Campsites near Canyonville occupy diverse ecosystems along the Umpqua River watershed at elevations ranging from 700 to 1,200 feet. The region experiences mild winters with heavy rainfall and warm summers with daytime temperatures averaging 85-95°F from June through September. Many campgrounds remain open from March through October, though seasonal closures affect trail and water access during winter months.
What to do
River recreation access: Susan Creek Campground provides direct North Umpqua River access with multiple entry points. "Even though the campground is next to the highway, the river really drowns out the noise in the day and there are few cars at night," notes a camper about this Bureau of Land Management property.
Disc golf courses: Whistlers Bend County Park features a championship-level disc golf course rated second in the nation according to visitors. "Disc golf rated number 2 in nation. Child play area and free parking for campers," mentions a reviewer who appreciated the recreational options.
Waterfall hiking trails: The North Umpqua area contains several waterfall hikes within a 30-minute drive from most campgrounds. "You can hike the Emerald Trail to the Day Use area which accesses a trail to Susan Creek Falls. Roundtrip from the campground is just short of three miles," advises a visitor from 2023.
What campers like
Riverside sites: On The River Golf & RV Resort features direct river views from select campsites. "My slot was right on river facing the setting sun. Great spot to decompress after being in the truck for 8 hours," reports one reviewer about this Myrtle Creek location.
Swimming holes: Grants Pass KOA maintains a natural swimming area with waterfall. "Hiked down to creek with deep pools and swam. Beautiful and quiet," reports one camper about the water features at this family-friendly campground.
Clean facilities: Multiple campgrounds maintain high cleanliness standards with regular maintenance. "Bathrooms and showers were clean. It's close to I-5 but the road noise was not bad and a chorus of frogs throughout the evening distracts from it," notes a visitor to Sunny Valley Campground.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Susan Creek Campground requires reservations for all sites. "What has changed is that it is now reservation only," confirms a recent visitor, though they note "there is a phone in the campground you can use to make a reservation."
Fire restrictions: Seasonal burn bans affect many campgrounds during summer months. "There was no water provided at this time, also NO fires allowed," reports a visitor to Almeda County Park during fire season.
Camphost interactions: Interactions with camp hosts vary significantly between properties. "Small city owned park and campground beautifully run by long time, full time hosts! You can tell they take pride in their park," says a Millsite RV Park visitor about the management.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Sunny Valley Campground features multiple recreational facilities for children. "The campground is safe, clean, and well put together. It's actually beautiful and has a lot of things for families to do (pool, volleyball net, playground)," reports a visitor who appreciated the family-focused amenities.
Swimming safety: River access points vary in safety and current speed depending on location and season. "There was a great rocked-off area just down from our campsite where you could get into the water and wade around without the fear of your dog or child getting swept away," notes a Valley of the Rogue visitor.
Yurt availability: Yurt camping near Canyonville offers family-friendly alternatives to tent camping with varying amenities. "They now have 3 yurts, one overlooks the river in the newer camp area and the other 2 overlook the old camp area," explains a Whistlers Bend County Park camper about the yurt options.
Tips from RVers
Pull-through accessibility: Joseph H. Stewart County Park features well-designed RV sites. "RV sites were easy to access and hookup, and dump sites were also easy to navigate," reports a visitor who appreciated the thoughtful layout for larger vehicles.
Interstate proximity: Several campgrounds provide convenient overnight stops for I-5 travelers. "This is a great first night stopping point when heading south from Portland on I5. So close to the hiway. Nice spots and a view of the river," notes a Valley of the Rogue State Park visitor.
Utility hookups: Water and electrical hookups are available at most established campgrounds, but amperage varies. "Loop D is no hookups (though each site has a non-threaded water spigot)...Sites without hookups are $28, and electric/water sites are $33," explains a Joseph Stewart camper regarding the pricing structure.
