Lake Camping in Cottage Grove, Oregon, US: 12 Best Lake Campsites 2024

United States
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Oregon
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Cottage Grove

91% (672 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Cottage Grove

Star Hosts in Cottage Grove

10 top lakeside campgrounds near Cottage Grove

96%

(810)

Umpqua's Last Resort

33 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents4 acres · Idleyld Park, OR

Umpqua’s Last Resort is nestled along the North Umpqua River in the Umpqua National Forest. This region of the Oregon Cascade Mountains is commonly referred to as “Oregon’s Emerald-Jewel Gateway” to Crater Lake National Park. Spectacular marble river views, volcanic formations, thundering waters, and towering firs are just the beginning… the North Umpqua River is World Class! Settled in the community of Dry Creek, 27-miles east of Idleyld Park [Idle-wild Park] on the North Umpqua River, Umpqua's Last Resort hosts fifteen 50/30/20amp Full Hook-up RV Sites, Glamping Tents, Camper Cabins, a Tiny Home, RV Experiences, heated shower house & restrooms, mountain Wi-Fi, access to the North Umpqua River & Dry Creek. Umpqua’s Last Resort is a privately owned recreational vehicle park & campground located on exclusive private-property deep in the heart of the Umpqua National Forest. As a proud equal opportunity recreation provider we thank you for your interest.

Royal Heart Hill

2 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents25 acres · Cottage Grove, OR

