Sandy beach
Yes
Cliff jumping
Yes
Hike-in Required
No
Sensitive Habitat
Yes
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Certainly one of the most popular destinations along the Wilson River, the Footbridge Day Use Area has justified its popularity by offering something for everyone.  First and foremost, it is an ideal swimming hole, sun bathing beach, and cliff jumping location.  The beach and deep pool that are east of the footbridge are ideal spots for the kids, though the area can become quite crowded.  Alternately, the basalt chasm just south of the bridge is less frequented and offers equally calm waters.

Beyond the waters immediately adjacent to the footbridge (which is also a popular spot for anglers), the site also serves as a trailhead for the Wilson River Hiking Trail.  Head 1.4 miles up the trail to reach Wilson Falls and an additional 1.7 miles to make it all the way to the Tillamook Forestry Center.  You will also find plenty of uncrowded swimming holes on this route.  Or, if you're not quite up for the full-on hike, the 35-foot Bridge Creek Falls is just across Highway 6 only a few minutes away.

Oregon’s North Coast Forests

The Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests are 45 minutes outside of Portland’s backdoor and one of the state’s best keep secrets. But these forests also have a fraught history with logging, fires and more logging.  They are now 50 to 70 years into the recovery process and offer prime habitat for vibrant communities of fish and wildlife, as well as an immense array of recreational opportunities. The Wilson and Kilchis rivers host globally important runs of Chinook, chum, coho and steelhead. Both forests provide camping, biking, fishing, hunting and hiking grounds for thousands of Oregonians, and they also provide over 400,000 people with clean drinking water.

Wild Salmon Center is a founding member of the North Coast State Forest Coalition, a diverse group of over 100 businesses, governing bodies and nonprofits working to leverage public support to increase forest and streamside protection along the North Coast. These popular and biologically important areas deserve real protection. That’s why we’re asking state and federal leaders to protect 33,000 acres of land around the Wilson and Kilchis Rivers and another 8,000 acres around Kings Mountain.  It’s no easy task ensuring a future for these forests but this is where you can help.

Get Involved

Learn more about the North Coast State Forest Coalition, on their website. Join in the coalition by signing up for their newsletter and signing on to the latest action alerts to protect the Wilson/Kilchis and Kings Mountain.  

Logistics + Planning

Parking Pass

NW Forest Pass

Pros

Sandy beach. Cliff jumping. Nearby hiking trails.

Cons

Heavily used throughout summer.

Features

Sensitive Habitat

Location

Comments

05/13/2016
Please update the specification as follows: On May 13th, 2016, myself and another swimmer at the site used a weighted tape-measure and measured the height from the bridge, which some people jump from. At the railing, the bridge is 40 feet from the surface of the water. In summer, this would easily move towards 42 or 43 feet. Additionally, the cliffs on one side of the bridge are great for jumping. They look to be 25-30 feet, but there are different spots and options to jump. Therefore, I believe you should update the GREATEST HEIGHT spec to say 40 feet (unless that height refers to the river, which is likely 15-20 feet deep near/south of the bridge).
08/31/2014
Got there 11am so had some nice quiet swimming time. There's a small set of rapids the young kids enjoyed going down on a tube. I love the clear water and seem very safe for swimming.
So much people, smoking, drinking, spraying sunscreen, that we left early. Beautiful place, but ruined by the people using it.
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