Umatilla National Forest

Word has it the North Fork John Day River is pretty wild and scenic, and this campground lies right along its banks. Not only can you hunt, fish, horseback ride and take stunning pictures of the surrounding wilderness, but in the Fall you can see the native Steelhead Salmon gettin’ it on--er, spawning. The campground is also located at the junctio Read more...

When you’re surrounded by three mountains referred to as the Triple Ridge Area, you better bet there’s going to be some killer hiking. Within five miles of Wickiup Campground, you have your pick of trails in the Jones, Huckleberry and Hogback Ridges. Closer to camp--just 100 yards below--are cold water springs, and only slightly farther, fishing i Read more...

Woodward Campground is situated in a shady forest of Englemann spruce and other conifers. You’ll be nearby several creeks and a hiking trail, and the majestic North Fork Umatilla Wilderness is just around the corner! The area is not maintained and can be inaccessible between October and May. Check website for closures. Read more...

Ah, a campground in a wooded forest on a lake. Does it get much better? There’s good reason why Olive Lake is such a popular campground. You can swim, fish, hike, boat, and lounge in whatever order you like. 28 sites make this one of the bigger campgrounds in the area, which also means you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a spot to pitch a Read more...

Long ago a colony of ladybugs settled here. They flourished, and over time their numbers grew until they covered every rock and leaf. Just kidding. The ladybug population here, while above average, leaves plenty of room for campers to enjoy this beautiful area as well. Hiking, fishing, hunting and more await you in the neighboring Wenaha-Tuccanon Read more...

Bull Prairie Lake is what you might call the archetypal American campground. Nestled within a beautiful wooded forest with nearby lake access, families love hitting this popular vacation spot. There are paved paths for morning jogs and bike rides, plenty of picnic areas and lots of space for social events. With a total of 30 sites for both tents a Read more...

Grab a sturdy hiking stick, load up on trail mix and head for the hills when you stay at Coalmine Hill Campground. ith trails leading up nearby Bald Mountain, Hell’s Half Acre and Willow Creek, Coalmine Hill is your portal to days of trekking and tranquility. And if you get tired on one trail, why not take a horse up the next one? Equestrians are Read more...

Big game is the name of the game at this popular hunting campground. Every Fall, hunters flock to Fairview for a chance to nab the season’s prize trophy. But it’s also a great place to go offroading with 80 miles of bumpy, muddy, and totally awesome OHV roads. If that’s not enough, Morrow County OHV Park is just six miles north on Highway 207 wher Read more...

Embrace your inner angler at Penland Lake, where Blue Gills and Rainbow Trout frolic. . . or whatever the swimming equivalent of frolicing is. Grab your fishing pole and even bring your boat, but only if it has an electric motor; those pesky gas ones are prohibited. There are eight campsites and two toilets, but no potable water and nobody taking Read more...

Have you ever wanted to take a stroll through a pine forest and learn about the intricate life-cycle of the majestic Steelhead Salmon? No? Well, at Bear Wallow Creek Campground you can do just that. After securing one of the eight available sites, head on over to the ¼ mile interpretive trail where 12 signs take you through the life of this glorio Read more...

With only three sites, Big Creek Meadows Campground may be small, but it offers access to big time adventure. Gloriously muddy offroad trails await in the North Fork John Day Wilderness for two and four-wheeled vehicles. Heck, why not one-wheelers too? Make off-road unicycling a thing! Whatever your ride, there’s plenty of space to park at the tra Read more...

Feeling your inner Chris McCandless calling? Then step into the wild at the remote Divide Well Campground. Located in a meadow speckled with pines and surrounded by firs, it’s pretty likely you’ll have all eleven sites to yourself. After you’ve donned your flannel and chopped some wood, head over to the nearby Potamus Point Interpretive Site for s Read more...

Drift Fence is mainly used as a hunting camp, but it’s not like you need to rock a full cammo getup to enjoy this free campground. You’re more than welcome to just look at the wildlife too. At the Bridge Creek Wildlife Viewing Area just down the road, you’re likely to catch some elk grazing amongst the wildflowers. There are also a couple stocked Read more...

White. Water. Rafting. How awesome are those three words? Add campfire, s’mores, and stargazing and you’ve got yourself a perfect weekend at Driftwood Campground. Situated along the banks of the North Fork John Day River, you can launch a raft right from camp in the morning, catch some white water, and return for burgers and brews in the evening. Read more...

Frazier Campground is the launching point for the Winom-Frazier OHV trail system. OHV is code for romping through the woods and getting plastered with mud on your four-wheeler. And this isn’t just a trail, it’s a system. We’re talking over 100 miles of backcountry offroading. This campground clearly knows the type of people it attracts, offering p Read more...

You would think that escaping the city to any old campground would provide a quiet, peaceful getaway. But between all the party campers and families with hyperactive kids running around, that’s not always the case. But if peace and solitude is what you seek, look no further than Gold Dredge Campground. With six sites located along the North Fork J Read more...

Sometimes you just want to pack up a tent and a sleeping bag and go camping. That’s it. No fussing over fancy campfire dinners or pitching elaborate bug-proof canopies. Just a plain and simple no-frills night under the stars. Lane Creek is perfect for just that. There are seven sites and a toilet situated amongst an open forest of ponderosa pines, Read more...

