Go if
You want riverside tent camping with swimming and fishing access at a small, budget-friendly campground.
Select a month, then check for open campsites
Price
$15 - $30/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
15 campsites
Season
Season opens May 16 ...
Cell
No Service
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Top 5% in state
Select a month, then check for open campsites
Price
$15 - $30/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
15 campsites
Season
Season opens May 16 ...
Cell
No Service
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Top 5% in state
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Bureau of Land Management, Northwest Oregon District-Attn: Recreation Operations, 1717 Fabry Rd SE, Salem, OR, 97306
You want riverside tent camping with swimming and fishing access at a small, budget-friendly campground.
You need quiet isolation from road noise or pristine restroom facilities during busy holiday periods.
Context for the broader area surrounding Three Bears Campground, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.
<h2><b>Day use is OPEN up to the Table Rock Wilderness trailhead and 150 feet on either side of the Molalla River Road. All other areas remain CLOSED until further notice due to damage from September 2020 wildfires.</b></h2> <p> </p> <h2>Camping is Open! </h2> <p><b>Please reserve your campsite for Three Bears and Cedar Grove online at <a href="https://www.recreation.gov/">www.recreation.gov</a>. You can also pay nightly for any site that is not reserved using the electronic payment option with the <a href="https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app">Recreation.gov Mobile App</a> that you must download before you reach the site.</b></p> <p> </p> <h2>Overview:</h2> <p>Enjoy a scenic drive along the Molalla River, which offers easy river access and opportunities for picnicking, swimming, camping, whitewater boating and fishing. The Molalla River is one of the few undammed tributaries of the Willamette River and cuts a picturesque gorge on its way to the valley floor.<br /> <br /> <b>The Molalla River Trail System</b> is an extensive network of more than 20 miles of trails for hikers, bicyclists and equestrians. The system combines both single-track trails and old forest roads. The trails wind through the forested foothills and slopes of the Molalla River Valley, occasionally offering scenic glimpses of the forests and mountains of the Cascade Range. The system offers a variety of difficulty levels for a wide range of mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding enthusiasts. Trails are generally marked with directional signs and levels of difficulty. The best equestrian access to the trail system is from Hardy Creek or Annie’s Cabin Trailheads where there is ample parking for horse trailers. Mountain bikers and hikers may prefer to access the trail system via Amanda’s, AmeriCorps, and Sandquist ’s Trailheads.<br /> <br /> <b>Three Bears Recreation Site</b> is available for walk-in tent camping using <a href="https://www.recreation.gov/">www.recreation.gov</a> for reservations. Sites 10-15 are first come-first serve sites only with payment collected via the <a href="https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app/">Recreation.gov Mobile App</a>. Situated on a scenic stretch of the Molalla River 4 miles south of Glen Avon Bridge, the site has 15 campsites, each equipped with a tent pad, metal fire ring, BBQ grill, and picnic table. The campground also has vault toilets and access to a beautiful cobble beach and swimming hole.<br /> <br /> <b>Cedar Grove Recreation Site</b> is available for walk-in tent camping using <a href="https://www.recreation.gov/">www.recreation.gov</a> for reservations. Situated in a picturesque grove of western red cedar 6 miles south of Glen Avon Bridge, the site has 11 tent campsites, each equipped with a tent pad, metal fire ring, BBQ grill, and picnic table. The campground also has vault toilets and river access.<br /> <br /> <b>Aquila Vista Recreation Site</b> is available for overnight group camping for up to 30 people. <strong>The site is closed in 2022 due to hazard trees. </strong>The site is located in the heart of the forest next to a large beaver pond. There is plenty of hiking and natural beauty to see at Aquila Vista including a small waterfall. Amenities include vault toilet, two group picnic shelters with multiple picnic tables and a metal fire ring. There is no running water at Aquila Vista; ensure that you bring plenty of drinking, cooking and sanitation water. There is no firewood at the site or firewood collection allowed, please bring your own firewood if you wish to have a fire. The campsite can have mosquitoes in the summer; bring bug repellent.</p> <p> </p> <h2>Know Before You Go:</h2> <p> </p> <p> </p> <ul> <li>Camping is limited to the Three Bears and Cedar Grove Campgrounds along the Molalla River. Make a reservation at the above link. Fees are $15-30 per night plus applicable fees. Only campsites 10-15 in Three Bears are available on a first-come, first-serve basis with payment being collected via the <a href="https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app/">Recreation.gov Mobile App</a></li> <li>Fires are limited to the steel fire rings or BBQ grills provided.</li> <li>No firewood collection is allowed at the developed campgrounds.</li> <li>Pack-it in, pack-it out.</li> <li>There is no cell phone service.</li> <li>Caution: Watch out for log trucks that frequently use the road.</li> </ul> <p> </p> <h2>Point of Interest:</h2> <p>Molalla Recreation Area is the gateway to <a href=" https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/oregon-washington/table-rock-wilderness">Table Rock Wilderness</a>.<br /> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLj0GRAS1aE">Explore Oregon Recreation: Molalla River Corridor</a></p> <p> </p>
<p>The Molalla River Recreation Area is located approximately 10 miles southeast of Molalla in Clackamas County. From the town of Molalla, drive east on Main St/OR 211. Veer right at the OR 211/Mathias Road intersection, follow signs for Feyrer Park. Once past Feyrer Park, cross over the Molalla River, turn right, and follow signs for Dickey Prairie Rd. Continue south on Dickey Prairie Rd, keeping the Dickey Prairie Store on your left. At 3.7 miles past the store, turn right on Molalla Forest Rd and cross Glen Avon Bridge.</p>
<p>$15-30 per campsite in Three Bears or Cedar Grove plus applicable non-refundable service fees</p>
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Best season: fall. Fall offers the best combination of comfortable weather, lower river flows and vivid canyon color — daytime highs typically in the mid-50s to mid-70s°F (12–24°C) with crisp nights around 35–50°F (2–10°C). This is prime time for hiking, wildlife viewing and clearer river fishing as summer turbidity drops; swimming can still be pleasant early in the season. Crowds are generally light compared with midsummer, and the campground is still open for reservations through October 18, making September and Peak months: September, October, June, July Avoid: November, December, January, February
Described as the 'sweet spot' (Sept–mid Oct): calmer river, better fishing, pleasant temps and fewer crowds.
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Three Bears Campground offers basic amenities tailored for tent campers. Each of the 15 campsites is equipped with a tent pad, metal fire ring, BBQ grill, and picnic table. Vault toilets are available on-site, and potable water can be accessed via a hand pump located one mile away at the Cedar Grove Campground. The campground does not provide firewood or allow collection, so campers must bring their own. Each campsite has two designated parking spots in the central parking area, and all campsites are walk-in (distances vary). There is no cell phone reception in the area, and campers are advised to plan accordingly.
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Pulled from per-site mentions in 122 reviews.
Site #6 is praised for its size, being able to accommodate 3-4 tents.
However, Site #9 received negative feedback for being too close to other sites, reducing privacy.
Site #5 is noted for its proximity to the river.
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