A white Tacoma with a camper shell parked on a rise above a broad, empty basin under building cloud.

Forest Service campground

Eel Creek Campground

Forest Service campground in Siuslaw National Forest, Coos County, Oregon. 66 feet. 0.8 miles from Lakeside.

Managed by
Forest Service Siuslaw National Forest
Elevation
66 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
49 47 standard non-electric, 2 tent only non-electric
Longest rig
54 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Coos County

Overview

Eel Creek Campground sits among coastal shrubbery on the edge of the sandy dunes within the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. The campground provides a peaceful and attractive atmosphere for hikers and birders. The most popular non-motorized trail here is the John Dellenback Dunes Trail, which guides hikers through the scenic dunes to the Pacific beach. This section of dunes features spectacular heights and stunning, expansive vistas.

Recreation

The John Dellenback Dunes Trail takes hikers on a 2.7-mile (one way) trek from a conifer forest across the open dunes to the beach at the Pacific Ocean. Along the way, hikers will be treated to expansive views of the surrounding landscape. This hike makes for an incredible workout, due to tall dunes and soft sand. Quality wildlife watching is also available at the campground.

Facilities

The campground is divided into a north loop and a south loop. Amenities include flush toilets, drinking water, picnic tables, and fire rings. A campground host is available and an amphitheater sits between the two loops. This campground has 51 reservable sites.

Natural Features

Most sites are secluded and private due to dense shrubbery like rhododendrons and salal. Sites 7, 8, 42, and 43 are perched on the sand of the dunes. The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area is known for its wind-sculpted sand dunes towering up to 500 feet above sea level.

Nearby Attractions

Visit Umpqua Lighthouse State Park, which features a historic lighthouse, camping, and hiking trails around Lake Marie. The Umpqua River Lighthouse stands on the site where the first lighthouse on the Oregon Coast was built in 1857. The current lighthouse dates back to 1890.

Boating and fishing are available at Tenmile Lake and Eel Lake.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • camping
  • hiking
  • photography
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Eel Creek Campground

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated July 17, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.