Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept. release

FLORENCE, Oregon. — The campground at Carl G. Washburne State Park will reopen April 5 after being closed for over a year due to revenue shortfalls and reduced staffing associated with COVID-19, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) announces. Visitors will be able to reserve campsites and yurts up to six months in advance starting at 6 a.m. March 22 for all stays April 5 and beyond.

Washburne campground has long been first-come, first-served, meaning sites could not be reserved, due to lack of high-speed connectivity. This created inefficiencies and inconsistencies to the process of administering campground stays, said Coastal Region Manager Dennis Comfort.

"Adding the park to the reservation system has been a long-term goal for OPRD," Comfort said.  "It brings consistency to agency processes and to the visitor experience. Now anyone can enjoy this beautiful campground, with the peace of mind that you'll arrive and a campsite will be available."

Another coastal campground that has been first-come, first-served, Alfred A. Loeb State Park in Brookings, is slated to reopen and be on the reservation system later this spring. At that time, all coastal campgrounds will be on the reservation system.

Washburne reservations can be made from one day to six months in advance starting at 6 a.m. March 22 through OPRD's partner site, oregonstateparks.reserveamerica.com or by calling 800-452-5687.

Located north of Florence in the Siuslaw National Forest, Washburne has 55 spacious, shaded campsites with electrical and water hookups, as well as two yurts and seven secluded tent sites. All site types will be on the reservation system. The campground's hiker/biker camp is closed until further notice, due to the pandemic. Once open, it will remain first-come, first-served. More information about the park is on the Oregon State Parks official website at stateparks.oregon.gov.

Visitors should continue to follow safety protocols while visiting state parks: limit the size of gatherings, wear face coverings, give space to others and wash hands often. For more information on what to expect while visiting state parks, visit the Oregon State Parks COVID-19 FAQ page.