Searching for the perfect place to pitch your tent near Christmas Valley? You can find tent campsites by type, including drive-in, walk-in, and even hike-in for a backpacking adventure. Each spot offers quick access to one or more of Christmas Valley, Oregon's most popular destinations.
Featuring panoramic views of the lava flows, cinder cones, and the desert landscape of the Fort Rock and Christmas Valley area of central Oregon, the Green Mountain Campground offers a remote camping experience perfect for photography, solitude and stargazing. Whether using it as a basecamp for exploring nearby attractions like Crack-in-the-Ground and the Four Craters Lava Field, or simply seeking an out-of-the-way site with stunning sunrises and sunsets, visitors willing to brave its rough access road will not be disappointed.
Open Season Green Mountain Campground is open YEAR ROUND. Four-wheel Drive Vehicles Recommended. Access is via rugged dirt roads that may be impassable at times. 6 primitive campsites with picnic tables and fire grates; first come, first serve. Vault Restroom. No Drinking Water available. Pack Out Your Trash. The Nearest Services are in the nearby towns of Christmas Valley Oregon. BLM___s Crack-in-the-Ground Trailhead located nearby.
There is an active fire lookout atop nearby Green Mountain that is staffed from June through October.
Crack-in-the-Ground is an ancient volcanic fissure over 2 miles long and up to 70 feet deep. Normally, fissures like this one are filled with soil and rock by the processes of erosion and sedimentation. However, because it is located in such an arid region, very little filling has occurred and Crack-in-the-Ground exists today nearly as it did shortly after its formation thousands of years ago. An established 2 mile trail along the fissure’s bottom offers a unique hike, where the temperature can be as much as twenty degrees cooler than at the surface. Know Before You Go: Open Season Crack-in-the-Ground is open YEAR ROUND. Trail Difficulty is moderate, with a 70’ elevation gain and sand and rock surface. Universal Access Restroom available. No Drinking Water available. Trail Open to foot travel only. Motor Vehicles, Mountain Bikes, and Equestrians are PROHIBITED. Access is via rugged dirt roads that may be impassable at times. Four-wheel drive vehicles are highly recommended. Facilities at the Green Mountain facilities include 6 designated campsites, a vault toilet, picnic tables, and fire grates. This is a primitive campground so please pack out all of your trash. The fire lookout atop Green Mountain is manned from June through October. The nearest services are in Christmas Valley, Oregon. Point of Interest: A trail along the fissure's bottom allows for visitors to hike the crack’s length - and cool off, due to a temperature up to twenty degrees lower than the surface. ADA Access: Restroom
Overview: The Christmas Valley Sand Dunes Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) in south-central Oregon is the largest inland shifting sand dune system in the Pacific Northwest . It is a popular destination for off-highway vehicle enthusiasts with nearly 8,900 acres of the Sand Dunes site open to vehicle use. Nearby, the Lost Forest Research Natural Area is an unusual stand of ancient ponderosa pine forest, the remnant of a forest that existed in a cooler and wetter age. Another facet of the ACEC is Fossil Lake, the site of paleontological work for more than 100 years and where hundreds of species of reptiles, birds, fish, and mammals have been identified. Know Before You Go: Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs) are allowed only on designated routes or areas. Oregon ATV permits required Camping is Allowed in designated sites only. Sites are primitive with no facilities, water, or restrooms provided. Firewood Collecting or Cutting is PROHIBITED. The Fossil Lake Area is CLOSED to OHV’s. Collecting Fossils by the public is STRICTLY PROHIBITED throughout the Fossil Lake Area. The Nearest Services are located in Christmas Valley, Oregon, approximately 16 miles southwest. Point of Interest: Fossils found at nearby Fossil Lake range in age from about 10,000 years to as much as 400,000 years. Access to this special area is limited to walk-in traffic only.
Upper Buck Creek is your destination for rustic seclusion in a high mountain setting. Located 35 minutes southwest of Silver Lake, Oregon, ponderosa, lodgepole pine trees, aspen, and willows co-exist with open meadows and marsh land. This quiet forest camp is a great place to relax, fish, walk along the creek, and enjoy nature. Upper Buck Creek features five campsites with picnic tables, and fire rings, and two vault toilets. Remember to park your vehicle at least 200 feet from the creek. There are no garbage receptacles, so remember to “pack it in, pack it out.” There no potable water. Visitors need to pack plenty of water.
