Illinois River Forks State Park
State park
4.5 (117)
26938 Redwood Hwy, Cave Junction, OR 97523
Barbecue grillPicnic tablesPublic restroom
State Day-Use Park And Regional River-Access ContextOR
Illinois River Forks State Park Swimming Spots
By Hidden Swimming Holes Team · Record updated
Background: generated illustration, not a photograph of this location.
Separate Illinois River Forks park services from the old Selma roadside swim search. Check Store Gulch beach access, steep trails and the current road parking order.
Swimming permission unconfirmed
No exact current bathing entrance or supervised swim operation established. Follow current park boundaries and Illinois River Road restrictions; do not park inside white lines, cross private banks or treat beach access as a depth assessment.
Water type
State Day-Use Park And Regional River-Access Context
Swimming status
Swimming unconfirmed
Fee
Confirm state-park parking and shelter arrangements directly. Store Gulch day use separately lists $5 per vehicle per day; that is not a supervised swimming admission.
Best season
Current Illinois River Road fire/parking Order 06-10-22-26-01 runs June 1 through October 31, 2026 unless rescinded. It is a scoped restriction, not a blanket state-park or river closure
Nearby towns
Cave Junction
Water body
East And West Forks Illinois River And Separate Illinois River Corridor
Status summarizes our reviewed record, not today's opening or safety. Check current rules, swimming boundaries and notices before visiting.
Location
Map & Directions
Nearby towns
Cave Junction
Access location not verified
CAVE JUNCTION, OR
Approximate location based on the nearest town. Confirm the exact spot and access before you go.
Sources & checks
This is a desk-researched listing. A record update or map check does not confirm current swimming permission or water conditions.
- Swimming rules
- Current swimming permission has not been independently confirmed for this listing. Check with the land manager before entering the water.
- Access location not verified
- The recorded location has no completed source check. Confirm the entrance, legal access, and parking before travelling.
- Record updated
- · This is a data update, not a field visit.
About the archived record
Historical directions are retained separately; use current manager instructions for travel.
Found an error? Send a correction with the location and a source. How we research listings.
Illinois River Forks and River Road
Illinois River Forks is a real state day-use park at the river confluence. Its current manager page confirms picnicking, a vault toilet, trails and disc golf, not a staffed bathing area. The archive's second suggestion is an unspecified roadside search west of Selma; cars along the river do not establish legal parking or permission to swim.
The confluence park is a documented picnic stop
Oregon State Parks confirms a vault toilet, picnic tables, a short walking trail and disc golf. No formal swimming beach or guard schedule is established on that page. This is not a claimed swimming ban; it is a distinction between documented services and an unverified specific bathing entrance.
Replace roadside scouting with named access
Store Gulch is a separately named Forest Service picnic/beach-access site along Illinois River Road, with a steep quarter-mile trail to the river. It is not an accessible level beach approach or permission to cross every bank. Bring drinking water and pack out waste.
Use the exact 2026 restrictions and dates
Order 06-10-22-26-01 restricts parking inside white lines along Forest Road 4103 and fires outside designated rings through October 31, 2026 unless rescinded. The separate alcohol order's 2026 period ended September 30 and also lists a future 2027 period; do not call it an uninterrupted year-round ban or apply it to private land or the state park without jurisdiction evidence.
Check this destination before travel
Getting There
Use the state park's signed Highway 199 entrance for a picnic visit. For separate Illinois River Road sites, use current Forest Service directions and designated parking; do not follow parked cars or the old road-number assumption.
Quick Navigation
Access Notes
Use the state park's signed Highway 199 entrance for a picnic visit. For separate Illinois River Road sites, use current Forest Service directions and designated parking; do not follow parked cars or the old road-number assumption.
Plan Your Visit
Parking & Access
Confirm the entrance, parking arrangements, and legal access with the land manager. A map pin does not establish a public right of access. Follow posted routes and never block gates or driveways.
Regulations & Fees
No exact current bathing entrance or supervised swim operation established. Follow current park boundaries and Illinois River Road restrictions; do not park inside white lines, cross private banks or treat beach access as a depth assessment. Public park access does not necessarily include permission to swim. Respect private property and posted restrictions.
Seasonality & Flow
Water conditions can change quickly. This listing does not provide a current safety or water-quality assessment. Check official alerts and avoid entering water when conditions or permission are uncertain.
Nearby Facilities
Nearby places from saved public map data, not necessarily facilities at the swimming spot. Confirm access, hours, fees, and amenities with the operator before you drive.