**It is required that you read the FULL site description and rules before booking so you know what to expect and what is expected of you! Please do not book if you are not willing to respect this request and our standard operating procedures! If you do not follow our rules you will be flagged, Hipcamp will be notified and you will be charged-depending on cleanup costs/damage!** SITE DESCRIPTION: -The private and peaceful 'Royal Heart Hill' property consists of - Oak Savanna, mixed conifer woodland, camas meadow, undulating hills and a SMALL pond (No swimming or fishing! It is a man-made pond and not stocked because it is home to many rough-skinned newts). *UPDATE: The timber acreage that borders our property- to the west and north of Overholser Road- was just harvested as of winter 2024. Thus, we no longer have that 'deep in the forest' type-feel, but it did open up some westward/sunset views. -All guests have access to the outdoor shower, which is located by the green Dome. Please use biodegradable soap in the shower! Potable water spigots are located by the carport and at the top of the steps leading down to our platform site. -Royal Heart Hill is in the Heart of Royal, Oregon (Cottage Grove proper) at the very end of a Dead-End road, which means no sound or light pollution from passing cars or nearby residences. Surrounded by BLM and Timber properties (please be aware of clearly marked private property/no trespassing signs at the end of the public road), while still being just under 6 miles outside of downtown Cottage Grove-the town of Covered-Bridges- with many options for shopping, dining, breweries and live music! Cottage Grove has nearby access to wineries and two large lakes (Cottage Grove and Dorena) with swimming, boating, fishing, as well as hiking and biking trails. We are 35 minutes/27 miles from Eugene. *CAUTION! Poison oak is present! Please know how to identify, or ask and I will show you. I have done my best to clear it from main camping areas and trails. Tecnu is provided in the outdoor shower. -There is a .8 mile loop that goes around the whole property, which we keep mowed and accessible. Hipcampers are welcomed and encouraged to use the loop to explore the property. The loop can be accessed from both campsites by walking south/downhill toward the pond signs and following the mowed path through the meadow and back up toward the road, which will take you back to your campsite. It’s a short hike, but can be made longer by taking off-shoots and exploring the pond area. I have included a screenshot of the loop as recorded by my Strava app, which is in the property photos. -There is also nearby access to BLM property- about a half mile from both sites. Follow Overholser Road downhill until you see the sharp-right turnoff where you will find the BLM gate (it is a 4 mile (ish) hike from the sites to the end of the BLM road and back). -The property hosts a geodesic play-dome and slack-line (during the dry months) up by the green dome/outdoor shower. Guests may play on these at their own risk and accept liability for any potential or incurred injuries- the closest hospital is 7miles/15minutes away. RULES: 1. NO PETS! (Check in with me if you have extenuating circumstances.) 2. LEAVE NO TRACE! Please check the site for micro-garbage before leaving. We provide buckets for FOOD compost, DEPOSIT recycling (bottles/cans), which you may leave, as well as a trash bucket/bag, which you must take with you. *Please be mindful of what you put in the compost bucket! This site considers compost as- food scraps (no stickers- please remove produce stickers and place in trash), egg shells, tissue paper, coffee grounds and paper filters, tea bags (no staples- please remove staples and place in trash). What we do not consider compost- glossy paper such as paper plates, food wrappers, plastic, and anything that was not mentioned above as compost. If you are unsure if something is compostable, please ask! *Leave no trace also means leave the campsite as you found it, i.e.- if you move camp furniture, rocks, etc., move them back before you leave. 3. COMPOSTING TOILETS There is a composting toilet at each site as well as one by the outdoor shower. PLEASE, poop only! Urinate outside and throw TP in trash or composting barrel (around back of toilet). If one feels uncomfortable urinating outside they may use the toilet by the shower, which is the only toilet with a urine diverter. *Before use: Make sure bucket is lined with sawdust. After use: Cover waste with sawdust and dump bucket in the composting barrel around back. Replace bucket and line with sawdust. Be Courteous! -For humanure to break down properly- urine and feces must be kept separate. This is because the urea present in urine degrades into ammonia and kills the microbes that would otherwise break down the waste. 4. CAMPFIRES *ONLY fire-wood and starter may go into the fire- no trash, cigarette butts, food scraps/compost, etc.! Please dispose of these things in provided buckets. All fire MUST be contained to fire-pits, with the exception of gas camping stoves/burners - no tiki torches, etc! Fire-wood and starter is provided, but the wood is not split and is stored outside (you may wish to bring your own wood to start fires if the weather has been wet). 5. CONDUCT Check out PROMPTLY at 2PM. Be respectful and courteous of others- there are two campsites on the hill, so you may not be alone during your stay. My partner and I also live on-site in the Dome. We don't have "quiet hours", but please be respectful and aware that campers usually come here for some peace and quiet. If you are looking for a place to party with a large group of your friends this is NOT it, find somewhere else. No HARD drug use and absolutely no illegal activity of any kind or you will be asked to leave immediately with no refund. *The Hipcamper making the booking is responsible for making sure everyone in their group is aware of and follows the rules. CAMP SITE DESCRIPTIONS- The 'Platform' site: has a large fire pit, composting toilet (for #2 only), potable water via hose, and electric via extension cord. It is a short distance from our outdoor shower, and is accessible with 4WD during the rainy season and 2WD during the dry season (the site is not accessible with a camper/trailer). From this site one can see the top of the monolithic Dome-Home, which makes it a little less private. **If camping with a vehicle that cannot take the steep road to the site, one can park on our gravel driveway (or at the top of the hill) and walk down via steps or road.** The 'Tent/Trailer' site: is our more secluded/private site and is available amongst our Madrone and Chinquapin tree zone. The road to this site is flat and accessible by car/camper/small trailer. There is a turn-around (somewhat tight), but trailers larger than 17ft may have difficulty using it. There are many level spaces to park or pitch a tent. Hipcampers have access to electric via extension cord, fire-pit and composting toilet (#2 only); however, potable water, and outdoor shower are all located by the Dome, which hipcampers will have to walk (short distance) or drive to. There is one spigot by the carport and one spigot at the top of the steps leading down to our platform site. PS: Although the clearcut is an eye-sore, it is an example of what the logging industry does to our forests here in Oregon. I hope this will not put a damper on your camping experience, but it is unfortunately out of my control... On Royal Heart Hill, we do our best to mitigate any negative impact on the forest with our practices of sustainable thinning, native habitat restoration and permaculture. If you have any questions about our forest management practices- please ask!

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Alsea Valley Farm

1 site · Lodging7 acres · Alsea, OR

Our farm is nestled at the end of Honey Grove Valley in the lush coastal mountains. The creek meanders through our seven acre property. The north side contains a field, small orchard, greenhouses and barn. The south side is steep and wooded with healthy riparian. An extension to the Honey Grove trail leads out of the property accessing seven miles of hiking and mountain bike trails. Nearby activities include hiking and mountain biking in Mary's Peak and Alsea Falls recreational area. Fishing access to the Alsea River is located 1.5 miles from the property on Honey Grove Road. The guest cabin has two rooms and can sleep (4) guests comfortably and up to (6) guests. It contains (2) queen size beds, one pull out couch, and an optional futon mattress and a fold out single bed. One bed is in a loft accessed by a ship ladder. There is a small kitchen and attached bathhouse. The toilet is non-flush, composting. From the designated parking area there is a 200 foot walk along a gravel path to the cabin. Other features include a fire pit, electric sauna, and creek access. Internet is available in the cabin. There is a Level 2 vehicle charger available for guests. The property also contains a host residence. The area around the residence is for the hosts. The cabin and the property are very quaint and inviting but also very rustic. Do not be surprised to see a few spiders and other bugs, the occasional bunny, wild turkeys, Garter Snakes by the ponds and newts on the trails. Please maintain good situational awareness when enjoying the property as structures and grounds may have some inherent hazards. Barn is off limits. Greenhouse and gardens are fine to explore as long as doors and gates are closed and dogs are kept out. Please refrain from harvesting produce and/or eggs unless accompanied or given permission from hosts directly.