At 35 minutes southeast of Silver Lake, Oregon, Farm Well Horse Camp is conveniently located along the Fremont National Recreation Trail. Farm Well offers five campsites, picnic tables, camp fire rings, one vaulted toilet, horse corrals, and room to maneuver a horse trailer. The forest-mountain setting affords views of farm and range land as well as a great vista of Hager Mountain. The cone-shaped single peak dominates the landscape and the look-out tower is visible atop the 7,200 foot pinnacle. Wildlife you may spy at Farm Well and connecting trails include deer, songbirds, hawks, and bald and golden eagles. It’s about a three mile ride from Farm Well to the Hager Mountain Lookout. This summit rewards riders with a panoramic view, including the Cascades to the west and Mount Shasta to the south. You can keep riding to Thompson Reservoir (five more miles), a popular fishing destination. Trout are stocked in the reservoir on a regular basis. This reservoir was created in 1921 and provides water for more than 2,700 acres of irrigated land. There is no potable water. Visitors need to pack plenty of water.
Two 8' x 12' covered shelters, approximately 300' apart on a north-south line, permit silent human observers to spy upon thirsty animals. Each blind has a small concrete basin that puddles water piped nearby water collection aprons and storage tanks. Veiled wall openings allow viewing and photography from a distance of 15-20 feet. A barbed-wire fence surrounds the lower site and a pole fence surrounds the upper site. Be sure to browse the registry for its decades-long, international record of human and wildlife visitors. There is a picnic area nearby. Caution: Such close proximity between observer and wildlife demands absolute silence, so keep your dog or cat away. Bring a filled water container to replenish the drink-basin in case the supply system is disabled. You can leave your fishing rod and boat at home because the "lake" dried centuries ago.
Deadhorse Lake is located one hour 20 minutes south of Paisley, Oregon situated on Deadhorse Lake, a high-mountain lake with grassy and pebble beaches. The lake, elevation 7372 feet, spans 31 acres and is stocked with rainbow trout. There are nine tent and trailer sites, all with picnic tables and fire grills. It also features seven group campsites; some larger sites are located further from the lakeshore. There is also a hand pump for potable water. Deadhorse Lake, great for fishing, swimming, and boating (non-motorized or electric motors only), features a boat launch and separate day use area. All camping is first-come, first-served, and weekends and holidays are generally full. Nearby access to the Lakes Trail System.
Legend
Camping at Juniper Camp is free. Easy access to the sand dunes; somewhat rough road into nearby Lost Forest. Best access is from the west. One porta-potty for the whole area; pretty nasty, so best to bring your own toilet system. No designated campsites; set up camp anywhere. This is a popular OHV area. If you are into quiet, wilderness camping, this area is not for you. Very noisy, and you may have to tolerate drunken and behavior, and loud music at night. However, if you are into OHV adventuring, this appears to be a good area to explore on OHVs. Finding a level site for your rig may be challenging, but it's possible. Tent camping is definitely possible. Not enough trees together for hammock camping. No water. Some sporadic T-Mobile service, but good AT&T service.
Scout
Was by myself on motorcycle. Clear directions, plenty of tables, leveled spaces for tent. Gets cold at night.
Road here was a graded packed dirt, so a but bumpy but 2WD would make it no problem. Enjoyed my stay
Guide
Great, sandy site right on the water, with trees to your back, adding a layer of privacy. Fire ban was in effect but watching the lake during the sunset was a beautiful way to spend our time. Pit toilet was in walking distance and well maintained.
ScoutGood campground in a remote part of Central Oregon. Despite being right next to OHV trails, we were the only ones there. Just me, the boys, and the flies.
GuideCamped three nights along with hiking the trails near by. Campground was very quiet with many open spots. Our site was very large and had a beautiful view of the reservoir. We had two eagles that were hanging out in a tree right next to us. It was a real treat to watch the eagles for a few days. I brought my paddle board and enjoyed the peaceful reservoir. The wind does pick up every afternoon so secure your tent. Fishing was amazing and we caught and released many fish back into lake. Bring your own water. There is a pump but it is out of order. We definitely will be coming back. All the near by hiking trails were amazing. Four days on the trails and we didn’t see a sole.
