Best Dispersed Camping near Chemult, OR

Several dispersed camping opportunities exist near Chemult in the Mount Thielsen Wilderness and surrounding national forest lands, primarily accessible via Forest Road 960 and NF-70. These free sites offer proximity to Crater Lake National Park, with the north entrance just 10-20 minutes away. Road conditions vary, with many sites accessible to standard vehicles, though some routes become more challenging deeper into the forest. Most primitive spots feature existing fire rings but lack amenities—no toilets, drinking water, or trash service.

The NF-70 dispersed area provides level sites in Ponderosa forest with varying degrees of privacy. According to one visitor, "Lovely big boondocking spaces with plenty of room. The further you drive in the more privacy you will get." Another noted, "We found a nice large and level site just off of NF-70 and there were a few other dispersed sites near there as well." Cell service is generally available with T-Mobile users reporting good connectivity. Forest Road 960 sites, particularly those near the Pacific Crest Trail, offer more seclusion but may require higher clearance vehicles to access. Weather varies dramatically by season, with overnight temperatures dropping to freezing by late October and roads potentially becoming impassable with winter snow.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Chemult, Oregon (43)

    1. Mount Thielsen Wilderness

    22 Reviews
    Diamond Lake, OR
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 383-5300

    "When I visited the Crater Lake area, I was well aware that finding last minute accommodations was difficult to impossible."

    "Stayed here for 3 nights while visiting Crater Lake NP and it was the perfect basecamp. Easy access to the Forest Road off 138 with lots of open camp spots."

    2. NF-70 Dispersed Camping Near Crater Lake NP

    13 Reviews
    Diamond Lake, OR
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 947-2151

    "Plenty of different types of camping spots: trailer and RV to serious offroad spots. I found a very secluded place with my 4by4 down rough road but plenty of other options."

    "It was a nice area; it was pretty easy to access, and there was lots of open space. I couldn't really hear the highway, but several trucks did drive down the dirt road."

    4. Forest Road 960 Campsite

    7 Reviews
    Diamond Lake, OR
    17 miles

    "right off the highway. there’s plenty of spots open in the surrounding area. only downside is road noise"

    "there are small (4-7) dispersed sites along this forest road near Crater Lake. the size and types of sites are varied. some are great for large RVs and are pull through and others you might only get a"

    5. Forest Road 960 by Pacific Crest Trail PCT

    3 Reviews
    Diamond Lake, OR
    17 miles

    "There is ample room to turn around, in spite of a step climb. Was able to pull 15' trailer up with 4wd.

    Wide open sky for solar and starlink."

    "Lots of little camp fires scattered around the area ."

    6. Millsite Forest Dispersed Camping

    3 Reviews
    Diamond Lake, OR
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 957-3200

    "Campsites have picnic tables and fire pits and there is a pit toilet. Many trees which provide shade. Some mosquitos but not too bad. Very easy to find with the directions and it was also on GAIA GPS."

    "If you love boondocking and wilderness trails. This is a must stay place. 20 minutes from hot springs and waterfalls. Tons of fishing spots near bye. Hundreds of miles of OHV trails."

    7. NF 2612 Dispersed Camping

    3 Reviews
    Diamond Lake, OR
    20 miles
    Website

    "Beautiful location near several Lakes and large fields with plenty of level camping and fire pits although fires are not currently allowed."

    "We picked this dispersed camping near Lemolo Lake since it was an open area that we could run our Starlink. There was also some cell service."

    8. Jackson F. Kimball State Recreation Site

    20 Reviews
    Fort Klamath, OR
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 783-2471

    $11 - $14 / night

    "The spring is stunning and the ground was soft and flat. Plenty of firewood around to start a cooking fire. Bugs were bad around sunset, but bug spray helped."

    "The campground is situated right next to a beautifully clear blue river and wooded hillsides—perfect for early morning serenity."

    9. Thousand Springs Sno-Park

    12 Reviews
    Crater Lake, OR
    34 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 842-3292

    "We drove to Mazama campground only to be told and they had just filled their last spot but that there was free overnight parking 18 minutes in each direction either by thousand springs snopark or Annie"

    "There are bathrooms and a warming shelter that has a wood stove. The park is close to Crater Lake National Park anout 10ish miles down hwy 62. Nice pretty spot that is easy to get to."

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Chemult, OR

117 Reviews of 43 Chemult Campgrounds


  • Crystal C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 9, 2020

    Mount Thielsen Wilderness

    FREE, Quiet & Close To Crater Lake National Park

    CLICK HERE For Full Video Review

    When it comes to camping you simply can’t beat FREE!!! But often times it is hard to find a good campsite which is close to some of the larger National Parks that is not overrun with people. 

