Location: McKenzie Bridge, Oregon | Willamette National Forest

ACCESS: From McKenzie Bridge, take Highway 126 east about 4–5 miles. Turn left (north) onto Forest Road 300 into Paradise Campground. Coming from Eugene, take I-105 east to Highway 126 and continue roughly 55 miles to McKenzie Bridge; the campground is on the left about 4 miles past town.

SEASON: Typically open late spring through early fall, weather and snowpack dependent. Some sites are first-come, first-served while others are reservable — availability shifts by season, so check current status before you go.

SITES & FEES: 61 sites for tents, trailers, and RVs, spread through old-growth Douglas fir and western red cedar. Standard nonelectric sites; no hookups. Nightly fee is roughly $22, plus an additional-vehicle fee. Maximum stay 14 days. Reservations (where available) are made through Recreation.gov.

AMENITIES: Flush toilets distributed throughout the campground, potable water from spigots, picnic tables and fire rings with grills at each site, paved parking spurs, an on-site boat ramp, and an amphitheater used for seasonal ranger-led programs. No showers and no electrical or water hookups at sites.

DESCRIPTION & ATTRACTIONS: Paradise Campground sits on a bend of the McKenzie River at about 1,600 feet elevation, shaded by towering old-growth conifers and thick with ferns and moss — one of the larger and most popular campgrounds on the McKenzie corridor. Some sites sit right along the riverbank; others tuck back into the forest for more privacy, and the layout still leaves a good sense of space between neighbors. It’s a launch point for the McKenzie River National Recreation Trail, a roughly 26.5-mile trail popular with hikers and mountain bikers that passes waterfalls, old-growth forest, and turquoise pools along the way. The river here offers catch-and-release trout and steelhead fishing, plus whitewater ranging from calm floats to Class IV rapids depending on location and conditions — the on-site boat ramp makes launching easy. The adjacent day-use area, built originally by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, adds picnicking and additional river access, and both the amphitheater and picnic grounds are wheelchair accessible.

GOOD TO KNOW: No electric hookups; RVs and trailers should double-check site dimensions before booking, as the loop configuration can be tricky for larger rigs. Cell service is generally available. Bear-aware food storage is required, and campers are asked to source firewood locally to avoid spreading invasive species.

RESERVATION CONTACT: Recreation.gov | Willamette National Forest, McKenzie River Ranger District: (541) 822-3381