Guide
No frill Forest Service campground in the Fremont-Winemaker National Forest. On a warm June night, it’s a pleasure to have a campground like this entirely to one’s self.
Guide
I stayed here on the first night of the Oregon Outback. It is a very small simple designated camping area with a very clean pit toilet and a few picnic tables but nothing else.
A few loggers and Forest service trucks passed on the road, but mostly traffic was cyclists.
Listened to birds and coyotes and enjoyed being under the canopy of stars. Great little spot.
TravelerI 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.
ScoutSuitable for overnight or longer stay.
Some road noise during day
No Campfires - Wildfire Danger
May be blocked by snow in winter
Guide
Beautiful spot in the desert the pool and soaking pools are amazing camping was clean everyone super chill incredible views they are fixing and adding new changing areas in the pool area
Legend
Our first time here at East Lake Campground in the last week of September 2023 just 1 day before the park closed for the season. Because East Lake Campground is 6500 feet in elevation the nights were very cold, from 44 to 31 degrees but normally the days were in the morning windy and about 62*. The camp has 29 sites and NO hookups.
There is flush toilets, NO showers, but had drinking water. East Lake also had 1 boat launch but the water was very low, some 40' down from the edge of the bank to the water. Great fishing and a great place for kayaks. Each site has a picnic table and fireplace. Most Sites on the lake side has pull-thru that were about 50' long. Some back-in sites were only 35'. Very quite campground and not too close to each others camp site. We camped at East Lake Campground in a Travel Trailer.
Restrooms Flush toilets, faucet water. No hookups, No electric, No water hookup, No sewer hookup. You can fill your water tank FREE at the ($10) Dump Station so you don't have the weight in your rig. Dog-friendliness Lots of space to run and play.
TravelerStopped by in off season to grab a first form first serve site. Super peaceful. Was pretty luck to get a place as it was mostly booked. Great Lake front camping sites. A bunch of trails. Will visit again for sure!
TravelerBeen camping here for a week at a time for 20 years, during the summers. Fire about 10+ years ago took out the outhouse. If it rains, you most likely will be there till the road into the campsite dries out. Deep ruts in the road now, so regular cars aren't recommended.
Two campsites, but Forest Service says 3. One site has no shade in the middle of the day. Other site has a picnic table, but it may or may not be in usable shape.
No services of any kind - cell, WiFi, RV hookups, etc. You can be there for several days and not see anyone.
TravelerThis 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.
Ranger
Quiet little campground with a creek running through it. Follow it through the campsite and you’ll find a secret waterfall! Would be a solid launching point for exploring Newberry Caldera.
Ranger
Nice little campground, I was there on a Tuesday night so it was nice and quiet but I was told it gets a bit roudy on the weekend. Good but spotty service with Verizon. Dump station, laundry, showers, and ice for sale. Laundry is open to the public. Showers are open to non-guests for $5. Nice little lake/pond is walking distance. They seem to cater to fishermen. Not much privacy between sites but large enough to accommodate larger RVs.
LegendWe truly enjoyed our stay here. Had a site reserved that we couldn't really fit in to. Got lucky that our 3 nights were available in a waterfront site and we were allowed to move.
Felt like plenty of space between sites. The pull through site along the lake was spacious and looked right out on the sunset. We so enjoyed watching the otters, the birds and the chipmunks. Even the fishermen!
Had a great hike just off the campground to the top of the ridge. and a nice drive up to Paulina Peak.
Very peaceful stay on the lake. September was perfect. Chilly nights and warm days.
LegendWe were headed to Thompson Creek reservoir, but opted for this lovely little FS campground. We had the place to ourselves the first night and another camper came in for the 2nd. Easy pull-through site, pretty level and fit both rigs. Otherwise plenty of room between sites.
It was a bit of a trek down gravel roads to get here. Took it easy, though, and no problems.
Lovely walks and hikes to be had. Beautiful stargazing. Clean pit toilets and clean overall campground. There were corrals at one end for horse camping. No cell service. (in 2020)
4 stars only because of the sometimes-washboard road to get here.
From here we visited Crack in the ground, Cowboy Dinner Tree, The Sand Dunes, Fort Rock and Christmas Valley.
