March 3, 2025 3:30 a.m.

The Umpqua National Forest has announced a new campground concessionaire and the reopening of campground reservations.

A UNF release said WESTrek Services is now responsible for managing select campgrounds on the forest. This new five-year permit will ensure high-quality recreation experiences across the North Umpqua, Cottage Grove, and Diamond Lake Ranger Districts.

Concessionaires like WESTrek operate and maintain developed recreation facilities on behalf of the U.S. Forest Service to help provide recreation experiences to the public, maintain and improve forest facilities, and meet public expectations for a high level of service.

Concessionaire services include maintaining water systems, cleaning toilets, removing trash, managing reservations, removing hazard trees, improving facilities, and protecting natural resources.

As part of this transition, about two dozen sites are now operated by WESTrek.

Campground reservations have reopened on: https://www.recreation.gov/. Visitors are encouraged to book early to secure their preferred dates and locations. Apple Creek, Cedar Creek, Coolwater, Hobo Camp and Island campgrounds which were previously first-come, first-serve will be added to the reservation system later this season.

The Umpqua National Forest will continue to manage these campgrounds on: https://www.recreation.gov/ – Broken Arrow, Diamond Lake, Kelsay Valley Horse Camp. And Thielsen View. A dozen first-come, first-serve campgrounds will continue to be managed by the UNF.

For complete information about the Umpqua National Forest, go to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/umpqua