Dispersed camping around Condon, Oregon sits at elevations ranging from 1,500 to 3,000 feet in the semi-arid Columbia Plateau region. Most free camping sites near Condon provide no amenities beyond occasional vault toilets, with temperatures commonly exceeding 90°F in summer months. The area's geology features exposed volcanic ash layers and fossilized soils dating back 35 million years.
What to do
Swimming access points: At Priest Hole Recreation Area, the John Day River provides excellent swimming options during summer. "The river is gorgeous and perfect for swimming. The views through the canyon are incredible at sunset and the temp dropped significantly for comfortable sleeping," notes Isabelle K. from Priest Hole.
Stargazing opportunities: Painted Hills Dispersed areas offer exceptional night sky viewing due to minimal light pollution. One visitor at Painted Hills Dispersed reported, "I arrived midday, so I spent the hottest part of the day in my shade tent reading and then in the evening watched the fire under the stars in my hammock. Very peaceful, only saw one car drive by the whole time."
Geological exploration: Short hikes through the colorful formations provide educational opportunities. A camper at Painted Hills South Camp described it as a "Great spot to stay when visiting the Painted Hills or passing through the area."
What campers like
Remote solitude: Many sites offer significant privacy despite proximity to attractions. At Painted Hills Dispersed, one camper shared, "I LOVE. This spot is awesome- it's beautiful and just around the corner from some short hikes through the painted hills. It's pretty remote, and there's no service but that's kind of the charm of it. Only saw one other person drive in while I was there."
River camping: Priest Hole Recreation Area recently received site improvements. "Great camping spot along the John Day river. There's an area in the beginning with new paved out camping spots on the river and a vault toilet. If you bypass that area and keep going along the gravel/dirt road you'll find more pull out spots that are more secluded," reports Callie S.
Site spacing: Campgrounds typically offer adequate distance between sites. One visitor at Priest Hole noted, "Quiet, serene and peaceful. Each campsite had recently been upgraded with heavy duty Pilot Rock fire pits, fresh gravel, restrooms were clean."
What you should know
Road conditions: Access roads deteriorate quickly after rain. A Painted Hills Dispersed camper warned, "I wouldn't trust the road in the rain, it looks like it turns into a mud pit."
GPS reliability: Navigation issues occur frequently, requiring backup plans. A visitor at Gable Creek Road Dispersed Camping reported, "This dispersed spot was a nice one-night stopover. It's pretty close to the main road (26) on a pretty good gravel road. The site can accommodate a pretty big rig or trailer, although there's really only one fairly level area."
Facilities limitations: No-cost camping in the area typically means minimal services. "We put Red Scar Knoll into our navigation and it took us to a private ranch with no trespassing signs. We couldn't see other ways to get there. We used the coordinates named by a previous reviewer instead and found the spot and it was great," reported one camper about finding Painted Hills Dispersed.
Tips for camping with families
Water safety planning: River currents vary seasonally, requiring supervision. "The water was the perfect temperature for swimming and crystal clear," reported a camper, but changing water levels affect access points and safety.
Bug preparation: Certain seasons bring increased insect activity. "Quite a few bugs at night. There was little to no service on the way there so make sure to save the coordinates/map," notes Amanda K. about Painted Hills Dispersed.
Heat management strategies: Temperatures regularly exceed 90°F in summer months. One Priest Hole visitor reported, "If we had checked the forecast, we probably wouldn't have camped here. However when we arrived at 6 pm and it was 100 degrees, we were far enough off the beaten path that we decided to sweat it out and spend the night."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Locate the most level areas before committing. At Priest Hole, an RVer noted, "The road to the river sites is NARROW, and we had trouble backing in with a 22' trailer while not hitting the guard rail, but the pull through sites are a lot farther from the river."
Road clearance concerns: Most access roads require careful navigation. "The dirt road to the campsite is bumpy and rutted but I made it just fine with my Tacoma and off-road trailer (and it's a really short distance once you're off the gravel road). At least to the first spot- there's about 3-4 other spots past that one but the road does get progressively worst," warns a camper at Painted Hills Dispersed.
