Reservations possible?
No
RV Hookups
No
Potable water
Yes
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

The Nestucca River meanders through the Coast Range at a rate-controlled pace, thanks to the McGuire Reservoir. But this means perfect conditions for summertime dips!

This is quite the scenic area to do so, particularly in late spring and early summer. Tall alder and maple trees line the river, bowing over it with a canopy of leaves. Moss covers the trees and the forest floor. A seasonal unnamed creek pours over a cliff just across the river from the campground, providing an ideal backdrop and adding the perfect ambiance to a classic Oregon forest destination.

The aptly named Alder Glen is a quaint, small campground where you can quickly escape, disconnect, and enjoy the river and forest. There are limited amenities to be found here: one source of running water from a small pump house, two vaulted toilets, and only 11 campsites. Nine out of the 11 sites lay along the river, each with their own private river access.

There is no garbage collection service, so be sure to pack out your trash and follow the Leave No Trace principles. If you're lucky, you may get the site with an out-your-tent view of the little waterfall that pours into the Nestucca River. Campers can enjoy brief walks up and down the main access road and the paved pathway to the viewing dock, which is also an ideal place to fish. This dock is ADA accessible. Just downriver from the dock the current slows and the river deepens, naturally creating an ideal swimming hole.

Keep in mind there is no cell phone service in the area. In case of an emergency, see the on-site campground host.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Summer
Fall

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Solitude. Small campground. Swimming hole. Isolated.

Cons

Isolated. Minimal amenities. No reservations.

Pets allowed

Allowed

Managed by

BLM

Features

Vault toilet
Swimming holes
Potable water

Location

Comments

08/06/2017
A beautiful campground overall. However, while some campsites are fairly private, others are quite exposed. Given that it's first come, first serve it's hard to know which will be available to you upon arrival. The main bummer was that the site we stayed at was full of trash; we probably spent 10 minutes picking up garbage out of the fire pit, bushes, and even close to the creek from who knows how many previous campers. Leave no trace folks!
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