Silver Falls State Park is the kind of standout scenic treasure that puts Oregon firmly onto the national - and international - stage. National Park campgrounds and in Oregon. San Onofre State Beach camping. Trillium Lake Airstrip and Still Creek Campground, both on US Route 26, being prime examples. Two of Oregon’s best state parks are within an easy drive of Bend, and each offers something a little different. These are Dug Bar, Joseph Canon Viewpoint, Old Chief Joseph’s Gravesite, and Lostine Campsite. The cooler weather has arrived and for many of us campers, that means heading south for warmer climates and sunny... With more people enjoying the outdoors this summer, ranger districts and campers are reporting a higher-than-normal incidence of people leaving... © 2021 Campendium Inc. All rights reserved. Flaking deserts, all but having completely forgotten the concept of winter’s precipitation, crackle like old parchment at the feet of mountains cloaked in what growth they can muster. To keep visitors safe ALL camping in NSW national parks now requires a booking. For evening entertainment at the campground, a short spur trail leads to a dramatic western-facing view of the offshore Tillamook Rock Lighthouse. Newberry Volcanic National Monument is one of the best examples of the Martian lava flows that streak through the region, while state parks and river access, in general, celebrate the best way to beat the sun in town, playing in the naturally “bending” river that flows through the town. A mirror of a body of water, stuck into the earth to reflect the heavens eternal above, Crater Lake is the mountain, forest, and lake camping we all grew up imagining we’d one day disappear into, and Oregon’s lone, true national park. Playing home in the cool town of Hood River doesn’t hurt either. Fifteen minutes from the West Entrance of Crater Lake National Park, Natural Bridge Campground is a great home base for exploring the surrounding Rogue River and Siskiyou National Forest. Favorite Add to Trip. The potential popularity of this headland camping area is somewhat decreased by the lack of available water and the steep approximately four-mile hike to the top of Tillamook Head. Beachcombing is another popular recreational outlet at the state park. Park Status Map; Find a Park; Cabins and Yurts; Reserve; First-served Camping; Day-use Parking Permits; FAQ; Things to Do. Other activities like waterfall viewing, lake boating, and tide pool exploring are also popular. Things to do in Nez Perce National Historical Park: Hiking, Short Walks, Historical Sites, Museums. Other natural attractions adjacent to the best campgrounds include glaciated peaks, forested headlands, wild rivers, and hot springs. Over 200 campsites and a dozen cabins invite multi-day stays on the cape. It also puts you in the pole position for exploring the charming little town of Sisters, Oregon. Joseph H. Stewart is a popular playground throughout the year, especially in summer, when reservations are recommended. If your idea of camping means sharing your site with more ravens than other RVs, there’s no better place to find solace and seclusion than in Mount Hood National Forest. You will receive a confirmation letter via e-mail (within 1 hour) or in the mail (within 7-10 days) after making your reservation. Oregon’s best state parks near Mount Hood live on the Columbia River. For those with larger RVs who are still looking for that in-the-woods feeling, the popular Harrington Loop Road south of Sisters doesn’t disappoint. A tucked-away gem in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon, this campground sits at the entrance to the enchanting Strawberry Mountains Wilderness. While full-hookup camping is available in Oregon’s state parks, and often in a more serene setting than any private park on the coast can provide, they’re not the only place to plug in a sewer pipe and watch the seagulls float by. A variety of national forest and private RV parks can be found outside of Newberry Volcanic, as well, and given the naturally volcanic nature of this part of the country, the experiences with hiking through lava flows and along winding rivers tend to be similar, if not quite as spectacular as the national monument itself. Sierra National Forest camping. While tiny beach cottages and multi-million dollar mansions alike may find their way close to the ocean, the sand that exists between their property and the water is fair game to beach-goers of all ilks, and a Neverland of a beach it is. Lost Creek Campground National Parks, Forests, and Preserves. The campground also features a hiker/biker site that fills up in late summer with long-distance travelers on the Pacific Crest Trail. Additionally, there are also a few nearby state historical parks related to the Lewis and Clark Expedition, most notably Ecola State Park in Cannon Beach (pictured above) and Fort Stevens State Park near Astoria. Disabled Veterans with a valid Veteran's Special Access Pass (issued by Oregon State Parks ) may camp in the forest up to 10 days per month for free. While a plethora of camping is available in the Deschutes, certain places tend to fill up more quickly than others, and camping south of town, such as that found along Forest Road 9710, is often a better bet than trying to get something more mountainous. That said, note that you’re required to own and display a Northwest Forest Pass when visiting many national forest recreation areas. Honeyman State Park caters to RV and tent camping and is surrounded by the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. Site location: Located between Hauser and Spinreel. Exceptions occur, of course, such as at the White River West Sno-Park, more of a parking area than a campground, where ample sun—should the weather play along—can fuel your solar needs. Otherwise, when camping in Mount Hood National Forest, expect typically small but secluded sites, where you’ll regularly have your site back up to a river, be close to the paved campground road itself, and well-shaded. The campground has vault toilets and potable water available. Expect towering Douglas-fir trees to cast shade and hide you away in the forest. Named for the now destroyed volcano that once towered above Crater Lake, it boasts ranger programs, well-separated sites and easy access to the park’s amenities. On a recent trip to Portland my wife and I had a limited amount of time one afternoon to see some natural scenery outside of the city so we decided to take a drive out to the Co Bend-Sisters Garden RV Resort is one of the most popular—and most affordable—RV parks in the area, featuring a large pond, hot tub, mini-golf, outdoor swimming pool, laundry, and the always epic views of the beautiful Cascades in which Sisters resides. Little Crater Campground shoreline | Photo Copyright: Brad Lane. It's the spacious and shaded campsites that account for Mazama's popularity, but it's the access to the nearby caldera that attracts international attention. While scientific studies show that 107% of all “outdoorsy” types move to Oregon every day, that doesn’t mean that you can’t still find some serene camping opportunities far from the fleeting footsteps of long-distance thru-hikers, clapping paddles of the state’s many river riders, and skid marks left behind by an ever-present stampede of mountain bikers losing elevation.