Moon Shadow Meadows

54 sites · RVs, Tents40 acres · Westfir, OR

(paste into your browser to learn more) Property overview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQagrhTio-k Nestled atop a hill, our secluded 40-acre property at 2200 feet offers a unique retreat. Once arriving at Moon Shadow Meadows located at the doorstep of Cascade Mountains, you will enjoy expansive views of Diamond Peak, Devil’s Backbone, Dead Mt., Buckhead Mt. Tire Mt. and Alpine Trail ‘1000 over the Pristine North Fork Middle Fork of the Willamette river, fed by Waldo Lake with multiple world class swimming holes, Fly Fishing, Kayaking and the beautiful Office Covered Bridge. Our area boasts some of the best Mt. Biking trails in the world, built on the backbone of our logging history.. A serene remote experience in nature and at the foothills of the cascade Mountains, an outdoor enthusiast dream location without all the crowds and traffic of big resort towns. Bring your toys and come play with us….. **Once you get to the bottom of our driveway, we are accessible through two gates and a scenic 2-mile drive up our gravel winding road--*Please note that Uphill traffic has the Right of Way when traveling up our driveway. You will traverse a 450-acre ranch teeming with wildlife and a few cows, providing excellent opportunities for observation. Well-behaved pets are welcome. Enjoy a breathtaking view of Diamond Peak along the way. For outdoor enthusiasts, Moon Shadow Meadows boasts a 1.5-mile mountain bike trail suitable for hiking, running, and wildlife viewing. We are Located just outside Westfir/Oakridge, Oregon, we offer proximity to fantastic Mountain Biking and recreational opportunities. Two charming towns, are a mere 5 miles away, featuring a great pub (The three-legged Crane in Up Town Oakridge), The Willamette Mercantile (Great Bike Shop on HWY58), 2 fantastic and knowledgeable mountain bike shuttle companies, (Cog Wild & Trans Cascadia Excursions) No WIFI onsite nearest is covered bridge area, down the road. Spotty cell coverage is experienced while on site.

83%

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Peaceful Retreat

5 sites · RVs, Tents4 acres · Culp Creek, OR

Large undeveloped forested property. as you enter the park, the grass covered roads wind thru the 3 acres of Forest and Blackberry hedges. Lots of wildflowers, and wildlife. It's open camping so , choose the site that speaks to you. Covered Bridges, mining, Row River Trail bikepath. Film locations for Buster Keaton the general, Stand By Me, and Animal House. Learn more about this land: Douglas Fir forest, with blackberry hedges for privacy. Mowed groundcover, wildflowers. Numerous waterfall hikes, bike trails fishing, river, gold panning, rock hounding, wildlife viewing, canna friendly. Nearby Wildwood Falls 1/4 mile. 2 pictures for reference.

The Park at Loon Lake

11 sites · Lodging123 acres · Reedsport, OR

Come to The Park at Loon Lake. Access to the lakefront and the dock along Lake Creek. Endless views of wildlife as you are surrounded by creeks, ponds, cliffs, the lake, and natural forest land. Enjoy the views and enjoy the water! Rent a kayak or paddle board for the day or just swim and relax!

95%

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Mosswood Forest

22 sites · RVs, Tents5 acres · Veneta, OR

Just down the road from the historic Oregon Country Fair grounds, there is a moss covered forest with friendly folks welcoming you to stop off and rest. Nights are quiet with faint to no road noise or light pollution. The driveway and grounds are flat with safe gated parking space for cars/vans and small-med sized trailers, tents etc. It is our pleasure to offer you a safe space to camp with your friends and family. Learn more about this land: Mosswood is on 5 acres of mostly forested land, there's usually a project going (or three). We've recently finished building a barn workshop, a covered timber frame deck in the meadow, and a very unique woven tree net that you'll be sure to enjoy! No dogs living here, just one friendly cat, otherwise it's squirrels, birds, and the occasional wild turkey procession or coyote. There is a large garden, and when growing season is on, we may send you packing with some fresh greens or veggies! If you see us out and about, feel free to come say hello or ask questions. We love sharing good conversations and ideas about how to live well and stay excited about all things. Towns/Activities nearby: Veneta/Elmira are charming small rural towns with all the basics less than 10 min drive: Grocery Outlet, Bi-mart, Ace hardware, Auto parts, some decent restaurants. Fern Ridge Lake is 10 minutes down the road for walking trails, boating and paddling, plenty of other outdoor activities nearby. Eugene is 25 min, and the beautiful Oregon coast is 45 min drive if you want to smell the ocean air and visit Florence.

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The Aloha Ranch

15 sites · RVs, Tents19 acres · Cheshire, OR

5-2023 Update: Empty Tipi is now available to rent . Just text me details 🙏🏽🌺🤙🏽 We are working cleaning up forest for safety in fire season. Clearing dead and unhealthy trees and brush. Also looking to improving the land and making it healthy for the wild critters and more enjoyable for everyone. Apologies for any inconveniences it may cause while land is being restored and grass grows back in some spots. We've opened up a bigger space to the creek and going to Make bigger and better ponds and swimming holes. It's much needed. Thank you having patience with us as we are making improvements. It will make camping experience more enjoyable as well for the future. Also, We are putting up a 20' Tipi this weekend and we plan on fixing up the inside proper and will be renting it out to those interested in sleeping in a Tipi. It will most likely sleep 6-8 depending on bedding I can fit inside. Until then I'm happy to rent it out empty like a big tent. Sleeping 6-8 but you will need to bring your own cots, bedding etc. Just text me for details. Mahalo so much for your patience while we do these improvements. 🤙🏽🌺 25 years I’ve been here on this secret land Located in the Willamette Valley. We have tons of wildlife as well as animals here on the land. We have we have drum circles, sweats, gatherings, group bonfires where you can sit out around the fire and see every star in the sky . This was a Christmas tree farm years ago, and I have let it go natural. I’ve planted new trees and now we live amongst our own forests . We hope to one day have tree houses, earth ships, Tipis and log cabins to rent. We are open to RVs and fifth wheels but no plug-ins yet. We’re a work in progress So it’s tent camping for now . Hope you come and visit us There are Rv and 5th wheel spots but you must be self contained. This is our sacred and safe place we hope you come to visit and see the beauty we see every day. Learn more about this land: Please keep safe distance with everyone on the land. Respect any and all other Campers and space. Fire pit burning depends on regulatory requirements and conditions and could change daily. Inquire with land owners before burning. Please ware mask when approaching the front porch in respect for the Senior who is vulnerable to illnesses. Bring your oun sanitizer and respect all Common area's. Lets all stay safe and enjoy the quiet and peacefulness of what we love here....Nature and Tranquility... Checkin is after 10am and no later then 9pm. Thank you for being respectful of hours... We are almost 20 acres of county and forests, about 24 miles NW of Famous Eugene Oregon, And we are nestled in between Fern Ridge reservoir and triangle Lake, headed to the Florance coast. We have 2 year round running creeks and 3 beautiful forests. We are a work in progress, but we have a year-round working farm. We grow our own food, flowers and animals. We are currently working on a big outdoor kitchen, where we will have pizza ovens, canning facilities and a beautiful place to gather in the woods. Again still a work in progress. Some spots have fire pits. Again depending on time of year and heat conditions. Because we have so many trees, we have to make sure no fires are to close to any tree's. Again, please Ask before burning. No random burning unless oked by land owners. Thank you for for helping to keep everyone safe. We have numerous ponds throughout the property and swimming holes. We turned the 4 stall barn into a music room where we gather and host events. Soon we will have designated Spots, equipped with fire rings. We will have teepees, tree houses, glamping tents. As of now we have room for numerous big groups spots for tent camping. Soon we’ll have plug-ins for RV and fifth wheel travelers. We have alot of space to camp and still have your privacy. Currently we have an out house and hose shower and you can also use the potty Under the Star's. We provide Toilet paper and try to keep stocked but, just ask if outhouses are out of paper. There are lovely walking trails throughout the property and tranquil sitting areas. We will update our progress as it happens. Hope to see you soon.. Remember to bring your own cooking equipment like grills. There's a cleaning station near shower. Water is straight from the well and beautiful drinking water. Aloha Remember, Pack in Pack out any and all trash. Also please Use designated compost areas of only compostable foods. No Meats or meat grease. Please leave your camp site better then you found it and pick up any trash in your area.

