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Shady Cove

Federal campground in Willamette National Forest

Location: Lyons, OR, OR

Price: From $20 per night

Rating: 4 out of 5 (0 reviews)

Season: May through October

Shady Cove campground remains closed due to wildfire damage. This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/shady-cove to be notified when sites open up.

Shady Cove offers affordable camping at $20/night with direct access to swimming holes like Three Pools and Opal Pool, plus proximity to hiking, waterfalls, and activities within Opal Creek Wilderness. Google reviewers consistently praise its location and cleanliness.

Wildlife alert: American Black Bear and American Pika present in area. Also Northern Pygmy-Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Rufous Hummingbird, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and Common Garter Snake.

Insider tips for Shady Cove: Arrive early — first-come, first-served basis only with limited sites Bring cash or use Recreation.gov mobile app Scan and Pay feature on-site Nearest store in Gates is 30 minutes away — stock supplies before arrival

Skip Shady Cove if: You need hookups — no hookups available. You require advance reservations — first-come, first-served only. You visit outside May-October — campground closed seasonally.

Best time to visit Shady Cove: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.

Nearby campgrounds: Elkhorn Valley Recreation Site (Salem, OR), Elk Lake (Or) (Detroit, OR), Gold Butte Lookout (Mill City, OR), Piety Island (Detroit, OR).

Cell Phone Coverage at Shady Cove

Cell signal at Shady Cove (Lyons, OR): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

    Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

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    Federal campground in Willamette National ForestLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

    Shady Cove

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    Lyons, OR, OR★ 4 (0 reviews)From $20/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
    On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

    Shady Cove campground remains closed due to wildfire damage. This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site.

    Best for:CampersNature loversFamiliesSites:Tent
    LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

    Verified facts

    RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
    Check-in2:00 PM
    Check-out12:00 PM
    SeasonMay through October
    Stay limit14 days
    HookupsNo hookups.
    Max/site6 people

    Amenities

    RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
    Essentials
    Fire Rings
    Recreation
    Picnic Tables

    Straight talk

    CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

    Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

    Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
    Skip it if:✕ You need hookups — no hookups available✕ You require advance reservations — first-come, first-served only✕ You visit outside May-October — campground closed seasonally

    Insider tips & when to go

    CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

    Arrive early

    first-come, first-served basis only with limited sites

    Bring cash or use Recreation.gov mobile app Scan and Pay feature on-site

    Nearest store in Gates is 30 minutes away

    stock supplies before arrival

    Best: May-October

    Campground operates seasonally May through October only

    Things to do nearby

    RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

    Conditions today

    Live
    at campground coordinates

    Cell signal

    FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
    T-Mobile
    4G · 0%
    Verizon
    4G · 0%
    AT&T
    4G · 0%

    FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

    Wildlife nearby

    iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
    Alert: American Black Bear and American Pika present in area. Also Northern Pygmy-Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Rufous Hummingbird, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and Common Garter Snake.

    Location

    Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
    Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
    N/A· Willamette National Forest
    N/A

    Campground entrance

    Google Maps API

    Community

    #community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

    Pro tips

    • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Willamette National Forest fills fast in peak season.
    • Check current road conditions at Willamette National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.

    Frequently asked questions

    RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
    How much does Shady Cove cost per night?+
    Shady Cove costs $20 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
    What season is Shady Cove open?+
    Shady Cove is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
    Does Shady Cove have hookups?+
    No hookups.
    What is the maximum RV length at Shady Cove?+
    Shady Cove is primarily a tent camping facility.
    How do I make reservations at Shady Cove?+
    Shady Cove is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
    What is the cell service like at Shady Cove?+
    According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Shady Cove is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
    What season is Shady Cove open, and what are check-in times?+
    Shady Cove is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
    Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
    ●Data sources on this page
    Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
    recreation.gov · RIDB API
    National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
    api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
    Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
    airquality.googleapis.com
    iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
    api.inaturalist.org
    Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
    pollen.googleapis.com
    FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
    broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
    Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
    api.sunrise-sunset.org
    Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
    maps.googleapis.com
    RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
    ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

    CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

    $20 /night★ 4 (0)
    SeasonMay through October
    Check-in2:00 PM
    Check-out12:00 PM
    Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
    Dates full? Get an availability alert
    FAQ
    How much does Shady Cove cost per night?+
    What season is Shady Cove open?+
    Does Shady Cove have hookups?+
    All 7 questions →

    Nearby Campgrounds

    Elkhorn Valley Recreation Site

    Salem, OR

    From $14/night

    Elk Lake (Or)

    Detroit, OR

    From $6/night

    Gold Butte Lookout

    Mill City, OR

    From $80/night

    Piety Island

    Detroit, OR

    From $12/night

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