ScoutThe nicest hosts, the cleanest grounds. Best place to stop. chill and have the best time.
Legend
We didn't actually stay here, but walked through it while hiking around the lake.
Looked like nice, very foresty surroundings, right on the water. 3 separate sites, and they were nicely separated.
This is a beautiful area, cooler than lower elevation. We came up here to get away from the heat. Mosquitoes around the lake, the closer to the water the more mosquitoes.
No cell reception.
There's a nice day camp area nearby, a store with ice cream and rentals and such. Fun place to bring family and kids.
Legend
Paulina Campground is one of serval in the area. It's located on Lake Paulina and only 1/4 mile from Paulina resort and 1-miles from Paulina Falls.
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It's your standard campground with all the basic amenities; restrooms, trash, boat launch area, table, fire ring, and no cell service.
The Lake Paulina trail runs through the campground. The trail circumnavigates the lake and is approximately 8 miles long.
There is about 20 First Come First Serve campsite that I took advantage of.
TravelerBeautiful lakeside camping. A light breeze during the day helps to moderate warm days. Quiet camping. This campground is best suited for RV's with fewer sites that work well for tent camping.
Ranger
On the advise of the store clerk, to avoid Burners, I went 8.5 miles south on FS33 from Paisley. Easy to find & easy road, 8 spots with 1 pit toilet (super clean). Right on Chewaucan River, it was a perfect spot. Only negative was that there was NO POTABLE WATER. Not a big deal. No cell service. Big beautiful & aromatic Jeffrey pines.
TravelerReally cool campground with a lot of spots and a beautiful river. There’s a little gravel road that can be a little tough to get there but we managed with our 17” van by driving real slow. Good experience !
GuideWe booked a site and pulled up to a massive amount of people. Sat at our site for an hour and left. The trees are skinny and tall, so you see everyone in the camp. It felt more like a group campsite but spaced out. We were hoping for a little more separation from all the people. It was a little too going on and hard to block out the noise. We were looking for a camp that was more secluded.
Legend
For a small campground, which could only accommodate small RV’s and tenters, this campground has everything you might need. Along the banks of Sage Hen Creek, this intimate campground offers well-spaced out sites, with a fire ring and picnic table each. The two vault toilets were very clean and well stocked. The campground has trash, a returnables bin and drinking water.
With the large ponderosa pines overhead we had to be strategic about our parking situation for our camper’s solar array. In many of these situations we set out our portable panel so that we can keep our camper in the shade and still collect solar energy to keep our small battery charged.
There are plenty of hiking trails and opportunities for cycling and fishing throughout the National Forest area. There was a recent forest fire on the other side of the creek so the views are stunning in their own haunting way. Just a few miles back down the road, the town of Paisley has a few services, a small cafe, gas station/ convenience store, post office and of course a drive-thru barista. The closest larger town is Lakeview with a few more services, but don’t try to do your laundry there!
LegendThis funky little private resort and campground, on the way from nowhere to anywhere, has more than you might expect from first glance. The large, dry camping area offers a large field for folks to spread out without being on top of each other. While there are a handful of hookups sites for RV’s, we preferred the less expensive field option. They have a couple of pit toilets near the field, as well as a full bathroom and shower area. With our solar powered system, we were able to keep our battery topped off while taking advantage of all that the springs have to offer, which is just a short walk away.
They also offer some tiny cabins for rent, each with its own unique rustic charm. The public bath house has a large indoor swimming pool, clean changing rooms, sparkling bathrooms and showers. The outdoor, natural pools are what make this place so unique. Three pools, three differing temperatures helps folks find their own “just right.” The springs have a decidedly rustic charm, with lots of converted farm buildings and antique features, so you might want to adjust your city expectations to a more rural and rougher edged setting. But hot water on a very cold night with views of the starry sky above are just the right about the right cure for whatever ails you.
The springs are located about midway between the larger towns of La Pine and Lakeview, around 70ish miles from each, where you can find large grocery stores and services. A few convenience stores, gas, and post offices can be found in the tiny hamlets along the highway. It is a remote, lovely and quiet spot on the edge of this large lake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Christmas Valley, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Christmas Valley, OR is Green Mountain Campground with a 5-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Christmas Valley, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 29 tent camping locations near Christmas Valley, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
