Best Tent Camping near Baker City, OR

The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest surrounding Baker City, Oregon offers numerous tent camping opportunities, from established campgrounds to primitive backcountry sites. Social Security Point Trailhead provides dispersed tent camping with basic amenities including fire rings and vault toilets. West Eagle Meadow Campground, located in the higher elevations of the Eagle Cap Wilderness, offers tent-only camping with sites arranged around a paved loop nestled in the trees above a meadow. Boulder Park Campground provides tent campsites with fire pits and vault toilets in a high-elevation setting with abundant wildlife viewing opportunities.

Most primitive tent camping areas require self-sufficiency as amenities are minimal. Campers should bring their own water, as drinking water is rarely available at dispersed sites. Fire rings are common at established tent campgrounds, though seasonal fire restrictions may apply during dry summer months. Vault toilets are available at Social Security Point and Boulder Park, but many backcountry tent sites lack facilities entirely. Forest service roads accessing these tent-only areas vary in quality, with some requiring high-clearance vehicles. Sites at higher elevations may remain inaccessible until late spring due to snowmelt, particularly in the Eagle Cap Wilderness areas.

Tent campers frequently report the solitude and natural settings as highlights of their experience. According to reviews, West Eagle Meadow Campground offers "plenty of deadwood nearby for campfires" and serves as "a good base camp for visiting Echo and Traverse Lakes." Sites at Social Security Point are described as "well maintained" with "extremely clean" forest floors, though some campers note occasional road noise. Wildlife sightings are common, with visitors reporting deer, elk, and various bird species. Late spring brings wildflower blooms at many tent campsites, with moderate daytime temperatures and cooler nights. Walk-in tent sites typically offer more privacy than drive-up locations, though they require carrying gear from parking areas.

Best Tent Sites Near Baker City, Oregon (61)

    1. Social Security Point Trailhead

    5 Reviews
    Sumpter, OR
    12 miles

    "I really like this location. I wanted to pa down by the water, but we are pulling a small camper and the road looked way too rough to go all the way down."

    "Bring your own firewood, the forest floor is extremely clean. There’s 4 sites on this road and a restroom at the end. We were car camping but most sites have smaller trailer access."

    2. Thief Valley Reservoir Campground

    2 Reviews
    North Powder, OR
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 963-1001

    3. West Eagle Meadow Campground

    3 Reviews
    Union, OR
    27 miles
    Website

    "It would make a good base camp for visiting Echo and Traverse Lakes.  Camps are spaced around one paved loop up the hill in the trees above the meadow. "

    "There is one clean vault toilet for the area, close enough to the campsites. Campsites are essentially a driveway with a picnic table, and suitable for small trailers or tents."

    4. Grande Ronde Lake

    1 Review
    Haines, OR
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 523-4476

    "Has good access to Anthony Lakes area, but is much quieter than main campground. Lake is small, with small rainbow trout stocked annually. Fun to paddle and watch the osprey and bald eagles fishing."

    5. Boulder Park Campground

    1 Review
    Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, OR
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 963-7186

    "This campground is pretty high up, it's quite a drive to get there, however every bump and curve of the road is worth it. There are fire pits, a bathroom and lots of sites."

    7. Catherine Summit Sno-Park

    Be the first to review!
    Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, OR
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 523-6391

    8. Wallowa-Whitman NF 21 - Dispersed

    10 Reviews
    La Grande, OR
    47 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 962-8500

    "Primitive dispersed campsites with rock fire rings right off the highway. Down side is it's a little too noisy for my taste."

    "Light sleepers would have a hard time here due to highway noise but overall good rest stop. My dog wouldn’t stop trying to eat all the horse poop around the camp site."

    9. Hurricane Creek Campground

    9 Reviews
    Joseph, OR
    47 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 426-5546

    "We scheduled three nights here but after two nights of amazing lightning storms, we skipped the third night. Still, this is a beautiful place, very private, secluded, and shady."

    "We car camped in this small campground along Hurricane Creek after getting rained out on a backpacking trip up to Eagle Cap. There are 13 sites, 3 of which are handicap accessible."

    10. Hilltop Hideaway

    1 Review
    Sumpter, OR
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 427-3231

    $55 / night

    "Outside the cabin they do have a picnic table and grill, for those who want to do more outside cooking and activities. We BBQ one night, and it was a lot of fun!"

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Tent Camping Reviews near Baker City, OR

449 Reviews of 61 Baker City Campgrounds


  • Paige P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 20, 2025

    Wolf Creek Reservoir

    Sweet Spot

    A handful of great places to camp for the night- very clean and well taken care of so please leave no trace. Just a spot and a table, no water, restrooms ect.

  • Raphaela H.
    Mar. 25, 2021

    Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort Campground

    Beautifully maintained campground in the Blue Mountains

    We stopped by Anthony Lakes on our way back to the Willamette Valley from Baker City. The campsite is on a property that becomes a ski resort in the winter (it's at over ~7000 ft). The campground was immaculately maintained and had lots of recreation options. On weekends in the summer, the ski lift becomes a mountain biking lift, there are hiking trails, and of course lakes. The lakes themselves are pretty small, but big enough for some kayak adventuring and swimming. We got caught in a summer thunderstorm, so we were glad we had a shelter to pop up.

