90 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Tent campsites around Cave Junction offer primitive camping experiences within the Siskiyou National Forest and along nearby rivers. Cedar Bloom provides tent camping with river access approximately three miles from town, while smaller walk-in tent sites can be found at Josephine Campground along the Illinois River. Little Falls Campground and Sixmile Campground, both located within Siskiyou National Forest boundaries, provide additional options for tent campers seeking more remote experiences away from developed areas.
Most primitive tent areas feature minimal improvements beyond fire rings, picnic tables, and basic vault toilets. Several campgrounds lack drinking water, requiring campers to filter from nearby rivers or pack in their own supply. Spalding Pond Campground offers five camping spots with private picnic tables and fire pits, though no potable water is available. Access to many backcountry tent sites requires high-clearance vehicles or preparation for rough forest roads. Cave Creek Campground near Oregon Caves National Monument features tent-only sites with limited amenities but provides access to hiking trails connecting to the monument.
Sites along creeks and rivers offer natural swimming opportunities during summer months, with several tent-focused areas providing direct water access. The higher elevation tent camping at Bolan Lake Campground delivers cooler temperatures during hot summer days, with sites nestled among trees providing natural shade. Reviews from The Dyrt note that many primitive tent locations remain uncrowded even during peak seasons. At North Fork Campground, a reviewer mentioned that "even if you find other campers there (rare), you can't hear anything due to the river." Tent campers should be prepared for bear activity, particularly at sites near Oregon Caves National Monument, where proper food storage is essential for safety.
"The children running around were so happy here - it feels like a safe place to be, tucked away in a private area of Cave Junction."
"Great for kids with a river on site nearby. One part of the river is designated as a nudist-friendly beach but is well-marked. Several showers and compost toilets available and picnic tables."
from $60 - $95 / night
Check Availability"Overflow and walk to your site. One is a small back in, camper van, suV, truck. The other is a double site, good for small 10ft less RV. We have a 5x8ft CcT so we fit amazingly in the double site."
"So quiet at night only heard some noise from the other camps. We extremely felt safe as the park ranger checked on us in the morning"
"It is the closest I have come to backpacking camping while car camping. Not going to lie, the complete tranquility somewhat ruined the camping by the redwoods since we were right by a busyish road."
"On the near side, is a picnic spot with a pit toilet. Across the bridge, there is a campsite downriver with a pit toilet. "
"Lovely little tent only( i guess you could get a camper up here). This place was closed for the longest time and i think people forgot it was there when it re-opened."
"They have 5 camping spots each with their own private picnic table and fire pit with metal grate. They stock the pond each year with legal trout and there is some native catfish and crawfish as well!"
"Tent camped at Bolan Lake on Saturday, not a lot of people here which was nice. Sites have fire pit and tables, clean space to pitch tents or use rooftop tent. No WiFi or cell reception."
"Several other campsites around as well. Chose one directly on the river. Plenty of firewood around. Filtered water from the river. Another campsite 45 minutes northwest. Almost as nice."
TravelerGrayback Campground is a hidden gem if you’re looking to get away out of the crowds in September. The park is rustic and quiet. We stayed in site 37 next to the River. You will not be disappointed here.
Drive 12 miles up on Hwy 46 from Cave Junction to the Oregon Caves.
TravelerThis has to be our all time favorite camp spot in sw Oregon. Can’t beat the price…quiet…nice trails….clean bathrooms. We love getting a spot on the creek and listen to it all night long. Not too far from Cave Junction for supplies.
RangerEasy road to get to this stretch of river, and lots of campgrounds along. As described, 4 drive-ins & 2 walk-ins. Stays in closer walk-in #5. Later learned some girls had used a drive-in spot just for parking 😡. One vault toilet in fair condition, trash. No potable water. Beautiful stretch of river with swimming hole & great rocks to jump from. Beautiful sand beach. Definitely NOT big-rig friendly. Posted ‘no alcohol’, but don’t know why.
GuideI visited here for one night in October and it was very quiet. Only 10 other campsites being used. The campground is quite large, however a few loops were closed for post season construction. Beautiful sites and awesome to set up my tent right next to giant Redwoods!
The campground runs along the Smith river, which is beautiful in its own right!
All sites standard with bear box, fire ring and picnic table. Very clean bathrooms and showers. Quarter operated showers. $8/bundle of wood. $35/night. Cash or check only!!
Dont miss the Boy Scout Trail just a few minutes down the road and the Stout Memorial Grove across the river.
GuideNice flat sites would be good for small rigs, you can put your tent behind or next to the rv spot/table because the tent stakes aren’t gonna go in on the main part of the pad where everyone has been putting their campers (found out the hard way, lots of rocks and roots lol). Picnic table, fire ring, pit toilet with tissue. No running water. Was $25 a night for a tent spot in July which is pretty high for this area considering no water. Close to freeway but was quiet.
GuideVery peaceful and secluded. Would definitely stay again! Only thing is the people before us did not practice leave no trace and there were some paper towels in a bush and dog toys left behind.
RangerNice site offers showers, clean bathrooms, bear boxes, fire rings and benches. As well as trash cans and recycling. Some spots looked big and some/most were pretty small. The spots are pretty close together but, that’s okay. I feel it was kinda expensive for the size of the spots and how close they were together but, you are in a state park. The trees were very beautiful and you’re right in the middle of the red woods. The camp host was very sweet and offered a wood for purchase ($10).
I don’t recommend getting spot 27. Very weird set up the bench was in the center of the spot and the fire was really close to the vegetation it kinda scared me. It looked to be all the odd 20s were set up kinda funky.
