Frequently Asked Questions / Topics
Click here for latest updates on Campfire regulations.
Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Office is closed on all major holidays.
- All reservations MUST be made at least 24 hours prior to your desired arrival date.
- Reservations can be made up to 9 months to arrival date.
- It is strongly recommended that you book reservations online at Linnparks.com. You may also make reservations by calling the parks office, at 541-967-3917, during regular business hours; M-F, 8:30-5:00PM. The parks office is closed on all major holidays.
- What you see on the availability grid is what our reservations specialist see as well; if the diamond is red, the site is not available for reservations.
- It is strongly recommended that you set-up an account on the parks reservation page; by setting up an account you can view current and past reservations.
- If you are making a reservation for Memorial Day, 4th of July or the Labor Day Holiday; a three day minimum is required.
- If you did not receive your reservation confirmation, via e-mail, please check your spam account.
- Camping fees must be paid in full when reserving. We are unable to take payments.
- We cannot “hold” sites.
- You must be at least 18 years of age to make a reservation.
- The registered camper is directly responsible for the activities of everyone at the site, as well as financially responsible for any damages that occur.
- Reservations are highly recommended to secure a campsite; reservations can be made nine months to arrival date.
- Sunnyside Group camp can be booked by calling the parks office at 541-967-3917.
- John Neal Memorial Park Group Camp, Quartzville Group Camp, Rocky Top Bridge Group Camp & River Bend Group Camp can be booked online by visiting Linnparks.com or by calling the office during regular business hours.
- Camping fees must be paid in full when reserving. We are unable to take payments.
- US Forest Service group sites are online at Recreation.gov.
- Picnic shelter reservations can now be made online at Camplife!
- A special-use permit form is required if you plan on any large structures such as; bouncy castles, stages, an event tent, portable toilets, etc. in our parks. You will be required to provide insurance for these items.
- The following parks have picnic shelters:
- Cascadia County Park
- John Neal Memorial Park
- River Bend County Park
- Roaring River County Park
- Sunnyside County Park
- Waterloo County Park
- Shelter fees must be paid in full when reserving. We are unable to take payments.
- Create an account prior to reserving online. By having an account, you will have easy access to current and past reservations.
- Turn off your pop up blocker.
- You will not be able to book online if it is within 24 hours of your preferred arrival date.
- Make sure you are not trying to reserve more than 9 months prior to your arrival date.
- Weekends are a two day minimum; the reservation system will not show you available sites if you are attempting to only book one night.
- Holidays are a three day minimum; the reservation system will not display available sites if you are attempting to only book two nights.
- Reservations/Cancellations must be made through Recreation.Gov.
- Individual sites may be reserved up to 6 months in advance of arrival date.
- Group camp sites may be reserved up to 12 months in advance of arrival date.
- Linn County Parks manages the following USFS Parks within the Willamette National Forest:
- Sweet Home Ranger District, US Hwy 20
- Fernview
- House Rock
- Longbow
- Lost Prairie
- Trout Creek
- Yukwah
- McKenzie Ranger District, US Hwy 126 and US Hwy 22
- Big Lake
- Big Lake West
- Cold Water Cove
- Ice Cap
- Lost Lake
- Olallie
- Detroit Ranger District, US Hwy 22
- Big Meadows
- Breitenbush
- Cleator Bend
- Cove Creek
- Fox Creek
- Hoover
- Humbug
- Marion Forks
- Riverside
- Santiam Flats
- Southshore
- Whispering Falls
- Sweet Home Ranger District, US Hwy 20
Click Here for the latest on Reservation Changes and Cancellations
- You cannot cancel or change your reservation through the reservation system; you will need to call, or email, the office during regular business hours.
- Changes to your arrival date will be charged the nightly rate plus a $12 change fee. No refunds will be given and all fees for overnight stays will be retained.
- Early departures: Shortening of the departure date will incur a $12 reservation change fee. The nightly camping fees for the night(s) dropped will be refunded.
- There are no additional fees to extend your arrival or departure date.
- This policy came in to effect as folks were booking ahead of the year to arrival date policy and then canceling the dates off of the front of their reservation at a later date; in essence cheating the system.
- You cannot cancel or change your reservation through the reservation system; you will need to call, or email, the office during regular business hours.
- Cancellations made 31 days or more in advance will be refunded all but the $50 reservation fee.
- Cancellations made within 15-30 days of arrival date will be refunded all but the $50 reservation fee and 1st night camping fee.