    Our site was private with access to the lake trail. Pit toilets, but everything was very clean. There are also walk-up sites around the back of the lake which had more mosquitos, but were very spacious.  It looks like there is one yurt on top of the mountain. The mountain bike path goes by it, and it looks like it has great views.

    This was an easy drive from Baker City, a little far from Portland unless you're going to make a multi-day vacation out of it. On the way through the mountains, there's plenty of gold mining history, a historical dredge, and some ghost towns to stop by. 

    Lots of chipmunks, so watch what you leave out (even momentarily).

  • C
    May. 21, 2022

    Southwest Shore Campground

    Lovely Spring Camping

    There are picnic tables, fire rings, vault toilets. No water. Lots of birds singing and wonderful views. The lake is dry, but the scenery is amazing. Very clean and the sites are spacious and well separated. I’d come back.

  • Annell N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 22, 2020

    Union Creek Campground

    Union Creek Campground

    May 17-26, 2019 Very nice campground. Site C6 walk-up site had electric and water. Park has dump station, Restrooms had flush toilets but no hot water and no showers. Elevation 4,097. Verizon had 2 bars 4G.  Address: 17564 Sumpter Stage Highway, Baker City Oregon 97814. Hike 16 mile trail around the lake. Legally sale cannibus in Sumpter - 10 miles from the park. Enjoyed D&J Taco Shop restaurant downtown. No sales tax in Oregon.

  • Jim B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 10, 2021

    Hurricane Creek Campground

    A lovely place

    We scheduled three nights here but after two nights of amazing lightning storms, we skipped the third night. Still, this is a beautiful place, very private, secluded, and shady. The fast-moving creek creates a soothing white noise that we found calming. The campsites are spaced quite far apart, some only large enough for a tent. No hookups, but there is a clean vault toilet. We planned to hit the nearby hiking trail, but when we got to the trailhead, the parking lot was completely packed. When we go there again, we will stay and relax at the campground.

  • allison W.
    Jul. 24, 2022

    Umapine

    Middle of Nowhere!

    I like remote campgrounds but man, this one felt especially far away from everything. If coming here, I would say you should allocate at least two days if not more to take advantage of everything nearby.

    Campground is in a ponderosa forest right in between two creeks, Squaw and Umapine, so anglers were happy and it’s easy to get a nice cool respite if the weather is oppressive.

    Picnic tables, fire pits, and vault toilets, but no hookups.

    This campground seems to be an increasingly significant favorite for ATVers (there are a bazillion trails around, you can see them on the maps downloadable for Pro Dyrt members) but it does not open until May, so leave your snowmobile at home.

    There are eight sites of varying sizes, but only one is a pull through.

  • Paul A.
    Apr. 18, 2016

    Umatilla National Forest Winom Creek Campground

    Primitive campground with a nice stream

    Nice flat campground developed for OHV and equestrian activities. 22 mi SE of Ukiah on FR 52. No drkg wtr, just vaulted toilets. Winding narrow road to the site. This was our first night over on our 3 month camping trip to the EAST coast after leaving Portland. This June 7th night we were the only campers at this site. We had driven the Blue Mountain byway from I-84 exit 147. Beautiful day of touring the countryside in Eastern Oregon. The campsite had fire rings and Picnic tables.

  • Emily C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 19, 2021

    Spring Creek Campground

    Good free FS campground

    Came here for an overnight stop while traveling through the area. Solid spot - 4 large sites with level spots, fire ring, picnic tables, vault toilet. Arrived around 5pm on a Saturday in October and 3 spots were available - the others filled up after me. Quiet and beautiful while being close to the highway. Perfect and pleasant for my overnight stop

  • J
    Apr. 18, 2018

    Bird Track Springs

    Excellent place to dry camp...

    Every time we camp here it has been quiet, wild life comes around to say hi. Vault toilets, no water, no trash pickup. Always clean,,, Nice place...


Guide to Baker City

Baker City, Oregon, offers a variety of tent camping options for outdoor enthusiasts looking to immerse themselves in nature. From serene lakes to scenic forests, there’s something for everyone.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • The Thief Valley Reservoir Campground features picnic tables and vault toilets, making it a convenient spot for a rustic getaway.
  • At Grande Ronde Lake, campers can enjoy drinking water and access to small rainbow trout fishing, perfect for a relaxing day by the water.
  • West Eagle Meadow Campground offers a peaceful environment with vault toilets and plenty of deadwood for campfires, ideal for those seeking solitude.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • Fishing enthusiasts will appreciate the proximity of Thief Valley Reservoir Campground to a popular rainbow trout fishery, providing ample opportunities for a catch.
  • The Grande Ronde Lake area is great for paddling and birdwatching, with osprey and bald eagles frequently spotted fishing nearby.
  • Hiking trails abound near West Eagle Meadow Campground, offering access to stunning meadows and cascading creeks.

Some prices for tent camping range from $0 to $20

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Baker City, OR?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Baker City, OR is Social Security Point Trailhead with a 4.3-star rating from 5 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Baker City, OR?

TheDyrt.com has all 61 tent camping locations near Baker City, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.