North Santiam Travel Corridor

Detroit Lake

LOCATION: Detroit Lake is located 50 miles East of Salem, Oregon.

ACCESS: To reach the lake, take Hwy 22 East exit from I-5 at Salem. The town of Detroit is located on the East end of the lake.

FACILITIES: Numerous campgrounds exist along the shoreline and within close proximity to the lake. Some of these campgrounds provide accessible camping and other opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

There is one small boat-in campground located on Piety Island.

There are two forest service day use sites located on the lakeshore; Detroit Flats and Upper Arm.

There are also floating toilets provided for the use of boaters. Take advantage of these facilities to keep Detroit Lake clean and inviting.

Special Regulations for Detroit Lake area Map of No Target Shooting Area (PDF ~ 524 kb) Map of No Camping Areas (PDF ~ 247 kb)

Oregon State Parks offers camping at Detroit Lake State Park. Mongold day use area has a large developed boat launch facility and is located 1.5 miles west of the town of Detroit. To learn more about the amenities and rates for camping and day use visit www.oregonstateparks.org

Close To... At the lake: Cove Creek Campground Cove Creek Group Campground Hoover Campground Hoover Group Campground Piety Island Campground Santiam Flats Campground South Shore Campground Detroit Flats Day Use Upper Arm Day Use Oregon State Parks: Detroit Lake State Park Mongold Day Use Nearby: Detroit Reservoir Trail Area For more information... Find other featured water recreation areas from our Water Recreation page. Boating Regulations & Boating Safety Oregon State Marine Board Fishing Regulations & Information Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife Contact the Detroit Ranger District More contact information

ACTIVITIES: Besides community events throughout the year, Detroit Lake offers a variety of activities such as fishing, boating, sailing, swimming, picnicking, camping and wildlife viewing.

Several varieties of water fowl can be seen at the lake, including Osprey and Bald Eagles which can be observed fishing.

Nearby activities include hiking trails and the West Cascades Scenic Byway.

SERVICES: The city of Detroit is a full service community. To learn more about the community amenities, services and marinas visit http://www.detroitlakeoregon.org/

ABOUT the RESERVOIR: The 3,500 acre lake is located in the Cascade Mountains below Mt. Jefferson on the Willamette National Forest. The U.S.Army Corps of Engineers built the lake and dam in 1951-53. The lake stores water of the North Santiam River, controlling runoff and providing flood control, irrigation, downstream navigation improvement, recreation and power generation, while preserving the quality of the North Santiam Canyon environment. To learn more about the lake and construction of the dam visit the Army Corps of Engineers website at http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/

WATER LEVEL:Water levels and boat ramp accessibility information is available from the Oregon State Marine Board website Look for Detroit Reservoir in the section titled "Willamette Basin Reservoirs."

Expect lower water levels in the fall through late spring. As the lake begins to fill in the spring, large woody debris enters the lake due to winter runoff; use caution during this time.

Remember! Lakebed is closed to off road riding. More

COMMENTS: More information is available about (non forest service) facilities, services, and activities from the Detroit Lake website.