowbottom Recreation Site. From blm.gov
A small wooden restroom building sits surrounded by trees in a forest.
Plate IV. Vault toilet, Yellowbottom Recreation Site. From recreation.gov

Yellowbottom Recreation Site (BLM), Linn County, OR

Sweet Home, Linn County, Oregon. BLM recreation site with a swimming hole on Quartzville Creek.

Details

Map. Sweet Home, Linn County, Oregon. Larger map
Where
Sweet Home, Linn County, OR. No street address stated. Directions
When
Day pass valid until dark, or park closing, whichever is earlier.
Season
Site open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend each year unless otherwise posted.
Getting there
From Sweet Home: drive east 5 miles on US-20 E, turn left onto Quartzville Road and continue 18 miles; from Sisters: drive west 26 miles on US-20 W and another 42 miles, then turn right onto Quartzville Road for 18 miles.
Fees
Day use: passenger vehicle daily pass $5 (1-9 passengers), 1 day.
Access
Day-use portion currently open; the overnight camping area has been closed since 2022 and remains closed to camping indefinitely due to hazardous tree conditions and public safety concerns.
Walk-in or reserve
Day use is first-come, first-served; buy the activity pass on arrival by scanning the posted QR code with the Recreation.gov mobile app.
Phone
503-375-5646
Website
blm.gov
Managed by
Bureau of Land Management, Northwest Oregon District Office.
Established
1964 (13-acre campground developed).
Coordinates
44.58891, -122.37336.

A beautiful swimming hole on the Wild and Scenic Quartzville Creek with a one-mile trail to old-growth trees; vault toilets and a day use area.

Notable Events

  1. 1988The 12-mile reach of Quartzville Creek from the Willamette National Forest boundary to Green Peter Reservoir was designated a recreational Wild and Scenic river. fws.gov
  2. 2022The campground at Yellowbottom Recreation Site closed. yahoo.com
  3. 2025The Bureau of Land Management said the campground at Yellowbottom Recreation Site will stay closed indefinitely because of hazardous tree conditions and public safety concerns, while a new walking path opens shuttered portions to day use. yahoo.com

People

  • Dennis Teitzel, Northwest Oregon District Manager for the BLM, who announced the site's day-use future.

Sources

  1. recreation.gov/activitypass/ada451d5-a59d-11ec-9100-228a5ed15ebb
  2. recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/274721
  3. blm.gov/visit/yellowbottom-recreation-site