Best Tent Camping near Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Tent camping opportunities surround the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area on both the Oregon and Washington sides, with several small, primitive tent sites located in Mount Hood National Forest and Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Rainy Lake Campground in Oregon offers just four tent sites near Hood River, while Black Lake Campground provides walk-in tent camping with sites spread along a hillside next to the lake. Dispersed camping options can be found above Panther Creek Falls and along Panther Creek itself on the Washington side, offering more secluded experiences for tent campers seeking backcountry settings.
Most tent sites in this region have minimal amenities, with vault toilets being the only facility at established campgrounds like Rainy Lake and Wahtum Lake. Fire pits and picnic tables are typically available at designated sites, though dispersed camping areas may require campers to build their own rock fire rings. Potable water is not available at most locations, so campers should bring all necessary drinking water. Forest service roads accessing many campgrounds can be rough and potholed, requiring slow driving and sometimes high-clearance vehicles. Seasonal access varies, with many areas open from May or June through October, while higher elevations may remain snowy until early summer.
The tent camping experience in the Gorge area offers significant privacy at dispersed sites and small campgrounds. Areas near Panther Creek provide opportunities to camp within earshot of rushing water, while higher elevation sites offer cooler temperatures during summer heat. Sites at Black Lake and Rainy Lake provide direct access to hiking trails, including connections to the Pacific Crest Trail network. Tent campers should be prepared for varying weather conditions and potentially abundant mosquitoes near water sources. A review mentioned, "The sites are extremely close to each other, especially up near the pay station," at Wahtum Lake Campground, while another camper noted, "We stayed in the large open area at the top of the rock outcrop above the trailhead parking area and it was perfect" when describing dispersed camping above Panther Creek Falls.
