Mar 15, 2021
Many parks are open for day use and camping, but COVID-19 means we had to reduce or change some services to protect visitors and staff from exposure. Below, you'll find answers to many common questions about what to expect when you visit state parks.
1. How do the Oregon Coronavirus County Risk Levels affect my visit?
Outdoor parks and recreation opportunities are generally not affected by the County Risk Levels, no matter the status of the county where the park resides. Exceptions include meeting halls, which remain closed until further notice at all parks, and formal garden areas like Shore Acres State Park that follow the capacity limits for outdoor entertainment venues. Please visit the Governor’s Outdoor Recreation and Outdoor Entertainment Establishments guides for details.
2. What's open?
The majority of state parks are open. Group sites — including picnic areas, meeting halls and group camps — remain closed and are not accepting future reservations due to limited resources. Most visitor centers and hiker/biker sites are also closed. The campgrounds at Detroit Lake State Park and Collier Memorial State Park are temporarily closed due to the September wildfire emergency. Other recreation sites may be closed due to seasonal closures or storm impacts.
Check our Park Status Map for updates on open and closed parks, and information on any restroom closures or other reduced services.
3. When will closed parks and facilities reopen?
Parks and facilities that are closed due to COVID-19 will reopen as staffing and statewide guidance allow. Some previously closed parks are scheduled to reopen in 2021. Check our Park Status Map for updates on open and closed parks. We also post opening dates on our Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Camping at Detroit Lake State Park and Collier Memorial State Park remains closed due to damage from September 2020 wildfires. We aim to open both campgrounds later in 2021, and will open reservations as soon as we've set reopening dates.
4. How do I make a reservation?
Reservations are being accepted online at oregonstateparks.reserveamerica.com and by phone at 800-452-5687. New reservations will be accepted one day to six months in advance, for stays that begin within this time period. New sites will come online at 6 a.m. daily. This went into effect Jan. 14, 2021; read our news release for the full announcement.
Not all sites at all parks are available. Group sites — including picnic areas, meeting halls and group camps — remain closed and are not accepting future reservations. If we need to cancel your reservation due to a COVID-19 closure, we will contact you. Reservations for some yurts and cabins, group facilities and meeting halls are subject to cancellation. See the Cancellations and Refunds section below for more information.
5. What should I expect when I visit a state park?
We have implemented strict cleaning protocols and adapted processes to create a safe experience for visitors and staff, in accordance with Oregon Health Authority guidelines. In some locations, restrooms or facilities may be closed if we do not have the staff to maintain deep cleaning schedules. You can also expect the following changes:
6. I'm from out of state. What do I need to know about traveling to Oregon?
If you are visiting a state park from outside Oregon, you should self-quarantine at home for 14 days before entering the state to help reduce chances of spreading the virus. This means you should limit interactions to your immediate household during those 14 days. Likewise, if you are returning to Washington or California following your stay, you ought to self-quarantine again for 14 days. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced this joint travel advisory with the governors of Washington and California on Nov. 13, 2020 in response to rising COVID-19 cases in the three states. While visiting, we strongly advise you to stick to your campsite and to your own household group.
If you have questions about your reservation, please contact us at 800-551-6949 or park.info@oregon.gov.
7. What can I do to help keep parks open?
Please prepare:
And care:
Watch our Prepare + Care video here.
8. I have a reservation at a park or facility that is closed because of COVID-19. What’s your cancellation policy?
Reservations at areas closed due to COVID-19 are being canceled and fees refunded, including the $8 reservation fee. You will be notified by email if your reservation is canceled or modified. We aim to open as many facilities as we can, as budget allows and without compromising the safety of visitors and staff. Thank you for your patience.
If you do not see your refund within 10 business days of receiving notification that your cancellation is processing, please contact us at 800-551-6949 or park.info@oregon.gov.
9. What about my day-use parking permit?
Since our state park system was closed to all public use from March 23 to May 6, 2020, and did not substantially re-open to day-use until the week of May 11, we will add time to 12 and 24-month parking permits that were unable to be used during our closures.
Two months will be added to all 12 and 24-month state park parking permits currently valid and in circulation. This extension applies to 12-month permits purchased starting in March 2019, and 24-month permits purchased starting in March 2018.
Any 12 or 24-month pass purchased in May 2020 or later will expire normally. The Pacific Coast Passport is not part of the day-use parking permit extensions. For more details, see our Day-Use Permit Extension page.
10. Can I get my tax dollars back since you are operating with reduced services?
Oregon State Parks does not operate with any general fund tax dollars. Park operations are funded through three main sources: Lottery revenue, user fees, and a portion of RV registration proceeds.
11. If services are reduced, why are you charging full price?
The pandemic has redefined “normal” in many areas of our lives, including camping in state parks. We didn’t hire our normal crew of seasonal staff, but we have even more work to do to maintain new, strict cleaning protocols. As a result, we have had to close some facilities like showers and playgrounds where we do not have adequate resources and staff.
Your reservation fee covers the cost of your site and basic amenities like electric hookups and water (depending on type of site), as well as access to a restroom, as outlined in the Oregon Administrative Rules. That fee is critical for sustaining the state park system and allowing us to return to pre-pandemic service levels.
12. Are life jacket loaner stations open?
The life jacket loaner program available at some parks will not be provided until further notice, due to safety and sanitation concerns. Please plan ahead by bringing a life jacket from home.
13. What about parks managed by other agencies?
For information about other land management agencies, please visit their websites:
Respect any closures. Closed means closed.
Stay home. Save lives.
