Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Dufur, OR

While staying here in August 2024: -Dog friendly -No hookups -2 bars on Verizon -No shade -Madras, OR only 10 minutes away. -1 acres fenced in dog park in Madras OR (15 min. drive) -Used my credit card at the automated self pay station (super convenient). -fairly clean bathroom (toilet only). -From travel trailers to Teslas, they all have made down the road and plenty of room.

Situated on the banks of the Deschutes Wild and Scenic River, Mecca Flat Campground is located just a mile and a half from Oregon State HIghway 26 near Warm Springs. The site features 13 individual campsites and one group use area. The southern terminus of the 7-mile long Trout Creek Trail can be accessed directly from the campground.

Know Before You Go:

All campsites, including the group use area are open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis; no potable water is available. The 1.6 mile Mecca Flat Road is narrow with few pullouts; use caution particularly when pulling a trailer. Access the nearby non-motorized Trout Creek Trail which fronts the Deschutes Wild and Scenic River for 7 miles where it terminates at Trout Creek Campground. Cell phone service is not available in the campground. Goathead, also known as puncturevine, is present in the area; protect your pets and bicycle tires Point of Interest:

The Deschutes Railroad ran on portions of the nearby Trout Creek trail and Mecca Flat Road for several decades, competing with the Oregon Trunk Railroad before abandonment in the early 20th century. Look for the historic, now-abandoned tunnel near Highway 26 - but stay clear of this degrading and unstable structure.

We were so glad we kept driving down this road until the very end. Along this road (Lower Deschutes Access Road- which is pretty bumpy but we did fine with our camper) you will pass several other campgrounds- Twin Springs, Jones Canyon, Beavertail Recreation Site, Rattlesnake Canyon- and then at the very end of the road, you will find Macks Canyon Recreation Site. 

It was fairly empty when we arrived and we got an awesome site along the river, site 11. The view of the river was amazing and we watched lots of fishing boats and rafting boats go by. There is also a railroad track across the river and it was fun to watch the trains go by. No AT&T phone service here. 

The only negative is that it can get super windy. At one point we were frantically trying to get our awning down from the Cricket and things were flying everywhere. The wind lasted about an hour and then things calmed down again. 

From the end of the Lower Deschutes Access Road just above the campground, you can hike along the old railway line. Again, amazing views of the Deschutes and the canyon. We did about 5 miles road trip but you could go further.

One of my new favorite places to camp in Oregon!

This beautiful campground was loaded with amenities. The gorgeous John Day River, was perfect for fishing, swimming, floating. There was several trails within the campground as well as trailheads around the perimeter. We brought our own bikes but if you don’t bring yours, they offered loaner bikes and there were little bike workstations on the grounds. Pet friendly! Including a fenced in dog area (about an acre) and doggie poo bags readily available. We have a truck with camper but the tent sites each had a solar panel to provide electricity for charging the essentials. The grounds must have been a farm originally and the campground designers did an awesome job of using the existing structures to add to the rustic nature and maintain the land’s historic relevance. Cottonwood Canyon surpassed our expectations, especially considering the very low price tag. I cannot recommend highly enough.

Pebble Ford is a small and sweet campground on the East side of Mt Hood. Not too far from Meadows and Parkdale ... and even not to far for an overnight or weekend away from Portland.

The first come sites are just off of Forest Road 44 >> Dufur Valley Road. There is a main circle of sites (about 3-4 in the main area) and another site on the creek with a separate entrance. 

All sites have a picnic table and fire ring. There is a toilet/outhouse, but no running water. There are also a few dispersed sites around the area which are lacking the amenities, but have the bonus of being free!

I had high hopes for my visit to Lost Lake, Oregon, but unfortunately, it turned out to be a major letdown. Despite its reputation, this location is far from being accessible for handicapped visitors. The handicapped parking is inconveniently located nowhere near an ADA-accessible lakeside spot. We were forced to camp in the parking lot near a bathroom, which was hardly the experience we were hoping for. 

The only positive aspect of our trip was the stunning view of the lake and Mt. Hood, but even that couldn't make up for the numerous shortcomings. The drive and entry cost were simply not worth it, especially considering that most day-use sites are first-come, first-served. By the time we arrived, all the sites that were accessible for someone with disabilities were occupied by individuals who clearly did not require the access. 

To make matters worse, the overall organization and management of the site were severely lacking. There was no effort to ensure that handicapped visitors had fair access to the lakeside areas. It felt incredibly unfair and frustrating to see those who didn't need the accessible spots taking them up, leaving us with no options. In summary, if you or someone in your party requires accessible facilities, I strongly advise you to avoid Lost Lake, Oregon. The beautiful scenery cannot compensate for the lack of accessibility and consideration for handicapped visitors. This was a thoroughly disappointing experience that I wouldn't recommend to anyone in need of accessible amenities.