Oregon swimming holes to stay cool at around Salem, Eugene and Portland

As summer heats up, Oregon residents are encouraged to cool off at a handful of swimming holes around Salem, Eugene and Portland. The Bureau of Land Management is converting the Yellowbottom Recreation Area campsite into a day-use site, while a slate of popular spots remains open across creeks and rivers. North Santiam County Park east of Salem along Highway 22 offers a grassy riverside with picnic tables; Little North Fork Park reopened in 2024 after fires; Bear Creek Park and Canyon Creek Recreation Site also reopened that year. Quartzville Creek hosts multiple swimming holes, though Yellowbottom remains closed indefinitely. Visitors are advised to arrive early on hot days, sometimes before 10 a.m., to secure parking and a spot by the water. The guide notes coordinates for two popular holes along Quartzville (44.5767, -122.317083) and (44.588152, -122.359221) and highlights dispersed camping opportunities nearby.