🌤 Weather at Joseph H. Stewart State Recreation Area by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34–72 °F | 47–90 °F | 34–84 °F | 31–54 °F |
Each range runs from the coldest monthly average low to the warmest monthly average high in that season (1991-2020 climate normals), measured at Lost Creek Dam, 3 mi away, elevation 1,580 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
Joseph H. Stewart State Recreation Area is a lakeside campground and day-use park on Lost Creek Lake near Trail, Oregon — run by Jackson County Parks since April 2021, no longer by Oregon State Parks.
Quick Facts
| State | Oregon |
| Nearest City | Trail |
Location & Getting There
Joseph H. Stewart State Recreation Area is located near Trail, Oregon. The park’s coordinates are 42.6841, -122.6186.
Things to Do
First, the thing most guides get wrong: this is no longer an Oregon State Park. On April 1, 2021, the campground, day-use area and marina on Lost Creek Lake passed to Jackson County Parks, which runs it as Joseph Stewart County Park. Oregon State Parks passes, discounts and fee waivers do not apply here, and reservations go through the county, not ReserveAmerica. Everything else about the place is intact.
Lost Creek Lake is a ten-mile Army Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Rogue River, 3,062 acres of water at full pool, and the park is its front porch: a shallow sandy swimming beach (no lifeguard), a big lawn with horseshoe pits and volleyball courts, a store, café and marina run by the Joseph Stewart Resort, and a boat ramp with a fish-cleaning station at the dock. Anglers troll for trout and bass year-round; licenses come from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Inside the park are 5.5 miles of hiking trail and 6 miles of bike path linking the day-use area and the campground — one spur near the group camp crosses a bridge to a small waterfall — and the Rogue River National Recreation Trail runs 30 miles along the project lands toward the Upper Rogue and, eventually, the Pacific Crest Trail near Crater Lake.
Best Time to Visit
Summer is beach season and the lake is busiest from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The campground opens loop by loop: Loop A is open year-round, Loop B from March 13 to October 12, Loop C from March 27 to October 12 and Loop D from March 20 to October 26 (2026 dates). Fall brings quieter water and turning leaves along the Rogue; Crater Lake National Park is about 40 miles up Highway 62, which makes this a popular base in July and August when the rim road is open. Smoke from regional wildfires can settle in the Rogue Valley in late summer — check air-quality forecasts before a long stay.
Visitor Tips
Day use costs $6 per vehicle and the gate is open 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Camping (2026 rates): $30 a night with water, $35 with water and electricity, $175 for the group camp, plus $8 for each extra vehicle (two at most) and an $8 online or $10 phone reservation fee. There are 151 sites with water and power (Loop B has partial lake views) and 50 tent sites with water in Loop D, flush toilets, hot showers and a dump station for registered campers. Eight people per site, 14 nights in any 30, check-in at 2, check-out at noon. Dogs get a fenced off-leash area between loops B and D.
The day-use address is 35211 Highway 62, Trail, OR; the county parks office is (541) 774-8183. Fees and dates were checked against jacksoncountyor.gov in September 2026. Two Oregon State Parks on the Rogue lie downstream: TouVelle State Recreation Site near Medford and Valley of the Rogue State Park off I-5.
Explore More Oregon State Parks
Looking for state parks in Oregon? Discover them in our Best State Parks in Oregon guide, or use our Park Finder to search by activity, location, or features.
Wildlife & Nature
Joseph H. Stewart SRA — 910 acres on Lost Creek Lake (3,430 acres). The park’s lake, pine forest, and volcanic terrain support bald eagles, osprey, and black bears. Rainbow trout, largemouth bass, and kokanee salmon fill the lake.
Nearby Attractions
Shady Cove — adjacent. Crater Lake NP — 40 miles northeast — the deepest lake in the US (1,943 ft). Rogue River — below the dam.
More parks nearby: Prospect State Scenic Viewpoint is a short drive away, while TouVelle State Park lies within about an hour’s drive.
Park Map
Plan your gear for Joseph H. Stewart State Recreation Area
From our editorial guides, matched to this park’s activities:
