Campgrounds between Eugene and Oregon Coast closed for 2024 season due to staffing

Emma Logan, Salem Statesman Journal
Updated ·1 min read

The Bureau of Land Management announced Wednesday that Whittaker Creek and Clay Creek campgrounds will be closed at the start of the 2024 season due to staffing issues.

Despite a planned opening at the end of April, officials decided both sites in the Coast Range between Eugene and the Oregon Coast off Highway 126 will remain closed, as the BLM relies on seasonal staff and volunteer hosts to manage operations.

“Public safety, especially the safety of our visitors, is our top priority,” outdoor recreation planner for the BLM Ben Watts said. “Opening sites without necessary staff leads to risks including increased crime and damage to natural resources.”

Whittaker Creek Campground may open later in the season depending on staffing.

For information about becoming a campground host at this site, call John Wardle at 503-375-5646 or send an email to BLM_OR_NO_Mail@blm.gov.

Emma Logan is an outdoors journalism intern for the Statesman Journal. She can be reached at elogan@salem.gannett.com or on X @emmmalogan

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Campgrounds between Eugene, Oregon Coast closed due for 2024