Overview
Detroit Lake State Recreation Area is a state park in the Cascade Mountains region of Oregon. Mountains can be seen in the distance, rising above the hills. Sometimes in the early spring, snow still clings to the distant mountains, making the scenic views picturesque. There isn't a major city within 50 miles in any direction, allowing Detroit's night sky to be free of light-pollution and unattractive vapors.
1 things to do · 3 places to eat · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Detroit Lake State Recreation Area
Mongold Day Use Area
The lake's developed day-use boat launch with a swimming area, picnic tables, and restrooms.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 82°F; winter lows dip to about 36°F. Wettest: Dec and Nov. (climate data from nearby Portland)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- SLE Salem-Willamette Valley Airport/McNary Field, Salem — 42 mi away. Directions
- RDM Roberts Field, Redmond — 60 mi away. Directions
- PDX Portland International Airport, Portland — 65 mi away (major hub). Directions
If you live North of Salem: Drive South via I-5. Take exit 253 toward Stayton/Detroit Lake (also known as OR-22). Take a left after the off-ramp onto Highway 22. Continue for about 50 miles. You will pass the Detroit Dam on your right. The park is on your right and is easy to miss if driving too fast.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Food for you
The town of Detroit is only a few miles up the road from the recreation area. There are several small restaurants along Detroit Avenue.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
History
The 400-foot-deep lake was created in 1953 when the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers completed the Detroit Dam project. The dam blocks the current of the Santiam River, thus keeping the downstream rivers accessible to fishermen and tourists. The lake is over nine miles long with more than 32 miles of shore line. The lake is drained at the beginning of each winter in expectation of rainfall. During this time, the lake looks more like an unmoving river. In the spring, valves are closed in the dam in order to increase the lake depth in time for the busy summer months.
Landscape
Detroit Lake is surrounded by rolling hills covered with enormous Douglas firs. On a map, Detroit lake resides within the outskirts of the Willamette State Forest.
Flora and fauna
Park information
Get in
If you live North of Salem: Drive South via I-5. Take exit 253 toward Stayton/Detroit Lake (also known as OR-22). Take a left after the off-ramp onto Highway 22. Continue for about 50 miles. You will pass the Detroit Dam on your right. The park is on your right and is easy to miss if driving too fast.
If you live south of Salem, take I-5 North until exit 253, then take a right onto 22 after you've taken the off-ramp. The rest of the directions apply.
Do
- Boating:There is a long floating dock that has 82 boat slips built into it. It costs $7 for each boat to be attached. The boat ramp is free to use after paying the $3 day use fee. This fee must be paid before entering the park, unless you are camping overnight.
- Swimming: There are two swimming areas designated by the large perimeter of orange floats. These floats are tethered together and are kept in formation by chains leading to the bottom of the lake. There is a swimming area on each side of the park. These swimming areas do not have lifeguards, so stay safe at all times.
- Play areas: There are two playgrounds available to everyone. They include slides and swing sets. There is also a basketball court next to each playground.
Eat
The town of Detroit is only a few miles up the road from the recreation area. There are several small restaurants along Detroit Avenue.
Eat Korner Post
Has a rustic feel-good atmosphere. It is a family-owned and ran business that serves burgers, pies and more. If compared to a large chain restaurant, it would be similar to a Shari's. The walls are covered in old pictures and paintings. There are rusted tools and antiques sitting on high shelves. The food is exquisite and the service is friendly.
Eat KC's
Owned and operated by two women. They serve espresso drinks, sandwiches and ice cream. KC's makes the best milkshakes around. The food is good and the atmosphere is fun.
Eat Marion Foirks restaurant
This restaurant is locally and family owned. There is a deck that overlooks the river to eat on. The service is great. The only bad thing is it's a short drive from Detroit towards the bend on highway 22.
Sleep
Lodging
If you are not a fan of sleeping in a tent or you do not have the luxury of owning a RV, there are several motels close by in the town of Detroit.
Stay All Season's Motel
Stay Detroit Motel
Stay Lakeside Motel
Camping
There are small campgrounds and RV parks along the banks of the Detroit Lake, but the largest campground and recreational area is Detroit Lake State Park. The State Park offers 106 full hookup, 72 electrical, 133 tent sites for camping. Full hookup refers to having both electricity and a local freshwater well right next to your site. Full hookup and electric sites are designed for RVs and campers, thus they are larger sites than those reserved for just tents.
For information only, call +1 503 854-3346 or +1-800-551-6949. To make reservations, call +1-800-452-5687.
October 1 to April 30 (Discovery Season) Full rate: $16 Electrical hookup: $16 Tent site: $12 Extra vehicle: $5 Boat moorage: $7 Daily day use: $3 Yearly day use: $25
May 1 to September 30 Full rate: $20 Electrical hookup: $20 Tent site: $16 Extra vehicle: $5 Boat moorage: $7 Daily day use: $3 Yearly day use: $25
Backcountry
Stay safe
Detroit Lake is a manmade lake and under the water can be large rocks and tree stumps from when it was established. Do not jump into the water when you cannot see the bottom. This lake experiences annual fatalities from people diving in and hitting stumps and rocks.
Nearby
Opal Creek
Park · 10 mi away
Sweet Home
City / town · 4 listings · 32 mi away
Willamette National Forest
Park · 1 listings · 35 mi away
Silverton
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Mt. Angel
City / town · 11 listings · 39 mi away
Lake Billy Chinook
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Sisters
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Salem
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My experience
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