Map data retrieved 2026-06-15
Wild Rivers Ranger District
Government office
3.3 (4)
26568 Redwood Hwy, Cave Junction, OR 97523
Restroom
Oregon Caves Illinois Valley Visitor Center
Visitor center
4.4 (142)
201 Caves Hwy, Cave Junction, OR 97523
Restroom
Cave Junction Jubilee Park
Tourist attraction
4.1 (397)
307 S Junction Ave, Cave Junction, OR 97523
Baseball fieldPicnic tablesPublic restroomSkateboarding area
Laughing Alpaca Campground + RV Park
RV park
4.5 (203)
28288 Redwood Hwy, Cave Junction, OR 97523
Cave Junction City Hall
City Hall
3.3 (9)
222 Lister St, Cave Junction, OR 97523
Restroom
Cave Junction KOA Journey
Campground
4.7 (52)
25401 Redwood Hwy, Cave Junction, OR 97523
Public restroomPublic showerRestroomRunning water
Cave Creek Campground
Campground
4.5 (21)
15500 Caves Hwy, Cave Junction, OR 97523
Public restroomRestroomRunning waterTent sites
Frequently Asked Questions About Illinois River Forks State Park Swimming Spots
What services are confirmed at Illinois River Forks?
The state park lists picnic tables, a vault toilet, a short walking trail and disc golf. No formal guarded swimming beach is established on its current page.
Can we follow parked cars to find the second swimming stop?
No. The archive's roadside suggestion does not establish lawful parking, bank ownership or a particular bathing entrance.
Is Store Gulch an easy level river approach?
No. The Forest Service describes a steep quarter-mile trail down to the river. It is a separately named beach-access context, not a surveyed accessible swim entrance.
What road restriction applies in October 2026?
Order 06-10-22-26-01 restricts parking inside the white lines along its defined Forest Road 4103 corridor and fires outside designated rings through October 31, unless rescinded.
Is the corridor alcohol restriction year-round?
No. The order specifies separate seasonal periods, with its 2026 period ending September 30 and another period in 2027. Check its exact area and current orders.
Can we rely on drinking water at Store Gulch?
No. Its current page says potable water is unavailable and no garbage service is provided. Bring water and pack out waste.
Location & Area Map
Safety Information
Important Safety Tips
- Avoid jumping, diving, natural slides and high or rising flow
- A recreation listing or clear appearance is not a water-quality or depth guarantee
Photography Guide
Photo Opportunities
Photograph only from currently lawful viewpoints; no exact water-entry photograph is approved here.
Conservation & Ethics
Protect This Place
Follow current manager routes and fire restrictions, respect private parcels and pack out waste.
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At a Glance
Best Time to Visit
Current Illinois River Road fire/parking Order 06-10-22-26-01 runs June 1 through October 31, 2026 unless rescinded. It is a scoped restriction, not a blanket state-park or river closure.
Difficulty Level
Use the named current lawful approach. No guaranteed shallow pool, easy creek descent or surveyed accessible bathing entrance is asserted.
Fee
Confirm state-park parking and shelter arrangements directly. Store Gulch day use separately lists $5 per vehicle per day; that is not a supervised swimming admission.
Facilities
The state park lists picnic tables, vault toilet, a short trail and disc golf. Store Gulch separately has a vault toilet and steep quarter-mile river trail, with no potable water, picnic tables or garbage service listed.
Activities
Named land recreation and separate water-access context as described; no exact current historical bathing entrance established.
Phone
541-582-3128 (state park); 541-592-4000 (Wild Rivers)
Safety & Access Notice
This information is for general planning only and may be incomplete, outdated, or inaccurate. Access rules, closures, water levels, currents, hazards, and legal restrictions can change at any time. Always verify current rules with the land manager or official source before visiting.
You are responsible for your own safety and for following all posted signs, laws, and local regulations. Read the full disclaimer.
Camping Information
Illinois River Forks and Store Gulch day-use permission does not authorize overnight camping. Arrange an actual authorized campground separately.
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Safety & Access Notice
This information is for general planning only and may be incomplete, outdated, or inaccurate. Access rules, closures, water levels, currents, hazards, and legal restrictions can change at any time. Always verify current rules with the land manager or official source before visiting.
- Do not swim where swimming is prohibited, unsafe, or not clearly allowed.
- Follow posted signs, local regulations, closures, and private-property boundaries.
- Assess conditions on site. Water flow, depth, temperature, and underwater hazards change quickly.
- Never jump or dive without personally confirming depth and underwater obstacles.
- Swim with a buddy and consider flotation for weak or non-swimmers.
- Pack out all trash; respect wildlife and fragile environments.
You are responsible for your own safety and for following all posted signs, laws, and local regulations. Read the full disclaimer.
J
Joshua Havens
Founder & Editor, Hidden Swimming Holes
Joshua Havens created Hidden Swimming Holes to make it easier for people to find — and safely visit — natural freshwater swimming destinations across the United States. He researches access conditions, water quality resources, and land management rules so you don't have to start from scratch. He holds a strong belief that good outdoor recreation information should be accurate, honest about its limitations, and freely available.
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