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

Bureau of Land Management group campground

Old Miner's Meadow Group Use Area

Bureau of Land Management group campground in Fishermen's Bend Recreation Area, Linn County, Oregon. 1,460 feet. 12.2 miles from Gates.

Managed by
Bureau of Land Management Fishermen's Bend Recreation Area
Elevation
1,460 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
1 1 group standard area non-electric
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Linn County

Overview

Old Miner's Meadow is a two-acre, fenced-in group use area, located in an open meadow surrounded by forests along the Quartzville Creek National Wild and Scenic River and upstream from the Green Peter Reservoir. It is available by reservation only.

The area is popular for gold panning, fishing, scenic touring and kayaking. Weekends tend to be busy, so campers should book early.

Summer weather is comfortable, but can be cool. Visitors should come prepared for lower temperatures at night.

Recreation

The creek is popular for gold panning and kayaking, while the reservoir offers great fishing, swimming, sailing and water skiing. Within a short drive along the creek, campers can find deep pools, waterfalls and swimming areas. Visitors can also drive the Quartzville National Back Country Byway, which meanders along the creek, two lakes and scenic mountain views. There are hiking trails in the nearby national forests.

Facilities

Maximum of 50 people per reservation.

This facility consists of one large group area with no designated campsites. Site amenities include picnic tables, individual campfire rings, a group campfire ring and grill, trash collection, vault toilets and horseshoe pits.

The toilets for the site are available to campers on private land just outside the site fence boundary. Groups are required to bring their own drinking water and firewood.

Natural Features

The section of Quartzville Creek adjacent to the campground is registered as a National Wild and Scenic River for its recreation and resource opportunities. The nearby Green Peter Reservoir has emerald-colored waters, mountain views and plenty of space for water activities.

Though some areas of the surrounding forests have been logged, groves of old growth trees are a short drive away from the campground. This facility is in a meadow dotted with trees, and has both shaded and sunny sites. Though campers may not see them in the campground, elk frequent the area.

Nearby Attractions

Campers can visit the East Linn Museum in the town of Sweet Home to learn about the history of the area. The campground is also adjacent to the Willamette National Forest, which stretches for 110 miles along the western slopes of the Cascade Range in western Oregon.

Willamette National Forest

The description, directions and fees are the Bureau of Land Management’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • camping
  • fishing
  • gold panning
  • hiking
  • water access

The land around Old Miner's Meadow Group Use Area

The ringed pin is this group 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 February 25, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.