Blue River Reservoir Roadside Camping, near Blue River, Oregon, is a fantastic spot for those who love the great outdoors without the frills. This area allows for free camping right by the water, making it a popular choice for swimming, fishing, and kayaking. 

Visitors rave about the stunning scenery, with crystal-clear waters and the soothing sounds of nearby streams. Many campers have found secluded spots that offer peace and quiet, perfect for unwinding after a long week. One camper shared, “I found a site nearby the creek so that I could hear the stream all night. It was so peaceful!”

While there are no amenities like drinking water or toilets, the natural beauty more than makes up for it. Campers appreciate the fire pits and the abundance of firewood available for gathering, making evenings around the campfire a highlight. Just remember to bring your own supplies and pack out your trash—one reviewer emphasized the importance of keeping the area clean.

For those looking to explore, the area offers great hiking trails and stunning views of the surrounding forest. Just a short drive away, you can find local markets in Vida for any supplies you might need. Whether you're here for a weekend or a longer stay, Blue River Reservoir Roadside Camping is a solid choice for a back-to-nature experience.

Blue River Reservoir Roadside Camping

Searching for the best camping near Blue River, OR? Blue River is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Find the best campgrounds near Blue River, OR. Read reviews from campers like you and find your perfect campsite.

Blue River

The Best Camping Near Blue River, Oregon

Free dispersed roadside camping beside the reservoir. There’s some nice sites off blue river reservoir road and across the dam. Nice lake and a vault toilet with a dumpster in the day use section. Nice basic free spot! 

Free camping beside the reservoir 

Camped at the second site just after the paved road ends. Plenty of space. Great view of the reservoir and a nice big fire pit made of rocks was waiting. Plenty of dead branches and twigs on the ground nearby made fire starting easy. Had a few cars pass by through the evening but otherwise, this site was nice and quiet. About 100 yards towards the paved road theres a nice little waterfall coming down the hillside with lots of frogs and salamanders hangin out in the runoff water. Overall, really enjoyed this camping spot. 

Nice spot

The coordinates take you to right by the reservoir with one or two spots but if you keep going down the road into the National Forest/Recreation area, (not in towards the reservoir— that road is rough,) there are plenty of spots off the road to camp at. We found a spot to put our tent (right off the road) but still a safe distance away from it and was able to watch and hear this clear blue river while we fell asleep. 

Magic River, Magic Forest

The only downside to this spot is that it's hard to get there before someone else. It's very popular, &amp; for a reason. It's right by the water, fire pit, has a vault toilet down the road, &amp; its great swimming. Weekends are a bit busier, but during the week not terribly so. Bugs are typical, but that doesn't bother us so much. Make sure to bring spray and you'll be fine. Closest Market we found me was in Vida, about 18 miles away off of 126 going West. Brought kids to this spot &amp; they had a blast catching salamanders  &amp; scorpions (small non-lethal kind) Also, if you're going to camp here, make sure to pack up and take your trash out. People before us left dirty diapers in the fire pit. There's a dumpster next to the vault toilet. Please use it. Overall, wonderful place!

Favorite Spot

Sites were secluded and quiet. I found a site nearby the creek so that I could hear the stream all night. It was so peaceful! There are a couple forks in the road but I kept right through the first two until I made it to a gravel road with pull-outs. Nice areas for tent or car camping. Only one other group out there 

Peaceful camping 

We went looking for the other campgrounds on this road that we’re closed so we were disappointed. We didn’t leave our van due to rain but we had a nice little pullover. No fires allowed due to recent fires on the area 

A little sketchy

Mosquitos are a bit much at dusk so ensure to bring spray. Dispersed camping outside improved areas are the best bet on weekends as this site seems to be very popular. Once outside improved areas, seclusion is easy to obtain. Water access is limited once off the paved road due to steep rocky drops. 

  

Overall, this site is beautiful! The water is crystal clear and is ideal for swimming, fishing, kayaking as well as boating.

Scenic drive along the McKenzie river when coming from Hwy 5

I didn't want to destroy the rating, but currently closed as of August 14th

Photos of Blue River Reservoir Roadside Camping

Real photos from real campers