Champoeg is a former town in the U.S. — Champoeg is a former town in the U.S. state of Oregon. Now a ghost town, it was an important settlement in the Willamette Valley in the early 1840s. Located halfway between Oregon City and Salem, it was the site of the first provisional government of the Oregon Country. The town site is on the south bank of the Willamette River in northern Marion County, approximately 5 mi (8 km) southeast of Newberg. The town is now part of Champoeg State Heritage Area, an Oregon state park. The Champoeg State Park Historic Archeological District is within the heritage area. Amenities of the heritage area include a visitor center, an 1860s-style garden, the Newell House Museum – Robert Newell's restored 1852 house – and the Pioneer Mothers Memorial Cabin Museum. Also located in the park is the Historic Butteville Store, which was founded in 1863. Considered the oldest operating store in Oregon, it is the last remaining commercial building of the nearby community of Butteville. A series of weekend interpretive programs is available late June through Labor Day weekend, and the Champoeg Promise program provides an interactive living history program for schoolchildren. The site is open year-round and is available for camping (tent, yurt, cabin and RV), hiking, bicycling, bird watching, picnicking, fishing and boating. oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkPage&a... Rick Obst · CC BY 2.0

Champoeg State Heritage Area

State Historic Site · Oregon · Oregon Parks and Recreation Department

Camping
623 acres

Park Overview Champoeg State Heritage Area features a rare combination of history, nature, and recreation. Situated south of Newberg along the scenic Willamette River, Champoeg's forests, fields, and wetlands recreate the landscape of a bygone era. This is the site where pioneers voted to form Oregon's first provisional government by a historical vote in 1843. A thriving town of 200 was established, only to be washed away during a great flood in 1861. This rich history earns the park’s placement on the National Register of Historic Places. A diversity of activities await. Enjoy walking o

Plan your visit

Trails & hiking

Biking · Hiking · Trail

Camping

Camping · Primitive Camping · Shower

Site types & reservations: see the official site.

Cabins & lodging

Cabin · Lodging

Availability & booking: see the official site.

Know before you go

Official site: stateparks.oregon.gov
Managed by: Oregon Parks and Recreation Department

Getting there

Directions on Google Maps →

Things to do

Activities & features: Amphitheater · Disc Golf · Fishing · Interpretive Signage · Pets Allowed · Picnic Area · Wildlife Viewing

Photos

Nearby parks

Parks of Oregon

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Guides for the trip

Sources: Wikimedia Commons / editorial, State agency · updated 2026-09-12