Three Bears (Molalla River)

Swimming hole · Molalla River Corridor
★★★★☆ 3.8 (1 review) Confirmed by 2 people
Illustration, not this spot.
⚖️ Public swim spot Swimsuits 💧 Clear green river pool 🗓️ Jun to Sep ☀︎ First-timer friendly

Know before you go

A cobble bar on the Molalla River with clear green water, deep enough to swim in places. The pin is the pullout about a quarter mile north of Three Bears Campground, which is the spot rather than the campground itself. From Molalla, take Main St and OR 211 east, veer right at the OR 211 and Mathias Road intersection and follow signs for Feyrer Park, cross the Molalla River, turn right onto S Dickey Prairie Road, continue past the Dickey Prairie Store to Glen Avon Bridge, cross it, then follow S Molalla Forest Road about 3 miles. You can pull off and park along most of the length of the river here, so if one pool is taken the next one is a short drive on.

☀︎ First-timer tip: Do not aim for the campground itself. The pullouts along S Molalla Forest Road are the point, and there is a string of them, so keep driving if the first one is busy. There is no cell signal out here, so load your map and directions before you leave Molalla. The campground season runs 15 May through 1 October, but the road and the river are reachable year round.

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Vibe ★★★★☆ Clean ★★★★★ Feels safe ★★★☆☆ Easy access ★★★☆☆ ✓ 2 confirmations

What members say

1 note from people who have been. Reviewed before they appear.

Went in the afternoon on a Thursday in late August and actually got in. The water is clear and more than chest deep, so you can really swim here rather than just wade. It was hot out and the water felt good, cold but easy to get into. I saw people jumping in at spots along the river. The pin is the pullout about a quarter mile before the Three Bears campground, and honestly you can pull off almost anywhere along this stretch of the Molalla and find your own pool, so keep driving if one is taken. Quiet when I was there, only one other person around.

★ jason ·

Etiquette

Towel down before sitting · ask before photos · no staring or sexual behavior · pack out what you pack in.

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Naturism here is non-sexual. There's no nudity in the app; everything is moderated. 18+.

Written up from oregondiscovery.com. Last confirmed by a member on Aug 28, 2026.

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