Days
<1
Motors Allowed?
Yes
Difficulty
Easy / Class A
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.

Blue River is a beautiful, clear tributary to the McKenzie River that starts high up in the Cascade foothills and terminates near the town of Blue River, Oregon.  On the way the river is harnessed into a gigantic reservoir formed in 1968 when the Army Corps of Engineers installed Blue Lake Dam and Saddle Dam.  When full, this reservoir has a surface area of nearly 1,400 acres, so there is plenty of space to accommodate different recreations. Keep in mind, though, that the reservoir level is kept too low for most water activity from late summer to the spring melt.

The reservoir has two boat ramps, Saddle Dam and Lookout, and two official campgrounds, Mona and Lookout.  The forest roads that wind around portions of the shore also offer some backcountry camping, though heavy use by unsanitary campers can make these options somewhat of a crapshoot. If you can find a workable spot, this can be an excellent choice if you are using a personal watercraft that can easily launch from the shore.

Fishing, waterskiing, canoeing, kayaking, and stand-up paddling are commonplace on the water, as are the simple pleasures of cliff jumping and rope swinging. The reservoir has a native population of cutthroat trout and is stocked with rainbow trout. The water temperatures in the reservoir stay relatively chilly, cold enough to cut through mid-summer heat or reinvigorate your soul after a ride or hike on the area trails.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

Moderate

Parking Pass

General Day Use Fee

Pros

Close to Eugene. Two boat ramps. Camping. Large reservoir.

Cons

Cold water. Less scenic at lower water levels.

Water Temperature

32.00 °F (0.00 °C)

Features

Campgrounds + Campsites
Backcountry camping
Fishing
Picnic tables

Typically multi-day

No

Shuttle required

No

Site characteristics: Water

Lake

Portage required

No

Location

Nearby Lodging + Camping

Comments

Any info on how to reserve at Blue River?

10/11/2014
Drove up to explore Blue River Lake with my kayak only to find out that there was not any water to play in. If there was, there was very little and at least 100 yards from shore. October is definitely not a time of year for this lake. We went to Cougar Reservoir instead. It was great!
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