    When I visited the Crater Lake area, I was well aware that finding last minute accommodations was difficult to impossible. Hotels in the area charge high premiums and depending on when you visit the campground is typically booked well in advance or even closed due to weather. It just so happened that I arrived late in the season, campground was already closed and I was wondering just what else would be out there for me as a tent/car camper. 

    I found a small forest road, FR960 and took my chances driving down a few hundred yards before realizing that there were a few established campaigns for dispersed camping. My signal with AT&T was sparse so finding this site was strictly by chance(the Dyrt hadn’t yet released their offline PRO Version just yet). 

    Driving down the road it was gravel and had a few small ruts here and there but nothing so serious I couldn’t make it down the path taking it at a slower pace. I discovered a small pull out right at the beginning of the roadway which looked to be about the size of a small RV, very level and established with a fire ring. As I continued onward a small campground road spurred off to the right with what looked to be several sites alongside it as well. I opted to keep going as there were already a couple people there and the beauty of forest camping is that you don’t have to be right on top of your neighbors unless you want to. 

    Further down the road pull offs to both the right and left with spaces perfect for large rigs and smaller ones as well. The one on the left seemed to be calling my name as I noticed it was almost a cove of trees which would serve as a great protectant and blockade to the crisp night winds which I knew were coming this time of year. I settled in and explored the remainder of the camp on foot including a small climb which went to a few spaces with amazing views of the peaks above but looked pretty exposed due to new growth trees and low laying shrubs being the only vegetation. Sure this looked beautiful but I knew it would be cold!! 

    After settling in for the night in my site I was able to cook dinner on my camp stove and cozy down. Due to the winds getting a bit high I was a little hesitant to use the established fire ring because this area in particular is very prone to forest fires, something which can be seen quickly driving through camp with residual charring and many new growth trees in place of old forest. 

    By dawn, ice lined my windows of my car and snow capped the distant peak, the one which I would have been camping by had I have stayed up at the higher elevation campsite. But there was a sense of quiet which is unmatched by the commercial campgrounds in the area where you will find slamming doors and the sound of people moving around to get their day started. Though many were nestled into the campsites in various cubbies and enjoying their time at the forest camp, the feeling of solitude was still abundant. 

    There were no frills with this campground other than the location itself. No restrooms, no running water, nothing!! You as a camper have to plan if you are visiting this location and be able to be off grid safely and responsibly. If you are choosing to stay here remember the Leave No Trace principles and make sure you fully extinguish your fires. 

    The campground itself is only a few miles away from the northern most entry of Crater Lake. No reservations are accepted and no supplies are available without driving in to the neighboring communities of Crescent or Chemult.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 27, 2023

    Auger Creek Dispersed

    Down a Canyon - Not good for RV Travel

    This campsite is dry camping.  Silver Creek may be dry, as it has been since 2021.  No facilities other than a picnic table.  No Cell, No WiFi, etc.  If you like totally 'being away from it all,' this is your place, if you can get there.

  • Amanda K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 10, 2025

    Thousand Springs Sno-Park

    Great reliable lot

    We drove to Mazama campground only to be told and they had just filled their last spot but that there was free overnight parking 18 minutes in each direction either by thousand springs snopark or Annie’s. We chose thousand springs. It is the perfect spot for free overnight parking as it is a large and reliable lot that I assume is rarely filled. It is only 30 minutes from watchman peak trailhead which is where we were headed. There were only a couple other vans when we stayed a weekday in July. There is a pit toilet as well. Note that free overnight parking without a sno-park parking permit is only permitted between May 1 and November 14. Next to the road so there is a bit of noise, but there are not too many cars that drive by at night. Be aware that there is a lot of wildlife in the area. There is no cell service.

  • Jordie G.
    May. 30, 2023

    Lemolo Forebay

    Beautiful but bring bug spray

    Pavement turns to dirt road to get to the sites. Each site has a fire ring and a table. The vault toilet has a trash can and was stocked with TP when we were there but we bring our own.

    The trails down to the river are loose dirt and steep but we drove to the other side of the river to lounge in the sun.

    Lots of skeeters! Bring your bug spray

  • R
    Jun. 23, 2021

    Mount Thielsen Wilderness

    Beautiful Free Camping Just Minutes from Crater Lake NP

    Stayed here for 3 nights while visiting Crater Lake NP and it was the perfect basecamp.

    Easy access to the Forest Road off 138 with lots of open camp spots. More private spots further up the hill — I didn’t venture too far but if you have AWD it shouldn’t be an issue.

    I had no trouble finding a spot on Thursday afternoon, though there were definitely other campers around. Seemed pretty popular by the weekend though there were still unclaimed spots tucked away on Saturday afternoon.

    Bring bug spray and make sure you’ve got screen window covers if car camping — otherwise a beautiful stay. Ten minute drive to the North Entrance of Crater Lake and about 20 minutes away from town with truck stop with showers and wifi.