- Cancellations made within 14 days of scheduled arrival will not receive a refund.
- Sunnyside County Park has boat moorage available; moorage is by reservation only.
- Edgewater has both seasonal moorage and daily moorage.
- Daily moorage is for camping guests only.
- Seasonal moorage, May 15 thru September 15 (season is dependent upon water levels), is by application only. Contact the parks office for more information.
- Buell Miller Boat Ramp (North Santiam River)
- Foster Reservoir
- Calkins Boat Ramp
- Gedney Boat Ramp
- Sunnyside Boat Ramp
- Green Peter Reservoir
- Thistle Creek Boat Ramp
- Whitcomb Creek Boat Ramp
- Lyons-Mehama Boat Ramp (North Santiam)
- McCartney Boat Ramp (Willamette River)
- Peoria Boat Ramp (Willamette)
- Stayton Bridge Boat Ramp (North Santiam)
- Waterloo (South Santiam River)
- Boater Education Cards
- Water Way Access Permit
If you have questions about any of these basic rules, please ask a park ranger or call the Parks office at 541-967-3917.
- Camping is only allowed in designated campgrounds.
- Campsites require a fee- no checks are accepted for Linn County Parks sites.
- The person who has registered for the campsite (either online or in person) is responsible for the behavior of the occupants of the site.
- Each campsite is limited to 8 occupants. Children under age 18 must be accompanied by and under the control of an on-site adult at all times.
- One vehicle is allowed per site. Additional vehicles require an extra vehicle fee.
- Showers and RV dumps at campgrounds are for registered guests only.
- Special events require a permit ahead of time. Amplification sound systems, public address systems, and lighting systems are not allowed in parks.
- Camping is limited to 14 days in any 30 day period for guests. When the 14 day limit is reached, it applies to ALL Linn County campgrounds.
- There is a 24 hour limit at the following parks: Peoria County Park, McCartney Recreation Area, McDowell Creek Park, and any boat ramp or day use area.
- You must clean and leave your site by the posted check out time.
- If day-use site hours are not posted, the hours of operation are from dawn to dusk.
- Do not leave pets unattended. Aggressive pets may require removal. Each site has a two-pet limit. Leashes of 6 feet or less are required, except for inside specifically designated off-leash areas. All pet waste must be picked up and disposed of properly by the owner of the animal.
- Hunting, trapping, pursuing, or molesting any bird or animal is not allowed on park property.
- Fires area allowed in designated fire pits only during the allowable burning season. Current burning regulations can be found here. Do not leave fires unattended.
- Picking, mutilating, digging or removal of any plant is not allowed. Digging, excavation, or removal of soil, stones, rocks, or other substances is not allowed. Do not tie or attach ropes, chains or similar items to trees, shrubs, and park facilities.
- Altering, defacing, mutilating or destruction of any trails, roads, parking lots, bridges, fences, buildings, signs, barriers, or other facilities or structures is vandalism punishable in court.
- No setting off of fireworks, discharging of firearms, air, CO2 or spring-actuated rifle or pistol, slingshot, arrow, or other similar devices designed or used to propel a projectile in or over any park property.
- Remote control aircraft and drones are not allowed, except in specific designated and identified areas. Metal detecting equipment is prohibited on park property.
- No person shall use abusive, threatening, obscene, or indecent language or gestures in a manner which causes a public nuisance.
- Fighting or instigating fighting is not allowed.
- Public indecency is forbidden. (As defined in ORS 163.465.)
- Radios, TVs, musical instruments, and other noise producing devices may not disturb other persons. Quiet hours are strictly enforced.
- Do not swim, dive, fish, or loiter on from or within 50 feet of any bridge, platform, boat launching ramp, dock, boating safety barrier/boom, or pier. Rope swings are not allowed.
- When asked by a park employee or other enforcement official, visitors are required to disclose their true identity and other requested information.
- You may not have a pool or other similar open surface device capable of holding more than 5 gallons of water. Drinking water may not be removed from a park unless in a camp unit's tank specifically intended for camping use.
- Smoking, vaping, using marijuana, e-cigarettes, or smokeless tobacco are not allowed inside park buildings including yurts, cabins, glamping tents, restrooms, shelters, boats, or lodges. Fines and cleaning fees for such activities are up to $1000 per occurrence.
- Do not leave garbage, glass, litter, or waste outside of receptacles designated for that purpose. Dumping household or commercial waste is not permitted in park facilities.
