Searching for a dispersed camping spot near Banks? The Dyrt can help you find the best dispersed campsites for your next trip. You're sure to find the perfect dispersed campgrounds for your Oregon camping adventure.
Dispersed camping is allowed in Oregon State Forests year round. There are no fee or permit requirements. Campers are required to adhere to ODF regulations regarding placement of campsites, campfires, sanitation, and stay limits. Campfires and charcoal barbeques are not allowed in dispersed campsites during the Regulated Use portion of fire season. There are no maps for dispersed campsites.
At an elevation of 2400 feet, this area offers dispersed camping along the northern edge of the lake. The lake is stocked periodically with rainbow trout. There is access for launching non-motorized boats. A vault toilet is provided but no potable water. It is also the eastern trailhead of the Pioneer – Indian Trail.
Dispersed camping is allowed in Oregon State Forests year round. There are no fee or permit requirements. Campers are required to adhere to ODF regulations regarding placement of campsites, campfires, sanitation, and stay limits. Campfires and charcoal barbeques are not allowed in dispersed campsites during the Regulated Use portion of fire season. There are no maps for dispersed campsites.
On the Clatsop and Tillamook state forests, developed recreation sites (campgrounds, trails, and OHV facilities) are functioning normally and operating within established seasons. Most trails and designated dispersed camping areas remain open year-round, while developed campgrounds are generally open from mid-May through September. Please check in the table below for the most up-to-date statuses of recreation facilities.
A Quite private, a good first-night spot. Dispersed Camping Near Pioneer-Indian Trail in Siuslaw National Forest
Native Americans and early settlers used this trail to travel from the Willamette Valley to the Pacific Coast. The trail runs over the top of Mt. Hebo, providing wonderful views of the Pacific Ocean. Sections of the trail are located in the Mt. Hebo Special Interest Area. Experience open mountain meadows and heavily forested areas on this 8 mile trail that begins at the Hebo Lake Day Use site (at Hebo Lake Campground) and ends at South Lake Dispersed Area. The meadows in the Mt. Hebo Area are home to the Oregon silverspot butterfly, a sensitive species.
You can access the trail at Hebo Lake Day Use, South Lake Dispersed Area, or at the Mt. Hebo Horse Trailhead off of Forest Road 14, 0.6 miles east of Hebo Lake Campground.
Camping is prohibited within 200 feet of the trail and within the open meadows in the Mt. Hebo Special Interest Area.
Dispersed camping and day use area with access to the northern end of Sand Lake Recreation Area OHV area. Sites offer vault toilets and fire rings.__ No water available.
Tillamook State Forest is managed by the Oregon Department of Forestry. Dispersed camping is allowed for up to 14 days at a time.
Traveler
This spot requires a good climb up Mt Hebo. The road is paved but quite narrow in places. We came up in the dark and had to take it pretty slowly around the turns.
Once we got to the spot we actually thought the large pull off was it until we saw the logging road that curves downward. Follow that road down in a C shape to a large open, flat area.
This is a wicked spot. Secluded and tucked into the trees. Might be hard for some folks towing a trailer but for our truck camper it was an easy fit.
Traveler
This is what the title says. It's a large pull out on a quiet road in the woods.
There were other campers when we arrived. Very nice for a late night pull in. Not somewhere I would settle in for a few days, just a stop over.
The hike to the falls is to the far left of the pullout. Do NOT go down the super steep trails to the right. Beautiful waterfall after a short hike.
Guide
Great little spot. Watch your GPS and use some dead reckoning with the topographic map. There is a little side road that gets a bit narrow and then opens into a beautiful spot.
Picked up a small bag of someone else’s trash. Don’t leave trash in the woods — pick up after yourself
Road is fine and easy. AWD is nice but isn’t necessary if the road is fairly dry.
Traveler
I just came across this spot off a fire road going up the mountain from cook creek campgrounds
GuideOne spot with its own driveway. A nice flat and private spot. A legit pack in pack out spot. Too bad there is trash everywhere and a big puddle on one side. If you have a rake and shovel then may be a good one day or 14 day spot after a few hours of TLC. Nice trails for walking.
GuideCoordinates 45.230277,-123.777780. Across street from Horse Trailhead about half way up Mt Hebo. A good flat spot with nice trails around. Too much trash and glass left at the site though.
GuideDiamond Milld rd is a tight logging rd with a kinda steep danger zone cliff on this edge. If you get to spot (the coordinates on dyrt arent exact but close) you will see basically the only part of the rd with a pull aside areai prob for two vans or cars. Its a nice view but kinda creepy if alone IMO. The dispersed camping for this St Forest applies to tenters mainly being 1 mile away from a paid campground. But for just car and van camp youd have to chance it at day area or drive way in to the forest down a rd.
Guide
This is a fee area. Have to look really hard this far north in Siuslaw to find a Frst Rd. Just go to Mt Hebo or back to Tili St Forest. Other that most of this north shore OR coast is tough. If anyone has coordinates for their spot Im sure its a valuable share but maybe a keepee.
TravelerTillamook Forest has so many amazing dispersed camping opportunities! We turned onto Ben Smith road and then took logging trails up the peaks. We found a perfect spot that looked like we were on the edge of a cliff but was actually still very safe for our toddler. No cell service, so we just unplugged for 3 nights and enjoyed the time together. We could see the northern lights the first night we were there, and it was absolutely incredible. We had a lot of privacy. One hunter walked by, I assume he was using the nearby trail. We heard some ATVs over the days, but it wasn't disruptive. Totally recommend it, and we'll definitely be back.
