The campground doesn't appear to be heavily used (except perhaps during holiday weekends, and when local backcountry horse groups gather there - check the ranger station to see if they know of heavy use times). Nightly rates are $6 per night (as of 2016). The campground has 15 sites, some of which are suitable for trailers or RVs. Campsites have picnic tables and fire rings. There are two vault toilets and potable water from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Water is also available along the front fence line of the ranger station compound in Silver Lake if you visit before or after water is available at the campground.
The campground provides great birding and has a nice assortment of wildflowers. Check the grasslands at the north end of the campground. A walk west across Road #27 to the rocky rim has a different assortment of plants. Hike the signed trail across from campsite #5 south to the Fremont Trail #160. Head right to head upstream along the West Fork Silver Creek. The left fork leads down an old road to the creek, then crosses on the road bridge, then heads cross country towards Silver Creek and further east. The area is well worth spending some time searching for south-central Oregon flowers that are less common elsewhere! The area has seen recent wildfire damage, so check to see whether the trails here have been currently cleared. In addition, since the campground is adjacent to a marsh, be prepared for mosquitos! We had snow in mid May 2016 (when not forecast), so be prepared for cold wet weather.
From Silver Lake, Oregon, head west on Oregon Highway 31. Turn left (south) onto Forest Road #27 about 0.3 miles west of the turnoff to the Ranger Station. Road #27 heads south across sagebrush lowlands on a bumpy road due to frost heaving. You will want to drive no faster than 30 mph until those disappear! You will see the signed entrance to the Silver Creek Marsh Campground on the left about 10.4 miles south of Highway 31.
Trails: One can south from the horse camp at Silver Creek Marsh CG to a junction with the Fremont National Recreation Trail #160. One arm of this trail proceeds upstream along the slopes above the west side of Silver Creek, and one could probably spend all day on an out and back hike. The eastern arm of this trail begins on the north side of FS Rd 27 just east of the bridge across Silver Creek and be hiked out towards Hager Mt. This again could be done as a long out and back day hike, though I don't believe most hikers would be able to make to Hager Mt and back in a day. One can also use the forest map to look for side roads off Rd 27 and hike them in this area. For both arms of the Fremont National Recreation Trail originating from Silver Creek Marsh Campground, it's best to contact the recreation person at the Silver Lake District Ranger Station for the current status of how well maintained the trail is.
Plant Lists:
The primary trees in this area include ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, western juniper, quaking aspen and mountain alder. The main shrubs include antelope bitterbrush, serviceberry, chokecherry, pearhip rose, creek dogwood, wax currant, Menzie's spiraea, black twinberry, snowbrush, common snowberry and gray rabitbrush. There are numerous wildflowers, which include star-flowered false solomon seal, panicled deathcamas, western blue flag, western columbine, upland larkspur, Brown's peony, sickle milkvetch, goosefoot violet, Oregon checkermallow, white-stemmed frasera, scarlet gilia, pleated gentian, mountain heliotrope, rosy pussytoes, elk thistle, yarrow-leaved Oregon sunshine and streambank goldenweed. Click the following plant list links to view images of each of the above species.
June 17-20, 2020: Silver Creek Marsh Campground (Silver Lake Ranger District, Fremont-Winema National Forest)
April 30, 2017: Silver Creek Marsh Campground
May 18-20, 2016: Silver Creek Marsh Campground
Silver Creek Marsh Campground - Info about the campground from the Fremont-Winema National Forest
Fremont National Recreation Trail #160, Northern Segment - General info about the trail from the Fremont-Winema National Forest. Pick up the latest area map from the Silver Lake Ranger District office in Silver Lake, OR. Note: Some maps may show this as the Southern Oregon Intertie Trail #160.
100 Hikes/Travel Guide: Eastern Oregon by William L. Sullivan - This book has a description of hikes at Fort Rock and around Fort Rock Valley and Christmas Valley. It should be available at many book stores that cater to hikers and nature enthusiasts. Obtain the latest edition for the most current information.
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