Quartzville Creek begins in the Cascade Mountain Range of Oregon. The 12-mile (19.3 km) section that was designated in 1988 flows into Green Peter Reservoir near the town of Sweethome. Classified as a recreational section of river, Quartzville Creek is named for the gemstone that has been mined in the area and a ghost town that was once the center of two brief gold mining efforts (1863-1892). The Quartzville Back Country Byway parallels the winding river, offering views of old-growth forests and wildlife, and provides easy access to developed and undeveloped picnic and camping sites.
Recreation Map of Yellowbottom Recreation Site (RS) on Quarzville Creek Wild and Scenic River in the BLM Northwest Oregon District area in Oregon. Published by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) of the Sweet Home Ranger District in Willamette National Forest (NF) in Oregon. Published by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
Brochure about the BLM Back Country Byway System. Published by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Quartzville Creek WSR
https://www.rivers.gov/rivers/quartzville.php
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartzville_Creek
Quartzville Creek begins in the Cascade Mountain Range of Oregon. The 12-mile (19.3 km) section that was designated in 1988 flows into Green Peter Reservoir near the town of Sweethome. Classified as a recreational section of river, Quartzville Creek is named for the gemstone that has been mined in the area and a ghost town that was once the center of two brief gold mining efforts (1863-1892). The Quartzville Back Country Byway parallels the winding river, offering views of old-growth forests and wildlife, and provides easy access to developed and undeveloped picnic and camping sites.
WILD ROGUE
Welcome to Quartzville Wild and Scenic River Corridor!
Enjoy a day of hiking and exploring along the BLM’s Quartzville Wild and Scenic River Corridor, or spend the
day fishing, swimming and gold panning on the serene Quartzville River. Spend a relaxing night of camping
among some of the largest trees in Oregon at the BLM’s Yellowbottom Recreation Site. Yellowbottom offers
overnight camping with a camp host, potable water, river access, hiking trails, vault toilets, garbage service,
and a day-use area with five picnic sites.
Know before you go
camping is limited to to designated campsites. Campsites are on a first-come,
first-serve basis.
fires are limited to the steel fire rings or BBQ grills provided. No firewood collection
is allowed at the developed campgrounds.
camping fees are $12 per night per campsite and $5 for each additional vehicle;
trash is pack-it in, pack-it out at non-developed campsites.
caution : Log trucks may be encountered throughout the year. And the
Byway is open year-round but may become hazardous due to snow and ice.
RECREATIONAL MINING is allowed along the BLM portion of the Quartzville
Wild and Scenic River.
directions
From Sweet Home: Drive east 5 miles on US-20 E/Main St toward 22nd Ave. Turn
left on to Quartzville Road, continue on Quartzville Road for 18 miles.
From Sisters: Drive west 26 miles on US-20 W/W Cascade Ave., continue on US20 W for another 42 miles. Turn right on Quartzville Road, continue on Quartzville
Road for 18 miles.
Contact info
point of interest
1717 Fabry Rd SE
Salem, OR 97306
503-375-5646
BLM_OR_NO_Mail@blm.gov
Old Miner’s Meadow offers a large two-acre
gated group reservation camping area. Old
Miner’s Meadow is located on a unique
stretch of the River.
BLM
Back Country
Byways
There are four types
of Back Country Byways:
Type 1:
Roads that can accommodate normal touring cars.
These roads are paved or have an all weather surface and have
grades that are negotiable by a normal touring car. These roads
are usually narrow, slow speed, secondary roads.
Red Gulch/Alkali
Back Country Byway, WY
Type 2:
Roads which require high-clearance type vehicles.
These roads are usually not paved but may have some type of
surfacing. Grades, curves and road surfaces are such that they
can be negotiated with a two wheel drive high clearance vehicle
without undue difficulty.
Garnet Back Country Byway, MT
Type 3:
Roads which require 4-wheel drive vehicles or other
specialized vehicles such as dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles
(ATV’s), etc. These roads are usually not surfaced. However, the
There’s a byway for you
or contact local BLM offices to learn about individual
Back Country Byways.
Alaska State Office, Anchorage, AK, (907) 271-5960
Arizona State Office, Phoenix, AZ, (602) 417-9200
California State Office, Sacramento, CA, (916) 978-4400
Colorado State Office, Lakewood, CO, (303) 239-3600
Eastern States Office, Springfield, VA, (703) 440-1600
Idaho State Office, Boise, ID, (208) 373-4000
Montana State Office, Billings, MT, (406) 896-5000
Nevada State Office, Reno, NV, (775) 861-6400
New Mexico State Office, Santa Fe, NM, (505) 438-7400
Oregon State Office, Portland, OR, (503) 808-6002
Utah State Office, Salt Lake City, UT, (801) 539-4133
Wyoming State Office, Cheyenne, WY, (307) 775-6256
Visit www.blm.gov for information about how the
Bureau of Land Management administers public lands.
Gold Belt Tour Back Country Byway, CO
Rediscover the splendor of the West’s public lands
by traveling the adventurous routes of the Bureau of Land
Management’s Back Country Byways. As a unique part of the
National Scenic Byways Program, Back Country Byways can
lead you on less-traveled roads through alpine meadows
and soaring mountains to sagebrush prairie and saguaro
cactus desert. Choose a route to explore whether driving
an air-conditioned car, four-wheel drive or dirt bike.
Remember—Safety First.
Be prepared. Check weather and road conditions
before departing. Carry appropriate equipment for
back country conditions and always be prepared
for weather changes and emergencies.
Back Country Byways
Visit www.byways.org/explore/byways/other/blm
roads are maintained for safety and resource protection purposes.
They have grades, tread surfaces and other characteristics that
will require specialized vehicles to negotiate.
Type 4:
Trails that are managed to accommodate dirt bike,
mountain bike, snowmobile or ATV use. They are usually
single track trails.
BLM Back Country Byways System
Big Sky, MT
Type I
Garnet Range, MT
Type IV
Nestucca River, OR
Type I
Quartzville Road, OR; Type I
South Fork-Alsea River, OR
Type I
Lower Crooked River, OR; Type I
Cow Creek Road, OR; Type I
Grave Creek to Marial, OR
Type I
Missouri Breaks, MT
Type II
Lower Deschutes River, OR
Type I
Snake River-Mormon Basin, OR
Types I, II
Lewis and Clark, ID; Type I
South Fork John Day River, OR
Big Sheep Creek, MT
Type I
Type I
Red Gulch/Alkali Road, WY
Christmas Valley, OR
Type II
Owyhee Uplands, ID; Type I
Types I, II
Diamond Loop, OR; Type I
Lakeview to Steens Mountain, OR; Types I, II
Steens Mountain, OR
Types I, II
City of Rocks, ID; Type I
Galice to Hellgate, OR
Type I
Barrel Springs, CA, NV; Type II
Buckhorn, CA, NV; Type II
California Trail, NV
Type I
Lovelock Cave, NV
Type I
Fort Churchill to Wellington, NV
Type II
Saline Valley, CA
Type II
Owen Valley-Death Valley, CA; Type II
Seminoe to Alcova, WY
Types I, II, III
Transcontinental Railroad, UT; Type II
Silver Island Mountain, UT
Type II
Pony Express Trail, UT
Type II
Nine Mile Canyon, UT
Type I
Wild Horse Canyon, CA
Type I
Gold Belt Tour, CO
Type III
Bull Creek Pass, UT
Type III
Smithsonian Butte, UT
Type I
Chimney Peak, CA
Type II
South Big Horn/Red Wall, WY
Type II
Mt. Wilson, NV
Type II
Lunar Crater, NV
Type II
Alpine Loop Back Country Byway, CO
Alpine Loop, CO; Type III
Gold Butte, NV; Type II
Bitter Springs, NV; Type II
Red Rock Canyon, NV
Type I
Old Route 66-Oatman Road, AZ; Type I
Parker Dam Road, AZ, CA
Type I
Harquahala Mountain, AZ
Type III
Los Caminos Antiguos, CC
Type I
Wild Rivers, NM
Type I
Please take care of yourself
and the environment
Chain of Craters, NM
Type II
· Check weather and road conditions ahead of time
Quebradas, NM
Type II
Bradshaw Trail, CA; Type III
Lake Valley, NM
Type I
Black Hills, AZ
Type II
Steens Mountain Back Country Byway, OR
· Bring area-specific maps and route descriptions
· Carry plenty of water
Guadalupe, NM
Type I
· Bring adequate fuel
· Carry a spare tire, jack, tools, shovel, blanket, etc.
· Remember that signing and fencing are for your safety
BLM Back Country Byway
BLM Administered Land
Interstate
0
50
100
200
300
400
Miles
* The National Landscape Conservation System c