- Visitors must take all of their belongings with them when they leave. Do not leave possessions behind when you clean up your campsite at the end of your visit.
- Keep a neat and clean campsite that is safe and sanitary at all times.
- Dispose of all hand or dishwater in designated receptacles provided. Do not dispose of human waste in these receptacles.
- Do not do laundry or clean fish in streams, lakes, wells, or campground showers.
- Park only in designated areas. Drive reasonably and prudently, paying attention to hazards, pedestrians, and campers, obeying the park speed limit. The speed limit is 15 mph unless otherwise noted. Obey all traffic control signs.
- Do not drive motorized or electric powered vehicles, bikes, scooters, etc. on any path, trail, service road, or other area unless the area has been officially designated for use by motor vehicles.
- No cruising through campgrounds, parking lots, or day use areas.
- Vehicles may be towed if left in an area where they are not allowed or for a length of time not in compliance with park rules. (If you are camping overnight on a river trip and plan to leave a vehicle at a boat ramp, please contact the office so you can avoid being towed.) Towing is at the owner's expense.
- All vehicles must be operable and functional- cars, boats, RVs, trailer, fifth wheels, etc. must be removable and the appropriate tow vehicle on site during the stay. Any of these must be removed immediately when requested by park staff.
- All vehicles, boats, and camp units in Linn County Parks must have applicable required legal licensing and registration as well as insurance per applicable laws.
- The Park Director reserves the right to delegate authority to execute any of these rules to Linn County Park Rangers, law enforcement officials, and other designees. Violations may result in being excluded from Linn County Park properties, fines, and criminal charges, depending upon the infraction.
- If you don't follow the rules, you can be ejected and trespassed from all County Parks. Certain violations incur financial penalties as well.
- The complete rules and regulations for Linn County Parks can be found here.
- If you are booking multiple sites, you are responsible for the guests in all camp sites under your name, and for the condition in which the site is kept and/or left.
- Should there be an issue with a guest in one of the sites you reserved, you may all be asked to leave the park and you may be issued a notice of violation even if you are not the one who has caused the issue.
- If you are entitled to a discount, you will ONLY receive a discount on one site even if the other guests would be entitled to a discount. If they are eligible for a discount, they will need to book their own site in order to receive the discount.
- Booking of multiple sites for the same period of time; only one discount will be allowed on one site. Other sites will not receive a discount. Guests in your party, that are eligible for the Senior Citizen or Disabled Veterans discount, must book their own site.
- Senior citizens are persons age 62 years and older. 50% of the adult campers in the site must be senior citizens in order to receive the discount.
- Disabled Veterans who possess a State-issued Disabled Veteran Discount Card are entitled to the Linn County Senior Citizen rate; one campsite per card. Veteran must occupy site and display state discount card.
- There is a 14-day camping limit, in any 30 day period, at Linn County Parks. This is a rolling 30-day period so any number of stays totaling over 14 days within 30 days of each other is not permitted. It is not sufficient to change campgrounds; this rule applies to all parks in the Linn County Parks system.
- Linn County Campgrounds are for recreational use only.
- Row boat & kayak rentals are first come, first serve. Renters of a row boat are required to bring their own Coast Guard approved flotation device(s) (life jacket) for each occupant of the boat; limited vests are available at the resort.
- You may bring you own non-motorized boat or stand up paddle board.
- Power boats of any kind are not allowed on the lake.
- The year-round average water temperature is 43 degrees. (Swimming is not recommended due to the near freezing temperature).
- Clear Lake does not have WIFI or Cell Phone service.
Campsites are limited to the camping unit (Tent or RV) plus 1 tow vehicle; additional vehicles are charged a $9 per night fee.
- Do not leave campfires unattended.
- Campfires must be in a designated campfire ring.
Fireworks are not permitted in any Linn County owned or managed facilities.
Most of our Forest Service parks have first come first serve options for campsites. Cascadia County Park also has first come first serve.
Marion Forks Campground (USFS) on Highway 22 by the fish hatchery is all first come first serve.
Additionally, if reservable sites are not already reserved, they can be rented on a per night basis, but must be vacated before the next reservation begins. Payment can be made online for most USFS sites using the scan and pay feature on the Recreation.gov app (available on your favorite app store) using a QR code, submitting payment via the digital kiosk (limited sites), or by submitting payment in a completed envelope to the fee tube at the park. Each campground has instructions on the information kiosk for payment options. If you have questions about this, please locate a Linn County Park Ranger or call the office at 541-967-3917.
