Located just over ten miles from the Pacific Ocean and the Oregon coast, the Edson Creek Recreation Area provides an attractive, open grassy area for camping. The campground, managed by the Bureau of Land Management, is located on Edson Creek, where it joins the Sixes River. The river provides a great watercourse for visitors to enjoy swimming and fishing. A boat launch located across the Sixes River Road from the Edson Creek Campground allows access to the Sixes River for guests, with close proximity to the recreation area campground. While enjoying the well-treed recreation area and campground, visitors can discover the local wildlife which is abundant in the area and includes salmon along the river and creek and the predators that salmon runs attract as well as river otters along the river course.
The campground is designated for tent camping and has lots of shade and privacy. It is forested with a variety of vegetation, including myrtle, big leaf maple, alder, and Oregon ash. There are 27 campsites with picnic tables and fire rings that are available on a first-come, first-serve basis for a nominal fee. There are also five additional group sites that accommodate 25 people per site and can be reserved at www.recreation.gov. The site is open from Memorial Day until the end of September. Visitors are warned to watch out for poison oak which is a common plant in the region.
Only ten miles to the west, visitors to the area can check out the Cape Blanco State Park and the historic lighthouse which is situated here. There are also national forests in the region; swing on by the Umpqua National Forest or the Rogue River Siskiyou National Forest when traveling in the region.
The weather in the Edson Creek Camping area in Oregon is warm and mild most of the year. However, it can be wet, especially in the winter, and if temperatures drop, icy road surfaces can result. Heavy rains can also affect road conditions. Naturally surfaced shoulders may be eroded by wet conditions, so use caution when pulling an RV onto naturally surfaced shoulders in the area, and be aware that wet road surfaces can have decreased traction.
The access road that leads to the Edson Creek Camping area is well paved; however, the roads around the campground are naturally surfaced and can be affected by wet weather, becoming muddy and hard to traverse.
To reach the BLM Edson Creek Camping site from Portland, Oregon, take Interstate 5 south, to exit 162, then head west on Highway 38. When you reach the junction for Highway 101, head south and continue to the Sixes River Road. Turn east and proceed 4.3 miles to the Edson Creek Camping area on the east side of the road.
From Port Orford, Oregon, travel north on Highway 101 to the Sixes River Road then turn right and continue for four miles. The bridge at Sixes is paved and has no overhead clearance restrictions that would hamper large RV units.
The town of Sixes, Oregon is located nearby and amenities and services are available here for travelers in the region.
The Cape Blanco State Park Campground is a 20-minute drive, 10 miles west of the Edson Creek Camping area, that provides RV camping sites for visitors to the region. The campground has 52 sites with electric and water hookups for RVs.
For visitors without RVs, there are four cabins, two of which are pet friendly, available for rent. Equestrian users will also appreciate the horse camping area which has eight primitive sites, three of which are pull through. A reservable group camping area is also on-site. Amenities include a shower house with hot water, and restroom with flush toilets located on-site.
Reservations can be made online, and this campground is very popular during the peak season, so get there early, or reserve online to secure a site. A camp host is available at the campground, and firewood and ice is sold on-site.
Enjoy camping on the Pacific coast, beachcombing, fishing, hiking, cycling, horseback riding, and tours of the historic lighthouse located at the state park while staying at the campground.
Tent camping is available at the Edson Creek Camping area on Edson Creek. This Bureau of Land Management site has a small fee for camping, but is very affordable. The 27 individual campsites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and have picnic tables and fire pits. There are also five group sites, four of which are located on the opposite side of the creek from the individual sites. Each group site can accommodate groups of up to 25 people and they are reservable online. There are ADA accessible campsites and vault toilet restrooms on-site.
The recreation sites and campgrounds are open from Memorial Day through September each year. A campground host is also available on site.
The Edson Creek and Sixes River located across the road are great for swimming on a hot summer day and fishing year-round. Do watch out for poison oak, which grows in the forested areas around the campground. The campground is located in an open meadow and surrounded by large trees and wooded areas. Keep an eye out for wildlife in the area, especially during the salmon runs on the creek and river, which attract large predators to the area. A boat launch on the Sixes River across the road provides access to the river for fishing and boating activities.
The 27 campsites with picnic tables, fire pits, and grills, and five large group campsites support small or large group picnics at the site. The Edson Creek runs adjacent to the campground, which is situated in a large grassy meadow surrounded by large shade-giving trees, making it an ideal place to enjoy an outdoor meal. Watch out for poison oak while picnicking in the outdoor area.
Pets are permitted but must be kept leashed. The group sites are reservable and perfect for large and small groups to picnic. The group sites accommodate 25 guests at each of the various sites. Four of the sites are located across the creek from the individual sites and all four sites together can accommodate up to 100 visitors for group picnics!
The river is popular for swimming, and there are several popular swimming holes along the Sixes River near the Edson Creek Camping area. There are no lifeguards on duty, and the river has a significant current, so be sure to keep children within arms reach. Wear a PFD or lifejacket if you are not a strong swimmer, and keep to areas appropriate for your swimming ability. You can also head 10 miles west to enjoy swimming in the Pacific Ocean off the beaches located at Cape Blanco State Park.
While walking along the Edson Creek and Sixes River, keep an eye out for rocks and minerals deposited along the banks. The region has a rich mining history, which means geological finds and various minerals are present, especially along watercourses.
Head to the coast and do some beachcombing at low tide to find polished glass, petrified wood, seashells, and agates. The beach areas in the state park here are ripe with agates, waiting to be discovered! You can walk along the beach or even drive if you have a vehicle that is capable of negotiating the sandy beaches.
Fishing from the banks of the Edson Creek, which runs along the Edson Creek Camping area, or on the Sixes River, which is just across the Sixes River Road from the campground, are popular pastimes at the BLM recreation site. Wintertime is a great time to reel in steelhead trout which can be found in the creek and river, and Pacific salmon make their way upstream to spawn later in the year.
Ensure you have a valid fishing license for the State of Oregon. A boat launch on the Sixes River is just across the Sixes River Road from the campground and provides access to the waterway for watercraft to participate in fishing activities.
Enjoy the wooded areas, open meadows, creek, and river at the Edson Creek Camping area. The wilderness nearby has plenty of wildlife to spot. The region around the campground is home to bear, cougars, bobcats, and deer. Take a stroll along the Sixes River, and keep an eye out for river otters which frolick along the river banks hunting for crayfish and the fish that live in the river. Look to the sky where bald eagles soar, waiting for the opportunity to dive down and snatch salmon from the river.
During the spring, fawn lilies grow wild and paint the natural areas with their brilliant colors. Transition seasons are ideal times to spot wildlife in the area when spring flowers color the forested areas and the salmon spawning runs attract predators to the region.
The Cape Blanco Lighthouse is situated 10 miles west of the Edson Creek Camping area in Cape Blanco State Park on the Oregon coast. Tours to explore the lighthouse are guided by historical society volunteers, for a nominal fee, and the historic Hughes House nearby can also be toured while visiting the site.
The lighthouse is open to the public from April to October and is an ideal activity on a stormy day or during the transition seasons when warm-weather activities in the area are inaccessible. Waves hitting the rocky coast are dramatic, but keep your distance unless you want to get wet from the spray!
