Campground · Day Use Area · McKenzie River · Cougar Reservoir, off Aufderheide Drive
Slide Creek Day Use Area
The best-equipped of the three Cougar Reservoir day-use stops — a paved boat launch, a buoyed swim area, changing rooms, and real picnic tables with steel fire rings, all on the reservoir’s east shore, with a reservable campground sharing the same site.
More detail
Getting there & parking+
From Blue River, travel 4 miles east on Highway 126 to Aufderheide Drive (Forest Road 19), then head south about 8 miles to Forest Road 500. Turn left and continue 1.5 miles to Slide Creek, on the east side of Cougar Reservoir. Ample parking on site for both the day-use area and campground.
Facilities & accessibility+
- Two day-use picnic sites with tables and steel fire rings, plus fire rings and tables at every campsite
- Paved, buoy-marked swimming area
- Changing room
- Paved boat launch
- Ample parking
Potable water is available at the campground, about an 800-foot walk from the day-use site itself — worth knowing before you’re hauling a cooler. Restrooms are vault toilets.
Choose what brings you here
At this day-use area
Fees & passes+
$10 per vehicle, per day, paid on site.
Boat launch & water recreation+
This is the water-recreation stop of the three Cougar Reservoir day-use areas: a paved boat launch for motorized and non-motorized boats, water skiing, and a real swim beach with buoy markers and a changing room. As with the rest of the reservoir, check for any cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) advisories before swimming or letting a dog in the water — blooms have been reported on Cougar Reservoir in past seasons.
Camping here
confirm reservation type locally
Reservations & fees+
Sources differ on how sites are booked here — the Forest Service describes Recreation.gov reservations, while one listing shows first-come, first-served only. Check Recreation.gov directly before you go, or call the McKenzie River Ranger Station.
Quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., max stay is 14 days in a 60-day window, and dogs need a leash no longer than 6 feet. Open April through September.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions +
Is there a fee to use Slide Creek Day Use Area?
Yes — $10 per vehicle per day, paid on site. Camping at the adjacent campground has its own separate per-night fee.
Do I need a reservation to camp here?
Sources disagree — check Recreation.gov directly before you go, since some information points to reservable sites and other listings describe first-come, first-served only.
Is there a boat launch here?
Yes — a paved boat launch, the most reliable of the three Cougar Reservoir day-use sites.
Is there a place to swim?
Yes — a paved, buoy-marked swimming area with a changing room. Check for algae bloom advisories before you get in, since Cougar Reservoir has had reported cyanobacteria blooms in past seasons.
Are dogs allowed?
Yes — leashed dogs (max 6 ft) are welcome in both the day-use area and the campground. Please bag and pack out solid waste.
Official day-use site details — Willamette National Forest →
Official campground details — Willamette National Forest →