- Select an available camp-site. An available site does not have a camp permit on the kiosk board or site post.
- If the site is paid for, it is considered occupied whether or not someone is physically in the site.
- For reservable sites, verify check-in dates on reservation cards for site availability. You may pay for one night at a time, if the site is not reserved.
- You must fill out all information on the camp fee envelope and include full payment. Envelopes must be legible.
- Payment must be made in cash unless you are visiting a site with a card pay kiosk or scan and pay option. If you use scan and pay (USFS), please record the transaction number on your envelope.
- Checks are not accepted for Linn County Parks.
- Do Not remove Reservation Tags or Camp Permits from the kiosk board.
- Do Not register for a campsite that has a permit on the kiosk board, whether the site appears to be vacant or not. Campsites will be available only when park staff remove the permits and/or reservations cards from the kiosk board.
- Do Not contact current campers to determine their departure date. This behavior will be considered a public nuisance and a violation of park rules.
- Group camps are not exclusive usage.
- The general public can still walk into a group camp, use the river frontage and/or use the public restroom facilities.
- USFS Group Camps can be reserved 12 months in advance via Recreation.gov.
- Most Linn County Parks group sites are reservable online at linnparks.com 9 months in advance. If you need help reserving a County group site, please call the office at 541-967-3917.
- Day-use areas open dawn (30 minutes before sunrise) to dusk (30 minutes after sunset).
- Lewis Creek County Park opens at 10:00AM and closes at dusk.
- Please do not leave your pet unattended at the campsite.
- Dogs must be on a leash of six feet in length or less or kept in an adequately ventilated vehicle, or secured in an animal crate or carrier when outside of a vehicle or camping unit.
- No more than two pets per campsite.
- Pets are allowed in the cabins at River Bend County Park with payment of a pet fee, however, they are not allowed in the yurts.
- Pets are not allowed in the yurts at Whitcomb Creek County Park.
- Pets are allowed in the cabins at Clear Lake with payment of a pet fee, however, they are not allowed in the yurts.
- Quiet hours are 10 PM – 7 AM; generators must be turned off during quiet hours.
- No person may make any noise that would reasonably disrupt normal sleeping activities during quiet hours.
- The Sweet Home RV Dump off of 24th Ave. is open to anyone and charges a $10 fee (card only.) Fresh potable water is also available on-site for an additional fee.
- Park-based RV dump stations at River Bend and Waterloo Parks are for usage by park patrons only; you must be camped at the park to use the dump (DEQ rules).
- There is a $20 fee to dump at River Bend County Park and at Waterloo County Park; only cards are accepted.
Showers are offered to registered guests only.
WIFI is not available in any of the Linn County Parks.
The non-refundable reservation fee helps cover the cost of staff overhead, the reservation computer system, maintenance and reservation software.
Visitor fees are vital to sustaining Linn County Parks. 100% of the revenue collected through visitor fees, goes right back to parks and sites to fund new construction, improvement projects, park maintenance and personnel.
We are working to update the previous Master Plan at this time. The original plan is available below:
View the Linn County Master Plan (2008)
Comments are encouraged, as this will help us plan for the future of our parks. Please email comments to parks [at] co.linn.or.us (parks[at]co[dot]linn[dot]or[dot]us) and reference "Master Plan Comments" in the subject line. Thank you!
Cascadia County Park, John Neal Memorial County Park, Sunnyside County Park, Waterloo County Park and Whitcomb Creek County Park close for purposes of camping, in the fall, and re-open in the spring. The Waterloo County Park camping area only closes for necessary maintenance for a few months in the winter. (Disc golf and walk-in use at Waterloo is welcome, even when camping is unavailable.) You can still access trails in these parks as well as the boat launch at Sunnyside County Park.
The Lewis Creek County Park gate closes the end of September and reopens in late May. You can still access the park by parking on the road and walking in.
Clear Lake Resort, Edgewater RV Resort & Marina and River Bend County Park provide year round camping, and/or yurt and cabin facilities (some services at these parks are reduced in the winter months).
Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (hunting and fishing regulations)
Oregon Department of Forestry – FIRE
Oregon State Marine Board (boating regulations and waterway access)
Recreation.Gov (US Forest Service, BLM, and US Army Corps sites)
Reserve America (Oregon State Parks sites)
Do my Linn County taxes pay for County parks?
