Keenig Creek Campground

Of the many campsites along the Wilson River that are managed and maintained by the Oregon Department of Forestry, Keenig Creek Campground is by far the most primitive.  The 12 walk-in campsites are mostly small (adequate enough for only one tent), and unlike Jones Creek or Elk Creek, Keenig Creek Campground doesn't have a source for potable water.

However, this campground does offer one of the best swimming holes and sunniest stretches of water anywhere along the Wilson River.

Should you need more space for camping, the sites at Elk Creek Campground provide more room, and those at Jones Creek Campground are larger still (one group site is available for $50 per night via reservation).

Oregon’s North Coast Forests

The Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests are 45 minutes outside of Portland’s backdoor and one of the state’s best keep secrets. But these forests also have a fraught history with logging, fires and more logging.  They are now 50 to 70 years into the recovery process and offer prime habitat for vibrant communities of fish and wildlife, as well as an immense array of recreational opportunities. The Wilson and Kilchis rivers host globally important runs of Chinook, chum, coho and steelhead. Both forests provide camping, biking, fishing, hunting and hiking grounds for thousands of Oregonians, and they also provide over 400,000 people with clean drinking water.

Wild Salmon Center is a founding member of the North Coast State Forest Coalition, a diverse group of over 100 businesses, governing bodies and nonprofits working to leverage public support to increase forest and streamside protection along the North Coast. These popular and biologically important areas deserve real protection. That’s why we’re asking state and federal leaders to protect 33,000 acres of land around the Wilson and Kilchis Rivers and another 8,000 acres around Kings Mountain.  It’s no easy task ensuring a future for these forests but this is where you can help.

Get Involved

Learn more about the North Coast State Forest Coalition, on their website. Join in the coalition by signing up for their newsletter and signing on to the latest action alerts to protect the Wilson/Kilchis and Kings Mountain.