Upper Arm Day Use Area
Detroit, Oregon · on Detroit Lake · Willamette National Forest
Verified · 4 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- reservoir
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $5 per vehicle
- SEASON
- July
About Upper Arm Day Use Area
Upper Arm Day Use Area is a developed, fee-based Willamette National Forest day-use site on the Breitenbush Arm of Detroit Lake, about 1 mile north of Detroit, Oregon via Breitenbush Road (FS Rd 46). It centers on a sandy, ADA-accessible swimming beach with PVC depth markers in a quiet cove closed to motorized boats, alongside an accessible fishing pier, picnic areas, and a wildlife viewing platform. Comprehensively rebuilt in 2007 into one of the few fully accessible swim and fish sites on the Detroit Ranger District, it is a rare swimming hole where nearly everyone can reach the water, and the calm, motor-free cove makes this a gentle stretch of lake to swim in. The site operates seasonally (roughly April to October) with a $5 per vehicle day-use fee.
The site occupies a quiet, sheltered cove on the Breitenbush Arm of Detroit Lake, a reservoir on the North Santiam River within the Willamette National Forest. Motorized boats are prohibited north of the day-use area, though non-motorized craft such as kayaks and rubber boats can float upstream past swimmers, keeping the cove calm.
Swimming at Upper Arm Day Use Area
A sandy, accessible swimming beach marked with PVC depth-indicator poles offers calm, sheltered reservoir water. An adjoining wooden fishing pier/platform has wheelchair-friendly railings, and local news describes the beach as one of only a handful of fully ADA-accessible swim sites on the Detroit Ranger District. Swimming use reportedly extends on hot weekends beyond the traditional July-to-Labor-Day peak.
How to get to this swimming hole
From the town of Detroit, Oregon, take Breitenbush Road (Forest Service Road 46) north/northeast about 1 mile; the day-use area entrance is on the left (west) side of the road, marked with signage.
Parking: Paved lot with 39 general spaces plus 3 RV spaces, split into upper and lower parking areas; 4 ADA-designated accessible spaces (2 in the upper lot, 2 in the lower lot). A fee kiosk sits at the parking area.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. No hike is needed. A paved/gravel accessible path runs directly from the parking lot and covered shelter to the swim beach and fishing platform -- just a short, flat walk (well under a quarter mile) from the car.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Sandy, gently sloping beach with PVC depth markers and calm, motor-free cove water make this one of the more kid-friendly spots on Detroit Lake, and it's one of the few ADA-accessible swim beaches on the Detroit Ranger District. However, no source indicates a lifeguard is present, and Detroit Lake has periodically been placed under Oregon Health Authority cyanobacteria (harmful algae bloom) advisories in past summers, so supervise closely and check current water-quality advisories before swimming.
Parking
Paid, $5/vehicle/day (Northwest Forest Pass or interagency recreation pass also accepted)
Paved lot split into upper and lower areas: 39 general spaces plus 3 RV spaces, with 4 ADA-designated accessible spaces (2 upper, 2 lower). Fee kiosk at the parking area; onsite payment is via the Recreation.gov app's Scan-and-Pay only, no cash or check.
Restrooms
Yes
4 vault toilets (2 at the upper parking lot, 2 at the lower lot); no potable water onsite.
Hours
Seasonal, roughly April 1 through October 31 (closes for the post-Labor Day reservoir flood-control drawdown). Local news reports gates open 6 a.m. and close 10 p.m. daily during the season; a separate accessibility survey lists hours as sunrise to sunset, so treat 6am-10pm as the more specific figure but expect some variation.
On the water
Restrictions: Motorized/powered boats are prohibited north of the day-use area, keeping the cove calm; non-motorized craft (kayaks, inflatable/rubber boats) can float upstream past swimmers.
No source confirms motorized boating, jet skis, or a designated paddleboard-launch area at this specific site; the immediate swim cove is effectively a quiet, motor-free pocket of the larger reservoir.
Rentals nearby
Pontoons (pleasure and fishing), ski boats, fishing boats, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and canoes, plus bundled 'toy packages'
115 Breitenbush Road, Detroit, OR 97342 -- on the same road (Breitenbush Rd/FS-46) as Upper Arm Day Use Area, about 1 mile away · Seasonal, May through Labor Day; hours vary by month, typically around 8am-7pm during peak season
Backstory
Detroit Lake itself was created in 1949-1953 when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built Detroit Dam on the North Santiam River (dedicated June 10, 1953), flooding the original town of Detroit and relocating roughly 200 residents; the reservoir now runs 9+ miles long with 32 miles of shoreline. The Upper Arm Day Use Area was comprehensively redeveloped in 2007 (following the introduction of camping restrictions in the area) into a dedicated accessible day-use site, per the Willamette National Forest's developed recreation manager. A 2022 Travel Oregon listing noted a temporary wildfire-related closure (Beachie Creek Fire aftermath), but the current official Forest Service page shows the site operating on its normal fee/season schedule with no closure notice, suggesting it has since reopened.
Upper Arm Day Use Area: FAQ
Does Upper Arm Day Use Area charge a fee?
$5 per vehicle per day day-use fee; Northwest Forest Pass and interagency recreation passes accepted in lieu of the fee. Payment onsite is via the Recreation.gov mobile app's 'Scan and Pay' feature only -- cash and checks are not accepted.
Is Upper Arm Day Use Area kid friendly?
Sandy, gently sloping beach with PVC depth markers and calm, motor-free cove water make this one of the more kid-friendly spots on Detroit Lake, and it's one of the few ADA-accessible swim beaches on the Detroit Ranger District. However, no source indicates a lifeguard is present, and Detroit Lake has periodically been placed under Oregon Health Authority cyanobacteria (harmful algae bloom) advisories in past summers, so supervise closely and check current water-quality advisories before swimming.
Do I need to hike to reach Upper Arm Day Use Area?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Upper Arm Day Use Area?
Paved lot split into upper and lower areas: 39 general spaces plus 3 RV spaces, with 4 ADA-designated accessible spaces (2 upper, 2 lower). Fee kiosk at the parking area; onsite payment is via the Recreation.gov app's Scan-and-Pay only, no cash or check.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Upper Arm Day Use Area?
No source confirms motorized boating, jet skis, or a designated paddleboard-launch area at this specific site; the immediate swim cove is effectively a quiet, motor-free pocket of the larger reservoir.
When is the best time to visit Upper Arm Day Use Area?
Seasonal operation roughly April 1 through October 31, timed with the trout fishing season; the site closes for the annual post-Labor Day flood-control drawdown of the reservoir. Peak swimming use is the hot-weather stretch from roughly July through Labor Day, extending into hotter shoulder-season weekends.
What are the rules at Upper Arm Day Use Area?
Day use only; no overnight camping. Gates open 6 a.m. and close 10 p.m. during the operating season. Dogs must be leashed (6 ft max) or under physical control per 36 CFR 261.16(j). Horses and other pack animals are prohibited. Motorized/powered boats are prohibited north of the day-use area (non-motorized craft permitted). Check current Detroit-area dispersed camping restrictions before visiting.
What water body is Upper Arm Day Use Area on?
Upper Arm Day Use Area is on Detroit Lake, a natural reservoir verified in USGS hydrography data.
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