No. Many people don’t know that Linn County Parks is funded mostly by user fees. Your tax dollars do NOT support the Parks Department. For many years, campers paying overnight fees were the only folks paying for use. Other sources of revenue are a small portion of State RV licensing fees and a small cut of the Transient Lodging Tax.
Other parks systems are funded differently; Oregon State Parks is funded by Oregon taxes and lottery money. Other counties may have tax-based funding or an operating levy to fund their parks department.
What do my county parks fees pay for?
Both camping and day use fees pay for staff to clean and stock restrooms, mow and landscape, provide customer service, as well as repair facilities and mitigate vandalism at 55 different sites. The Parks Department requires a fleet of vehicles and equipment to do all this work across Linn County. Since day use areas also require maintenance, repairs, cleaning, and supplies, it seems only fair that people using those facilities share the costs for use as well.
Many of the facilities in the Linn County Park system were built approximately 50 years ago and have received decades of heavy use. Just like in your house, these facilities require repairs, or even replacement, when things wear out. In recent years, Linn County Parks has used grant funds to help stretch the dollars to replace some of the restrooms at Sunnyside, Waterloo, and Lewis Creek Parks. Other infrastructure investments include replacing drain fields, water systems, hot water heaters, paving or graveling roads, etc.
With record visitation at all of our sites, including the more than 1000 campsites each night, facilities are wearing out. Our utility costs have increased by more than 50% in the past 4 years. Add in the escalating cost of labor to keep parks open and staffed, and we must increase revenues.
The Parks Department is a very lean operation. Linn County Parks does all of this with only 17 full time staff, including office staff. We hire approximately 40-50 additional seasonal staff in the summer to help during peak season.
Are there benefits of day use fees?
Day use parking fees have contributed to a drastic reduction in theft and vandalism where they have been implemented. Additionally, incidental traffic through the parks with fees has been reduced, making a safer environment for kids at play.
The Linn County Parks Department hopes to prevent middle of the night drive throughs, thefts, restroom vandalism, dumped RVs, and hazardous trash, in addition to enhanced playground safety. All of these things make your visit more enjoyable.
Where do I have to pay for day use?
There are day use fees at Sunnyside, Waterloo, and Lewis Creek Parks. These are $9 per car and convenient card pay kiosks are available at all three. At Waterloo, you can even pay your first come first serve camping, firewood, day use fee (including people using the boat ramp in the campground, the playground, and the disc golf course), and more all at the touch screen kiosk.
If you are a frequent visitor, you might find it easier to get an annual pass for the year that allows entrance to any of these three parks. These are $75 and can be purchased at the Parks office at 3010 Ferry St. SW in Albany, the Sunnyside booth, or at Edgewater Campground in Foster.
Clear Lake Resort is another place with a $9 day use fee. This is not covered by the annual pass. Clear Lake has a card kiosk at the top of the entry road, or you can pay with cash inside the lodge.
Please place your printed ticket or annual pass clearly visible and face up on your dashboard to avoid a $115 ticket.
How do the card kiosks work?
The brown Sanistar kiosks are “tap and pay”, meaning they accept cards with a chip. Simply make your selection on the screen and tap to pay. The machine will print a ticket for your dash (extra vehicle or day use), one for your campsite, or one you can exchange for firewood or ice from a camp host or ranger.
Some kiosks only have one function- for either a day use pass or RV dump access. (The RV dump machines are a different color and don’t print a ticket, but also operate with a card tap.)
What makes the Linn County Parks Department special?
Parks staff do it all. Linn County Parks staff not only provide customer service and care for facilities in the summer, but they are also the skilled construction crew making repairs and upgrading facilities in the off season. Just this past winter, Parks staff replaced over 1800 linear feet of sidewalk at Lewis Creek Park and built an accessible swim ramp along the swim beach into the water. The winter before, the team remodeled the Clear Lake Lodge. Other recent projects the Parks team has tackled include replacing the Waterloo restroom near the playground and building the new drain field, installing additional wastewater tanks at River Bend, and overseeing the new RV Dump facility in Sweet Home. On any given day, Parks staff might be doing plumbing, construction, metal fabrication, landscaping, mechanical repair, or any one of about a million different disciplines. It's never boring!
We operate over 1000 campsites a night in the summertime, but we also have a resort and a museum, in addition to boat ramps, waysides, and day use areas such as McDowell Creek Falls County Park. Want to see something we don’t have yet? Give us a call or answer our survey and share your ideas (QR code in the Linn County Parks Visitors Guide).