The Collawash River is one of those Oregon streams that is simultaneously famous and little-known.
It’s one of our state’s 68 steams protected under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act — basically a hall of fame of rivers — and features great swimming holes, camping, kayaking and some fishing.
It’s also the principle river at Bagby Hot Springs — Oregon’s best-known place to soak amid old-growth forest.
Despite that, there aren’t a ton of people around Salem or Oregon familiar with the Collawash. It’s often overlooked by the river it flows into, the Clackamas, and requires a pretty long drive to reach.
But the Collawash is worth visiting, and if you’re headed out that way, I’d recommend staying at Kingfisher Campground. It’s a quieter campground with nice sites and swimming holes with close access to wilderness hiking, fishing and Bagby Hot Springs.
In other words, it makes a nice basecamp for exploring the area.
“Kingfisher Campground is a diamond in the rough,” says the U.S. Forest Service’s description.“Its more primitive appearance gives it a true nature feel and is close to a variety of recreational opportunities.”
The campground is home to 21 total sites and costs $23 per night. It’s worth making reservations at Recreation.Gov to score the sites with direct access to the best swimming hole at a scenic bend in the river. There are usually walk-up campsites available mid-week and occasionally on weekends (but don’t count on it).
Either way, putting down a tent at Kingfisher is just the beginning. It’s what surrounds it that’s the real draw. Here area few favorite things to do nearby. Make sure to grab a Mount Hood National Forest map before you go.
Bagby Hot Springs
Located just a few miles up the road from Kingfisher, Bagby Hot Springs offers both heaven and hell.
A beautiful 1.5-mile hike leads to the rustic bathhouses set in old-growth forest and rustic wooden tubs where hot springs water is heavenly to soak in.
Problem is, everybody feels that way and the place gets crowded. The best way to enjoy Bagby is to start very early in the morning, doing the hike and hot springs before partying campers can wake up.
There is a $5 per person soaking fee that can be paid to the attendant or fee box at the trailhead (cash only). A wristband will be given upon paying the fee that you will need to wear while soaking).
More:House Rock Campground: Idyllic swimming and hiking on South Santiam River
Bull of the Woods hiking
One of my favorite places for a midsummer hike is the Bull of the Woods Wilderness. The twin wilderness to Opal Creek, the Bull offers more diverse hiking destinations and smallercrowds.
A personal favorite hike leads to Bull of the Woods Lookout, a relic from the glory days of fire lookouts that offers knockout views of every Cascade Range peak from Mount Rainer to the Three Sisters. The easiest route is 6.8 miles round-trip with about 900 feet of climb. A more challenging loop of 7.4 miles and 2,000 feet of climb includes two mountain lakes before reaching the lookout.
Another gem is Pansy Lake, an easy kid-friendly hike of 2.4 miles round-trip, and Elk Lake Creek Trail, a pathway along a beautiful but chilly creek.
Fishing and swimming hole hunting the Collawash
Kingfisher Campground does have its own nice swimming hole, but there are far more spectacular places to take a dip or go fishing.
Forest Service Road 63 and 70 provides access to some of these spots along the main and hot springs fork of the river. Just look for pullouts on the road and scramble down to find the best spots.
Fishing is catch-and-release only for trout on the Collawash, and fishing for salmon and steelhead is closed.
More:Two Views: Hatchery fish are not the enemy on the Santiam River
Clackamas River adventures
The far more famous river in this area is the Clackamas, and there are numerous things to do. Outfitters offer rafting trips on one of Oregon’s best whitewater rivers, while the Clackamas River Trail features stunning forest and waterfalls.
Two favorite hikes in the area are Riverside Trailhead to Rainbow Campground (5 miles out and back), and Pup Creek Falls (7.6 miles round-trip). Both are featured in William Sullivan’s 100 Hikes / Travel Guide to Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington.
Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter, photographer and videographer in Oregon for 11 years. To support his work, subscribe to the Statesman Journal.
Urness is the author of “Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon” and “Hiking Southern Oregon.” He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on Twitter at @ZachsORoutdoors.