  • Brittney   G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 21, 2018

    Thousand Springs Sno-Park

    Spacious quiet spot

    This snowpark has a big parking area with plenty of room for trailers/vehicles. There are bathrooms and a warming shelter that has a wood stove. The park is close to Crater Lake National Park anout 10ish miles down hwy 62. Nice pretty spot that is easy to get to. No hookups and no water available do be sure to bring it.

  • Patricia N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 26, 2024

    Prospect OHV Dispersed Camping

    Perfect place for OHV riding

    We absolutely loved camping here. During our off season stay it was fun and with all the ATV trails it was our favorite place to camp.

    Our neighbor campers decided they could ride the trails without helmets and found out the hard way that is is a no no. They were brought back to the camp without their bikes and in the back of a National Forest Service Enforcement vehicle. After being spoken to about the importance of following the rules of the trails, they were left at camp and had to find their own way back to their motorcycles.

    Fortunately we did not have the same experience. It can get very dusty so just be prepared for that. The trails are absolutely great and access to the Rogue River is just icing on the cake.

    It was so nice to have areas provided for unloading bikes and ATV's so folks could safely load and unload their toys.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 11, 2021

    USFS Rogue River Dispersed

    Beautiful But Be Aware

    Take the River Bridge turn off from Highway 62 and follow the road which turns to gravel, potholed and some washboarded road. Stay on the main road until you pass the actual campground and go over the bridge. 

    We did drive through the River Bridge campground which was $15/night but opted for the free version across the river. There are multiple spots to camp for free just past the River Bridge Campground across the one lane bridge. You can take a right or left after the bridge to find a spot. We took a right and found multiple sites to pull into right off the main forest service road. Accessibility is dependent on your rig but we found several spots easily accessed by our 26ft class c.  The road itself is gravel with pot holes but otherwise doable in most rigs. There appears to be some long term somewhat sketchy residents here so be aware. We stayed twice in 2 different spots but did not feel unsafe at all. The sites are fairly level with mix of sun and shade and stone fire pits and a short walk to the river. Its a nice place to let the dogs run free but there can be quite a lot of cars driving up and down the 62 road and and an occasional dirt bike. Very quiet at night and lots of roads to hike on or if you’re into fishing the Rogue River is very close.

     No amenities, pack in and pack out, no bathrooms; and for the love of god please bury your TP waste! 

    There is zero cell reception from ATT, T-Mobile or Verizon in this entire area.

  • Rick A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 4, 2024

    Hole In The Ground

    Bring everything you need

    I camped on the rim of the hole with my daughter. While we had a good time, and there weren't very many other people around, we arrived after June 1 during a dry year, meaning no campfire. The temperature during the day was around 85, and pretty comfortable, but at night it dropped down to around 40. We were pretty cold since we had counted on a campfire. As for the Hole in the Ground, it is pretty cool, and you can walk the trails down into it and back up. Typical high desert semi forested terrain, decent roads, but bring a map, it's a hole, and therefore not visible until you're right up on it. Our map showed the power poles that run nearby, as well as the railroad tracks. We used those to orient ourselves so as to not get lost. There are no services here, so if you need something, you'd better bring it. We liked it, and will return.


Guide to Chemult

Primitive camping near Chemult, Oregon exists on several forest roads surrounding the town, at elevations ranging from 4,600-5,200 feet. The area features ponderosa pine forests transitioning to mixed conifer at higher elevations. Temperatures can drop below freezing as early as September, with summer days reaching 80°F and nighttime lows often below 50°F even in July and August.

What to do

Hike to Mount Thielsen: The Pacific Crest Trail crossing provides access to challenging hikes with elevation gains of 3,000+ feet. "When I visited the Crater Lake area, I was well aware that finding last minute accommodations was difficult to impossible... I found a small forest road, FR960 and took my chances driving down a few hundred yards before realizing that there were a few established campaigns for dispersed camping," notes a Mount Thielsen Wilderness visitor.

Stargazing opportunities: Limited light pollution creates exceptional night sky viewing. "The stars and trees were stunning and the site was super accessible. When the temperature rose, there were some mosquitoes, but not many," reports a Mount Thielsen Wilderness camper.

Winter activities: Once snow falls, the area transforms into a snowmobile and cross-country ski destination. "Note that free overnight parking without a sno-park parking permit is only permitted between May 1 and November 14," explains one visitor at Thousand Springs Sno-Park.

What campers like

Natural springs access: The Wood River headwaters provide crystal-clear water for paddling. "Pristine water! It is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. I love how primitive and small the campground is," shares a visitor at Jackson F. Kimball State Recreation Site.

Privacy options: Deeper forest roads offer more secluded camping. "We went here and found a decent spot but then hiked up the road more to the top and found a super cool spot. It was a little rougher road, but totally worth it," notes a camper at NF-70 Dispersed Camping.

