Camping near Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

Campers arriving at Milo McIver State Park are greeted by expansive riverfront sites along the Clackamas River, each offering level ground suitable for both tents and larger RVs. The mist rising off the water in the early morning creates a serene atmosphere, while a convenient boat ramp allows paddlers to launch kayaks and canoes directly from their campsite. Mature fir and alder trees provide ample shade, and every site is equipped with a sturdy picnic table and fire ring for evening cook-outs. The park’s well-maintained facilities include potable water stations and a modern bathhouse with hot showers, ensuring comfort even on extended stays. Outdoor enthusiasts will find an on-site disc golf course and miles of multi-use trails perfect for hiking, mountain biking, or horseback riding. After a day of adventure, guests often unwind by the riverbank, watching local wildlife—herons and kingfishers are frequent visitors—and spotting rafters drifting downstream. To streamline travel plans, many visitors pre-book an airport transfers service, allowing them to arrive at Portland International Airport and head straight to the campground without the hassle of car rentals. Those planning multi-destination itineraries across the Pacific Northwest appreciate the provider’s reliable city-to-city rides, which offer door-to-door transport in comfort and style. All in all, Milo McIver State Park combines picturesque riverfront camping with a wealth of recreational options and modern conveniences, making it an ideal destination for families, solo adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Campers seeking both relaxation and activity will find it hard to beat this versatile Oregon treasure.

I recently stayed at Frog Lake for the first time. The site was pretty flat and included a picnic table and fire pit. The bathrooms were vault toilets but were surprisingly very clean and didn’t smell. There are no sinks to wash your hands in the bathroom. At the campground you can buy firewood for $10 a bundle. They have potable water with a pump which can be hard to get started (use those muscles). There are no extras should you want ice or a store but honestly there is a gas station not too far away down the mountain should you forget something.

From the campground behind site 15 is a path down to the lake which is maybe a 5 min hike. The lake is shallow but great for kayaking. There are millions of little frogs and butterflies to catch and look at which was perfect for my toddler.

Getting into the water is a very muddy experience and a bit gross but the view is fantastic.

The campground itself wasn’t too loud but I did visit during the week and not weekend. There is no WiFi or showers as a heads up.

There are however sooo many bugs. I brought anti mosquito repellant, candles, sticks and nets but they still seemed to be on us quite a bit. There is also a lot of big random beetles.

The campsite required a fee outside of a recreational pass. The campground states fee area no reservations for campsites but every single site was labeled with a reserved sign. It was extremely packed and the sites were super close. This would be good for a large group of people who know and like each other. The day area which was a fee area as well and did not allow a laundry list of things was way better and left you wishing you could camp there over night. If it was allowed or things were different we would have probably stayed. I had heard so many good things about this place. We still enjoyed the lake for fishing and had fun while we were there. Very pretty view of Mt. Hood!

On a Friday, I was still able to snag a site early afternoon. I planned on a hike but really ended up taking a leisurely stroll a short ways to Emerald Falls. The area is regrowing after a 2024 wildfire. It's already lush and green but the trails running from the camp still haven't been cleared fully, and you hike at your own risk.

The campsite loop is about 15ish sites with a hiker/biker section as the camp is right on the off-road trail system running the Gorge. Everything is green and tall and possibly poisonous. I really have a hard time recognizing poison oak, so I always wear pants in a place like this.

The Gorge is famous for its wind, but here I was protected from gusts by the natural landscape. The sites all push up against the Cascades that hook around the camp. Winds still moved the trees around up high but on the ground it was minimal. I didn't have a campfire, but I could see where it would be deceiving if a spark caught an updraft and took off, so please be careful. 

The host was non-existent for the entire stay. There was a tent in the host site, but no people or vehicles. However, the camp was fairly well maintained. The bathrooms are dated but with flush toilets and running water. Reasonable rate at $20 makes this a great stop if you're passing through or exploring the waterfalls along the river highway. Plus, easy access to Hood River or Bridge of the Gods to Washington.

No campfire wood for sale.

I’ve seen plenty of good reviews about the camp host at horseshoe lake but i will not be writing one of them. I didn’t catch her name but she drives a white nissan truck. the camp host completely ruined our weekend with her overbearing attitude, and complete lack of respect for our personal space and things. 

one of our buddies went on a beer run while we went down to the river and left our old dog calmly laying on a rug in the shade at our site. he was leashed, had water and was completely fine. he’s a senior dog who just likes to relax and even prefers sleeping outside at home. she came to our campsite while we were gone and claimed he was “scared for his life” when it reality he was probably barking because a total stranger is walking up to him. 

this part blew my mind, she wrote us a ticket for an “unattended fire” when there was NO fire burning, a fire wasn’t even started that day. but she took it upon herself to dump out our water and the dogs water (that she cared so much about) onto the fire pit, completely soaking it and making it harder for us to build a fire that night. 

on top of that, she even admitted to pretty much making herself at home and hanging out at our campsite while we were not there. she flipped over one if our chairs upside down and got it all muddy with the water she spilt everywhere, took one of our only trash bags we had that was hanging on our canopy, barely  used it, had no food in it, just some empty water bottles. 

it did not stop there, she kept hovering around our campsite constantly checking on us throughout the weekend. it honestly felt like harassment, we didn’t feel welcome or comfortable the rest of the trip. she was COMPLETELY out of line for just hanging out at our campsite while we were gone, touching,  and moving our personal belongings without invitation or permission