Off busy Highway 6 on the way to Tillamook and the Oregon coast, Elk Creek Campground is a sweet getaway from a lot of busier campgrounds and destinations in this region of Oregon (i.e., an hour from Portland). It's situated near the meandering and scenic Wilson River, which offers numerous floating, swimming and diving opportunities.

The campground itself is nestled in the forest with plenty of shade on warm days. It's pretty no-frills, which certainly isn't a bad thing when you're spending your time exploring the numerous trails, playing in the river, visiting the nearby Tillamook Forest Center or grabbing a pint and bite in fairly sleepy Tillamook.

Mountain biking—some really good stuff—is very close at hand, as well as hiking the Wilson River Trail or ascending Elk and Kings mountains (steep scrambles up and down in many places that I wouldn't recommend at all for small kids or those not looking to bust their lungs or stand on vertiginous precipices!). My Merry Wanderers crew actually busted out the Elk Mountain-Elk Creek loop straight out of the campground, covering ~9 miles with ~3,890 feet cumulative elevation gain in ~4 1/2 hours—it was exceptional and comes highly recommended. Next time we plan to add the connection to the Kings Mountain summit.

Overall, a great spot in the woods with plenty of playtime options right out your tent!