GuideTent camped at Bolan Lake on Saturday, not a lot of people here which was nice. Sites have fire pit and tables, clean space to pitch tents or use rooftop tent. No WiFi or cell reception. This weekend was hot, close to 110 and being at lake was perfect. If you want peace and quiet, water access and blooming flowers with trees, this is a good spot.
It’s a pretty long dirt road to get to the campground, make sure you have good tires that can handed rocks/dirt terrain.
TravelerWile road tripping to oregon from Los Angeles, we stopped here for the night. Relatively affordable, very clean, and not busy (at least while we were there). You can walk down to the river to fish, where there were also RVs camping on the beach. Tent camping is limited to very few sites but it looked like there was plenty of rv space. We set up for the night at the tent sites where we had a nice dinner with a beautiful night sky above us. The river is a good fishing spot, according to some local fisherman we met in the morning following our stay. There were bathrooms but they were locked. We had good service though. The site we chose wasn't particularly hidden or private, so anyone driving in or out of the road to the river, whether that's someone launching a boat or a ranger checking fishing licenses, they will have a full view of your entire site, something to consider if you require privacy.
Primitive tent camping sites dot the landscape near Cave Junction, Oregon, situated within Siskiyou National Forest boundaries and along several river corridors. The area receives approximately 30-50 inches of annual rainfall, creating lush forest conditions at elevations ranging from 1,300 feet in town to over 4,000 feet at higher elevation campgrounds. Summer temperatures typically reach 85-95°F, while nights cool to 45-55°F, requiring campers to prepare for significant temperature swings.
Swimming holes access: Cedar Bloom offers direct river access with designated swimming areas. Katie G. notes, "Super pretty scenery, hosts were super kind. Great for kids with a river on site nearby. One part of the river is designated as a nudist-friendly beach but is well-marked."
Hiking to caves: From Cave Creek Campground, take the 2.5-mile trail directly to Oregon Caves National Monument. Kevin R. mentions, "This place was closed for the longest time and I think people forgot it was there when it re-opened. Every time I have went it's just me or one other camper."
Fishing opportunities: Spalding Pond Campground stocks legal trout annually and contains native catfish and crawfish. Zak H. describes it as "a great place to go if you like fishing, swimming, hiking, or shooting! They have 5 camping spots each with their own private picnic table and fire pit with metal grate."
Solitude and quiet: North Fork Campground provides peaceful river camping with natural sound barriers. A reviewer explains, "Right on a beautiful swimming hole. Has pit toilets. Even if you find other campers there (rare) you can't hear anything due to the river."
Community amenities: Cedar Bloom offers unique communal facilities not typically found at primitive sites. Shawn A. describes it as "a hippie loving oasis. Start your morning with a shower over looking the river or enjoy the zen sauna. The commune kitchen has everything you need to make a great meal."
Night sky viewing: Higher elevation sites provide exceptional stargazing conditions. At Onion Mountain Lookout, Kevin T. shares, "You are at 4000 feet and you can see the milky way clearly. I did not camp here but simply visited. The campsites are really expensive, 40 dollars but I think it would be worth it if you camped here."
Natural swimming: Several campgrounds feature direct water access with swimming holes. At Little Falls Campground, Liliána S. notes the campground requires navigating "through a gate where you have to be careful because the road not so good, but worth it!"
Road conditions: Many of the best tent camping near Cave Junction requires navigating rough roads. For Bolan Lake Campground, Johnny G. advises, "It's a pretty long dirt road to get to the campground, make sure you have good tires that can handed rocks/dirt terrain."
Limited facilities: Most sites have minimal amenities. Zak H. mentions that at Spalding Pond Campground "there is no drinking water available, so you will need to bring your own or plan on filtering/boiling."
Bear safety requirements: Cave Creek Campground requires proper food storage. Kevin R. warns, "Love it, but its bear country so be careful with your food."
Site availability: Many campgrounds have limited spaces. At Little Falls Campground, Imerie T. explains, "This campground is a paid campground, 10.00 a night without National park access pass. There is only 4 spots here."
River safety planning: When camping with children near water, supervise constantly. About Sixmile Campground, Lisa N. cautions, "Not really a great place for such young children since the river is quite big and swift, but in a few years, I would love to return here."
Facilities for children: Cedar Bloom provides family-friendly amenities. Nenah B. observed, "The children running around were so happy here - it feels like a safe place to be, tucked away in a private area of Cave Junction."
Security considerations: Some campgrounds have regular ranger patrols. Liliána S. at Little Falls Campground felt "extremely safe as the park ranger checked on us in the morning."
Weather preparation: Summer heat can be intense, requiring shade and water access. Johnny G. notes about Bolan Lake Campground: "This weekend was hot, close to 110 and being at lake was perfect. If you want peace and quiet, water access and blooming flowers with trees, this is a good spot."
Size limitations: Most campsites near Cave Junction restrict RV size. About Cave Creek Campground, Kelli B. warns, "Despite its close location to the Caves, it is extremely hard to take any type of RV there. The road is paved, but Extremely Narrow with limited visibility."
Alternative parking arrangements: At Little Falls Campground, Imerie T. explains site options: "Two you have to park in overflow and walk to your site. One is a small back in, camper van, suV, truck. The other is a double site, good for small 10ft less RV."
Campsite selection: For larger vehicles, choose carefully. As Imerie T. notes, "We have a 5x8ft CcT so we fit amazingly in the double site. It's quiet and clean."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Cave Junction, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Cave Junction, OR is Cedar Bloom with a 4.6-star rating from 7 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Cave Junction, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 90 tent camping locations near Cave Junction, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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