Camping near Athena

North of the Umatilla Reservation in Oregon and directly west of the Umatilla National Forest, Athena is an ideal base for visiting Eastern Oregon's expansive High Desert region. It’s a great area for camping, owing to generally dry weather (by Pacific Northwest standards), particularly in the spring through fall. While there are a few campgrounds in the nearby national forest, Athena campers can find plenty of private Hipcamps, too. Options include tent and RV sites on horse farms, campsites with power, and parcels of land that accommodate just one party at a time for privacy. Athena also sits northeast of the popular tourist town of Pendleton, home of popular area attractions such as the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute, an interpretative center that celebrates area Tribal history and traditions. To the north sit the twin cities of Milton-Freewater, Oregon, and Walla Walla, Washington, both celebrated for their wine.