Established fire rings: Many primitive sites include existing fire rings. "Great spots with easy access to Crater Lake! We had a blast at this spot. It had ample space for the kids to play. It was pretty quiet, even with lots of other campers in the area," explains a visitor at Forest Road 960 Campsite.

What you should know

Mosquito preparation: Bug protection is essential, especially near water sources. "If you love boondocking and wilderness trails. This is a must stay place. 20 minutes from hot springs and waterfalls. Tons of fishing spots near bye. Hundreds of miles of OHV trails," writes a camper at Millsite Forest Dispersed Camping.

Road conditions vary: Some areas require higher clearance vehicles. "Took us about an hour to get here from Crater Lake. Lots of spots open! Around the intersection of FR 960 and 961, there are lots of big flat sites great for RVs. We went a bit off the road and found our own quiet spot in the trees."

Weather fluctuations: Plan for dramatic temperature changes. "I went in late October and it got down to 14 degrees at night. It was not snowing. But, do pack snow gear for that weather and have hot coffee for the morning."

Water availability: No potable water at dispersed sites. "There are no frills with this campground other than the location itself. No restrooms, no running water, nothing!! You as a camper have to plan if you are visiting this location and be able to be off grid safely and responsibly."

Tips for camping with families

Space considerations: Look for level areas with room for multiple tents. "We found a sweet spot in the rubble. Quiet, great view and amazing sun. Beautiful cotton candy sunset waking to a beautiful bright sunrise."

Bathroom planning: Bring portable toilets as most areas lack facilities. "The bathrooms are nice, but it was recommended by the parks employees to keep the doors open for circulation. Every spot had room for a fire and a table."

Wildlife awareness: Bears are active in some areas. "Clean and simple campground. Twelve sites (three pull into spots and 9 where you park seperate and then walk around a fence to the tent site). 2 semi clean vault toilets, nothing to write home about but also fairly clean by comparison to others."

Organized activities: Pack games and exploration tools. "This campsite was great! All the spots were very spread out and offered a lot of space. One thing… TONS of mosquitos. Absolutely swarmed. Bring bug spray like crazy. Otherwise it was a perfect place to stay!"

Tips from RVers

Leveling requirements: Bring blocks and leveling equipment. "Open area with room for about six rigs. Quiet location but lots of mosquitoes. Several shaded spots," notes a visitor at NF 2612 Dispersed Camping.

Big rig accessibility: Some areas accommodate larger vehicles. "Perfect stop along the way! About a mile in, there's plenty of open space for big rigs! Several areas had small fire pits. We saw 2 vehicles in the afternoon and could hear other campers in the morning but couldn't see them."

Solar considerations: Look for clearings if using solar power. "Wide open sky for solar and starlink. Mid 60s f during day in early October. 40 f at night."

Generator restrictions: Check local rules about generator use. "We are full-timers and have a 36 ft Class A with a Cherokee Trailhawk tow and had scouted the area before arriving with the RV. NF-70 is gravel and in pretty good shape, i.e., no potholes, but is heavily washboarded."

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is free dispersed camping available near Chemult, Oregon?

Free dispersed camping is available in several areas near Chemult. Mount Thielsen Wilderness offers multiple dispersed sites with easy access from Highway 138, making it an excellent basecamp for Crater Lake National Park visits. Auger Creek Dispersed provides primitive camping with picnic tables for those seeking a truly off-grid experience. Other options include Lemolo Forebay with fire rings and tables, Duncan Reservoir Campground with lakeside sites, and USFS Rogue River Dispersed camping. Most sites are accessible via Forest Service roads and don't require permits, though road conditions vary from paved to rough gravel.

What are the rules for dispersed camping in Chemult National Forest?

Dispersed camping in the Chemult area of Fremont-Winona National Forest typically follows standard Forest Service regulations. At Lemolo Forebay, campers must use existing fire rings and pack out all trash. Prospect OHV Dispersed Camping enforces helmet requirements for ATV riders on the trails. General rules include a 14-day stay limit, camping at least 100 feet from water sources, using established sites when possible, properly managing campfires (check for restrictions), packing out all waste, and no cutting live vegetation. Always practice Leave No Trace principles and check with local ranger stations for current regulations.

Is dispersed camping in Chemult accessible during winter months?

Winter dispersed camping is available near Chemult, though options become limited due to snow. Ten Mile Sno-Park and Thousand Springs Sno-Park serve dual purposes as both winter recreation areas and overnight camping spots. Thousand Springs features a large parking area, vault toilets, and even a warming shelter with a wood stove, located about 10 miles from Crater Lake. These sno-parks are specifically designed for winter access, with Thousand Springs being noted as 2-3 degrees cooler than surrounding areas. A sno-park permit is typically required for parking during winter months (November-April).