Glamping and camping options surround Canby, Oregon, situated in the Willamette Valley at 154 feet elevation. The area features mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers, with average summer temperatures of 80°F. Most campgrounds open seasonally from late spring through early fall, though several offer winter camping with reduced amenities when temperatures average 45°F.
What to do
Hiking network trails: At Silver Falls State Park Campground, trails accommodate various skill levels through dense forests. "Amazing hikes, the main one being the one with 10 waterfalls - dogs aren't allowed on this one though and it takes about 3 hours to hike it," notes Laura M. The park has "a nice off leash dog area, but it's not fenced in, so heads up on that too."
River recreation: The Sandy River at Oxbow Regional Park provides water activities 30 minutes from Portland. "Plenty of hiking, swimming, and fishing through the park. It's truly a great oasis just outside of Portland," according to Blaine B. The park covers 1,200 acres with diverse recreation options.
Disc golf courses: Milo McIver State Park features two professional-grade disc golf courses. Steve C. explains: "Milo McIver may be best known for its twin 18 hole disc golf courses, or single 27 hole layout when tournaments aren't in progress. Home of the annual Beaver State Fling, a PDGA sanctioned National Tour event."
What campers like
Cabins and yomes: Promontory Park offers unique sleeping structures. "I have used both RV and yome sites at this campground. The grounds are well maintained. There is easy water access with a pier for fishing," reports Hahns R. Yomes, which are yurt-dome hybrids, provide comfortable shelter options.
Natural swimming areas: Metzler Park features creek-side camping with water play areas. "Metzler Park offered beautiful, shaded campsites along Clear Creek. My site was just above the creek and I fell asleep to its calming sound. There were huge playing fields in the sunshine, trails to explore with the kids and the creek has a swimming hole," writes Maureen H.
Family programming: Camp Dakota runs structured activities for various ages. "We did a group site and once we got the wristbands on the kids, they went off and explored and had a lot of fun. The staff is #1 safe, then #2 they are super fun. The kids would come back to camp and we'd wash them off, feed them, then they would go back out again," shares Jason S.
What you should know
Seasonal bugs: Insects can be prevalent during warmer months. "Great historic park with no issues with hookups in the RV area. Spring and summer can be a bug challenge so bring lots of insect repellant!" advises C.W. about Champoeg State Heritage Area.
Cellphone connectivity: Most parks have limited service. "Barely got 1 bar of 4g at the welcome center. There's a guest wifi in the parking lot there too but it's 2 miles further to the camp ground and texts hardly go through," Zach S. notes about Oxbow Regional Park. Similarly, at Promontory Park, "Small to medium size park right next to the gorgeous Clackamas River. Staff is helpful and friendly. Only complaint is there is no signal or wifi."
Site spacing variations: Champoeg State Heritage Area Campground offers well-designed layouts. "The campground is very well laid out and there are plenty of hiking and biking trails right from your campsite," says Thamar D. However, at other parks like Promontory, campers note "the one and only thing that we did not like was how on top of each other the camp sites are."
Tips for camping with families
Hiker/biker sites: L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial State Park offers walk-in tent camping approximately ¼ mile from parking. "The tent only hike in camp isn't a long haul from the parking area at the welcome center. There are carts available for hike in campers to use at the campground trailhead if needed," explains Stephanie Z.
Activity options: Luxury glamping close to Canby, Oregon often includes structured recreation. At Camp Dakota, "We came in thinking it was a little on the spendy side, to ending up thinking it was a bargain. Great service, good safety protocols and a good location. A fantastic place to bond, create memories and enjoy the outdoors," according to Bjorn S.
Fishing opportunities: Kid-friendly fishing exists at several parks. "The stocked kid's pond doesn't have much fish throughout the summer because they can't survive the heat," reports a camper about Promontory Park's Small Fry Lake, which is specifically designed for youth anglers up to age 17 with a two-fish daily limit between October and April.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: At Mt. Hood Village RV Resort, site layout varies significantly. "The full hook up sites are in old growth timber giving each site a feeling of seclusion. The lodge, pool, hot tub and saunas are in good condition," explains Jack B. The resort provides both wooded privacy and community facilities.
Access limitations: Many glamping sites near Canby have restrictions for larger vehicles. At Milo McIver State Park, Tom N. advises: "Campground sites are large in loop A and I would recommend this end if pulling a trailer or driving a small RV, big RVs could have issues accessing these sites."
Seasonal considerations: Winter glamping availability varies. "Given it's late October and a bit chilly out, the campground was pretty quiet with only a few other campers around. We were able to hike the area and enjoy a serene weekend in nature," notes Krupa about Oxbow Regional Park, highlighting the benefit of off-season visits.