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Below the Falls Lodge

1 site · Lodging1 acre · Coos Bay, OR

Relax and revive in this artistic 'cabin' with wonderful views of historic Glenn Creek from every room. An architectural dream, you enter this lodge style home through a pivoting hobbit style front door with hardware from the 1800's. Highlights of this original home include a gourmet kitchen with labradorite granite counters, 800 year old juniper tree spiral stair case, huge beams and exposed rafters, a sauna, and a romantic wood stove. Also each upstairs bedroom has a hanging bed with three 8 foot skylights above for indoor star gazing. Original artworks from local artists are throughout the home. Many pleasantries await the curious such as embedded fossils in the cracked mud walls.Nestled amongst towering fir and cedar trees, with windows everywhere, you'll feel and see nature's presence. This home site has a remarkably peaceful way about it. Recently featured in Southern Oregon Magazine and KCBY 11 TV's ~In Focus~ 'Goin' Green' and Oregon's Solar Home Tour, this is a unique 'green' home. This home was built with environmentally friendly materials. Building with little impact on the surroundings was very important to us during construction. The myrtle hardwood floor in the kitchen and living room was milled on site which came from trees that stood where the house is now. Same story for the beautiful maple flooring in the ½ bath. All of the large beams and fir flooring came from two 4' thick 104 year old douglas fir trees which also stood and were milled where the house is now. The fir trees sprouted after the last forest fire that came through the canyon. One of our neighbors fell a sixty five year old redwood that was over six feet thick! We used some of it as a wonderful wainscot paneling throughout the house. All of the finishes used are no or low VOC. Surrounding the house is native vegetation, huge trees and a few herbs and spices for cooking. You'll enjoy the fully equipped kitchen with labradorite granite counters. The kitchen island has a new five burner gas stove with a convection oven and warming oven. The island has plenty of granite and wood counter space. Hanging from the exhaust hood are stainless, non-stick, and cast iron cookware. We also provide shade grown fair trade coffee and a grinder, espresso machine, coffee maker, toaster, microwave, utensils, chef knives, glasses and frosty cocktail glasses in the freezer. The dining room table has a river view and can seat six comfortably. There is also seating for three at the island bar. From the kitchen you can visit with the folks in the living room thanks to the open floor plan. Beside the wood stove are two chairs and the futon couch with reading lamp. A CD changer, TV with a DVD player and VHS machine are in the downstairs bedroom. Bring your favorite videos or browse our selection of movies. The property has 150 feet of creek frontage with great views of Glenn creek, the forest and distant cliffs. Enjoy wildlife viewing with River Dippers, Chipmunks, Kingfishers, Great Blue Herons, Screech Owls, Pileated Wood Peckers, Elk, an occasional Bald Eagle or River Otter and other wildlife from the house and back deck. Build a fire and have lunch on the nearby picnic table and benches.

Booked 4 times

Lost Valley Education Center

13 sites · Tents87 acres · Dexter, OR

We are a 501c3 non-profit, an education and event center and intentional community educating adults and youth in the practical application of sustainable living skills. We've occupied this land since 1988, but the buildings were constructed in the 70's by the previous organization called Shiloh Youth Revival Center. The land was once inhabited by the Kalapuya Indians as an oak Savanna - the meadow area was a sacred space for them, and we continue to honor that by not building or putting designated camping spots there. The lost valley area was named for a group of settlers that were almost "lost" on their journey here. People have described us a "destination all it's own" and come to learn and take their lessons to all areas of the Earth.

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Fall Creek State Recreation Area

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Siuslaw National Forest

Yachats, Oregon

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Lakeside camping near Cottage Grove guide

Overview

Set on the edge of the Umpqua National Forest in Oregon's Willamette Valley, just a short drive down Interstate 5 from Eugene, Cottage Grove has two lakes within easy reach of its town center—Dorena Lake and Cottage Grove Lake—both of which are popular with campers and day-use visitors alike. On the southern shores of Dorena Lake, the county-run Baker Bay Park offers campsites, restrooms, a boat ramp, a swimming area, a dump station, and picnic areas. The US Army Corps of Engineers-managed Cottage Grove Lake sits on the Coast Fork of the Willamette River and offers a primitive campground just north of Wilson Creek Park, and the more developed Pine Meadows Campground a bit further up the shore. Pine Meadows offers standard campsites with fire pits and picnic tables, but they lack hookups. Private lake camping options in the area are likely to range from those within easy reach of these lakes to Hipcamps with their own private lakes onsite near tent sites and RV campsites.