Scout
We camped where the road was blocked and it was great. Saw a cougar as we were leaving, though! Luckily we were all in the car, so cool to see, but be aware!
ScoutThe road was blocked off so there was no way to access this site.
ScoutRelative to other options in Northwest Oregon this was an easy to find, plenty of space place to park the car. My partner and I angled our vehicle to block our tent from the road and slept like rocks.
Not scenic (though the waterfall that is a short hike away is). My only safety concern is someone taking the corner too fast running into your car.
ScoutThis is an old campground no longer maintained. First of all, there is nothing but several feet of sand in a big lot. There is only a small section that is not sand. Don’t go past that. You will get stuck. Luckily we did not. There are huge sand dunes so tons of ATVs. The sand is disgustingly dirty from trash and feces. The ATV’ers are relentless. It’s quiet on a Monday night…
Guide
The site was great honestly, nice flat pads for tents, plenty of room for a trailer if you’re brave enough to bring it down about 5 miles of rough rough gravel road. For being such a remote location it was very busy this weekend lots of cars, foot traffic, and fishermen. It’s beautiful u can’t blame anyone for wanting to come but i was surprised by the volume. Maybe try a weekday for less crowds.
We had a private trail (about a country block in length), we quickly realized it was a “shitty” trail, a trail of Turds😭😭💩🧻
Other then that water and surrounding scenery was breath taking..
ScoutWe didn’t actually stay here because it was already taken. But I wanted to create this view just to add additional context on how to find it.
There’s a pretty decent sized gravel turnout… It’s the only big gravel turn out like this on this part of the road … you’ll see what looks like a logging road with a steep decline. It looks a little intimidating, but you go down that road and it curves around in a sea shape for about a half a mile and ends in the big open area where you can camp.
If you’re telling something, I’d recommend walking the road to check to see if anybody is down there before you go down because it’s the only place you’d be able to turn around with your trailer.
Wish we were able to actually stay in this spot. Really big open flat area for either your travel trailer or a small group with tents. Amazing view very secluded feeling. Maybe next time!
ScoutLovely! Would recommend
GuideRoad got a little bumpy getting out here but once we found a spot right near the riverbank, you felt like you were deep in it. Saw a few people on the way out. Really relaxing next to the sound of the river. Would definitely recommend sleeping mats if you’re in a tent as the grounds rather hard. The spot we went didn’t really have anywhere for hammocks but saw a couple on the way out. “Spaces” were far enough apart that you couldn’t even tell anyone else was out there. Wood was kinda sparse in the spot we were in too but you’re close enough to your car that you can just bring some. Would definitely recommend for a quick and convenient spot.
Traveler
Lots of trash, long drive, and sort of busy. Multiple sites available as you go up. Pretty spot though.
Traveler
River access and a fire pit. Dirt bike parking adjacent but pretty private.
ScoutHe’s out there 👽
TravelerThe Cedar Creek Rd area offers a nice variety of dispersed camping sites with some good views if you drive far enough, and fairly easy gravel roads for access. However, the signage could use improvement, making it a bit tricky to find your way around. Heard some OHV noise at night, and target shooting in the distance at sunrise. Be aware that Verizon cell service is nonexistent in the area. Not a bad place to stay, but you’re likely to run into others also looking for some nature.
ScoutGreat views, easy drive, AWD car would have been able to make it. The road to South lake was gated off so we used this turn out, there are many along the road. A slight drive on the forest access road leads to the top of the hill. Plenty of dead standing wood for fires.
Traveler
Went up at the end of the snow season and I couldn't quite make it. My 4wd rav only has road tires and I eventually got to a point I wasn't able to make it. My brothers 2022 Outback did completely fine but regardless we had to turn back. I plan to revisit the site here in about two(ish) weeks. The area surrounding the site is trafficked regularly by the looks of it, lots of people coming out shooting, HOWEVER the area is patrolled very heavily by Sheriff Department. I was told by a guy more akin to the area that the spot is a pretty normal spot for locals and that some better areas are farther up.
GuideThis place was beautiful!! Definitely best for car camping as the spots down by the river were pretty wet and muddy this time of year. The waterfall is amazing and only a 15 minute hike down! The only reason this place got lower than a 5 star is because of all the trash near the parking lot. Too beautiful of a place to be used as a dump!! Definitely used as a party spot but aside from this it’s worth the visit!
TravelerThis place is dreamy, lots of different routes to camp spots, we found an isolated area with a small opened peak overlooking the forest which was amazing. You can hear the highway in the distance (quietly) and occasional aircraft but it was overall peaceful. It is quite a steep incline so be cautious, I would not recommend with snow or sleet, but we definitely want to go back to explore the other routes! There is absolutely no cell service, if you have a hot spot I would recommend it, but once you enter the forest there is poor service.
TravelerBeautiful drive and even more beautiful spot. Middle o nowhere and not another camper around. There were some cars going up to a higher rod but I was happy with my spot and followed the google map directions. Perfect disconnect for a couple days.
GuideOnly reason it’s not 5 stars is the bathrooms are absolutely foul. Other than that it’s a really great quite, cheap spot that has a huge sand dune right next to it.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Banks, Oregon, where nature lovers can find serene spots to unwind and explore. With a variety of locations offering unique experiences, this area is perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Banks, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Banks, OR is Tillamook State Forest Dispersed Camping with a 4.3-star rating from 12 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 18 dispersed camping locations near Banks, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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