Whatever your preferred mode of transportation into the wilderness is, be it horseback, motorbike, or your own two legs, Oriental Campground is your gateway. Located near the end of a forest road, you’ll find eight sites in a secluded and beautiful setting. Just three miles away on the same forest road await the trailheads for the North Fork John Read more...

Just a few miles off 395, this campground offers two RV pads and five campsites at the confluence of Desolation Creek and the North Fork John Day River. Photography, river activities, and hunting are popular in the area, and the campsite has an interpretive geology sign in case you’re wondering what kind of rocks you’re using to weigh down your pi Read more...

Welch Creek Campground is your next favorite or least favorite place ever. Popular for group outings, Site 6--which has room for up to 40 people with ample parking to match--is known for family reunion campouts or group hunting trips. Whether you’re going camping with your weird uncle or your hunting crew is up to you, but the nearby fishing, hiki Read more...

Rocks can take many forms. Mountains, diamonds, Nic Cage films… and the Winom Campground and Trailhead. A stone’s throw away from Ukiah, there are 10 campsites and two accessible toilets, get there early and snag a log enclosed picnic area. Nearby attractions include 100 miles of off road trails, and North Fork John Day Wilderness for the hikers i Read more...

Keep your aura in check by zen-ing out at Alder Thicket Campground. This campground is first-come, first-served, so run don’t walk! Known to many as a gateway into the Blue Mountains, overgrown alder shrubbery provides plenty of shade for campers and white tailed deer alike on hot summer days. Hiking more your speed? Alder Thicket trails are withi Read more...

It’s mid-summer, the temperatures are soaring close to what it must feel like on the sun and even M&Ms are melting in your hands. You need an escape. What do you do? You head up Big Springs Campground, obviously. Big Springs boasts the title of coolest campground in the area, and we aren’t using slang. Although it is pretty “cool" too, what wi Read more...

So often national forest campgrounds are tucked away in a dense forest, which is beautiful in its own way, but sometimes you want something a little more scenic. For times like these, try making a visit to Forest Boundary Campground. The name says it all--you’ll be camped right at the forest’s boundary, where a beautiful view of Scoggin’s Ridge aw Read more...

Ever explored the Wenaha-Tuccanon Wilderness? It’s a whole world of adventure out there, and the Godman Campground is the perfect place to rest up before setting out into the unknown. With access to the West Butte trail, which takes you into the wilderness area, this campground could be your last taste of civilization for, well, that’s up to you. Read more...

Grab a sherpa and an oxygen mask if you’re heading to Midway Campground, which lies at the high, high elevation of 6,000 feet. Okay, so maybe it’s not that high (you won’t actually need the sherpa or the mask). But compared to other campgrounds in the area it’s up there. Snowpack stays here longer than other areas in the Pomeroy Ranger District, s Read more...

Despite its name, Misery Spring is far from a miserable place. In fact, we’re pretty sure the panoramic views into the Wenaha-Tuccanon Wilderness will make you quite happy. This five-site campground is small and doesn’t see much traffic, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth visiting. If you’re looking for a fun and beautiful place to camp, Misery Read more...

Panjab is just barely a campground with just three tent-only sites, but it’s a great spot for those three groups of campers. Flowing nearby is the Tuccanon Spring River, which is a popular spot for mushrooming. But unless you’re a mushroom connoisseur, you should probably read up on the local varieties. Also not far from the campground is Rattlesn Read more...

Whip out the fishing pole! Actually that’s probably not a good idea, what with hooks and all. Anyways, after you gently remove your fishing pole in a very safe manor, you can head over to Pataha Creek and try to catch yourself some dinner. If you’re lucky, you’ll be frying up a fresh-caught meal back at Pataha Campground. They stock the creek each Read more...

You know how sometimes people say, “you have to see it to believe it," or “you just had to be there?" Well, the views at Teal Spring Campground are kind of like that. Looking out on the Tucannon drainage, you’ll wonder how this small campground doesn’t see more traffic, but at the same time enjoy the fact that it doesn’t. Check website for c Read more...

If you’re tired of driving over bumpy, teeth-chattering dirt roads to get your campsite, then you’ll be glad you found Tucannon Campground. One of the more popular spots in the area, it is accessed by a nice, flat paved road. Various stocked ponds are scattered nearby, offering great fishing for the whole fam. You can also try your hand in the adj Read more...

Welcome to the biggest and most happenin’ campground in all of Umatilla National Forest. Boasting a whopping 53 campsites, five flushing toilets, four vault toilets, trash service and all the drinking water you can dream of, Jubilee is practically a five star resort as far as national park campgrounds go. With all these wonderful amenities comes a Read more...

Target Meadows Campground is located on a picturesque meadow surrounded by magnificent trees of Engelmann spruce and Lodgepole pine. The area has a unique history–Target Meadows was once a summer encampment and artillery range for Army soldiers from the late 1880’s and 1906. The 18 campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Read more...

Located where the South and North Forks of the Umatilla River meet, the Umatilla Forks Campground is a popular spot for fishing. You’ll have easy access to great hiking trails, and the North Fork Umatilla Wilderness is just around the corner. The dense forest of conifers and deciduous trees maximize privacy at each these campsites; feel free to do Read more...

Looking for a quiet, but convenient place to camp? Woodland Campground has fewer crowds than others in the area and only 6 campsites. The campground is conveniently located just off Highway 204, so no off-roading necessary. There are both sunny and shady campsites here, so take your pick! The area is not maintained and can be inaccessible betw Read more...