Detroit Lake- Mongold Wayside
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Detroit Lake-Mongold Wayside is a beautiful recreation area in the state of Oregon that offers a wide range of activities for visitors.
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Summary
The lake is a popular destination for fishing, boating, and kayaking. There are also many hiking trails in the area, offering spectacular views of the lake and surrounding mountains.
One of the main attractions of Detroit Lake-Mongold Wayside is the Detroit Dam, which was built in the 1950s and provides hydroelectric power to the surrounding area. Visitors can take a tour of the dam and learn about its history and operation.
There are also several campgrounds in the area, making it a great place for a weekend getaway or an extended camping trip. The campgrounds offer amenities such as showers, picnic tables, and fire pits.
In addition to the natural beauty of the area, there are also several historic sites to explore, including the Santiam Wagon Road and the Old Detroit Ranger Station.
The best time of year to visit Detroit Lake-Mongold Wayside is during the summer months, when the weather is warm and the lake is perfect for swimming and boating. However, the area is also beautiful in the fall, when the leaves change colors and the surrounding forests are ablaze with color.
Overall, Detroit Lake-Mongold Wayside is a must-visit destination for anyone who loves the great outdoors. With its stunning natural beauty, recreational activities, and historic sites, it offers something for everyone.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Southshore Campground
Cove Creek Group Camp
Cove Creek Group Campsite
Detroit Lake State Park Campground
Cove Creek Campground
Piety Island Campground
Detroit Lake State Recreation Area
Santiam State Forest
Wilderness Opal Creek
Minto County Park
Wilderness Bull of the Woods