Minimum security, Level 1 (men) — no perimeter fence · Forest Work Camp · ODOC

South Fork Forest Camp

Tillamook, Tillamook County, Oregon

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (503) 842-2811 Info last verified: July 2026

A remote minimum-security forest work camp in the Tillamook State Forest, jointly run by Oregon's corrections and forestry departments, where adults in custody do wildland fire and forestry work. ODOC proposed closing it as a 2026 budget measure, but the camp remains open.

Statewide rules that apply at every Oregon state prison

These rules are set by ODOC and apply at every unit. The full list — including all permitted and prohibited items and the approval process — is in Visiting in Oregon.

Dress code

Footwear and undergarments are required; undergarments must not be visible through clothing, and underwire bras are not allowed because they trigger the metal detector.
No blue clothing or blue denim of any kind, and nothing camouflage — both resemble what adults in custody and staff wear.
Dresses, skirts, and shorts must reach the knee when standing; nothing sheer, see-through, low-cut, tight, or revealing, and no halter, tube, or crop tops.
No hats or head coverings except religious ones (which may be inspected), and nothing with gang symbols or with offensive or suggestive words or images.

ID: Every visitor must already be on the adult in custody's approved list (a records check is run on anyone 15 or older). Adults bring a government-issued photo ID for a contact visit; a visitor without photo ID may be limited to a non-contact visit.
What to bring: Almost nothing comes into the visit room — no phones, electronics, tobacco, or vaping. Visitors may bring a small amount of change for vending (commonly $15 to $20 — confirm with the facility), up to five photos, and a car key; lockers hold the rest.
Scheduling: The adult in custody builds the visiting list with the CD-50 application, and every visitor must be approved before scheduling. Whether visits are by appointment or first-come — and the days and hours — vary by facility, so confirm the specific prison's process before traveling.

Full statewide rules: Visiting in Oregon

Overview

South Fork Forest Camp, in the Tillamook State Forest, is a remote minimum-security work camp for men, holding up to about 200 people. It is unusual in several ways: it is Level 1, the lowest custody, with no perimeter fence; it is jointly operated by the Oregon Department of Corrections and the Oregon Department of Forestry — the only Oregon prison owned and run by two agencies; and it is built around forest and wildfire work. Established in 1951, it is described as the oldest and largest forest work camp in the Pacific Northwest, and it is consistently among ODOC’s top providers of wildfire-suppression crews, along with reforestation, thinning, trail maintenance, and disaster-relief work across northwest Oregon. The camp is administered as a satellite of Columbia River Correctional Institution in Portland.

In November 2025, ODOC identified South Fork as a candidate for closure if required to make budget cuts, with a proposed closure date of June 30, 2026. That date has since passed; as of July 2026 the camp remains listed and operating on ODOC’s facility locator, and the proposed closure was not carried out.

What Makes South Fork Different

It has no perimeter fence — a true open work camp at the lowest custody level.
It is run by two state agencies, corrections and forestry, the only such prison in Oregon.
Its work is wildfire and forestry, and it is among ODOC’s top wildfire-crew providers.
It was proposed for closure in 2026; that date has passed and it remains open, but its longer-term future is uncertain — confirm it is open before traveling.

Visiting

The statewide ODOC rules above — the approved list, the no-blue dress code, ID, and search rules — apply at South Fork.

The full approval process is in Visiting in Oregon.

Getting There and Parking

The camp is on Highway 6, the Wilson River Highway, deep in the Tillamook State Forest between Portland and Tillamook.

Distances are approximate, based on map routing. Visitor parking is on site.

Nearby Services

Tillamook, about 28 miles west, has the nearest food, gas, and lodging. The nearest 24/7 emergency room is Adventist Health Tillamook at 1000 3rd Street in Tillamook.

Mail

Personal mail goes to the camp, addressed with the person’s name as ODOC lists it and their SID number. Oregon is moving toward scanning personal mail to tablets, so confirm the current method before sending. Legal mail marked “LEGAL MAIL” goes to the facility and is opened in the person’s presence. Full rules are in Mail & Packages.

Learn More

For detailed information about visiting and communicating with someone in an Oregon state prison:

Visiting in Oregon — the approved list, the no-blue dress code, and ID rules
Mail & Packages — the SID number, paper rules, and the move to scanned mail
Phone & Video Calls — the ICSolutions account and tablets
Sending Money — trust-account deposits
Medical & Mental Health — health care and the Corrections Ombudsman
Transfers & Finding Someone — the one-year line, intake, and the locator

Sources

This page is compiled from the following publicly available sources. Policies change without notice — confirm current details with the facility before relying on them.