Best Dispersed Camping near Crescent, OR

Numerous dispersed camping areas dot the forest lands surrounding Crescent, Oregon, primarily on Deschutes National Forest land. Free primitive sites can be found along forest service roads including NF-100, NF-70, and NF-2612, with Mount Thielsen Wilderness offering additional backcountry options. Several sno-parks in the area, including Six Mile, Thousand Springs, and Salt Creek, permit overnight camping outside winter months. These areas typically feature minimal development and provide access to nearby attractions like Crater Lake National Park, which sits approximately 10-30 minutes from several dispersed sites.

Forest roads in the region vary from well-maintained gravel to rougher dirt tracks with occasional ruts and washouts. Many sites are accessible with standard vehicles, though some areas benefit from high-clearance or AWD capabilities. Most dispersed sites have established fire rings but no amenities like water, toilets, or trash service. Camping is generally limited to 14 days in a 30-day period. Cell service varies significantly by location and carrier, with some areas offering usable LTE while others have no signal. Summer fire restrictions often limit or prohibit campfires, particularly during dry periods.

The dispersed camping experience near Crescent provides solitude and natural beauty with proximity to regional attractions. Sites near Mount Thielsen Wilderness serve as convenient basecamps for Crater Lake exploration, while areas closer to Bend offer quick access to town amenities. Elevation differences can create significant temperature variations, with some campers reporting unexpected weather conditions. "We were the only ones there in our camper van... Lots of stars. No cell service," noted one visitor to Thousand Springs Sno-Park. Another camper at Mount Thielsen Wilderness shared, "Ten minute drive to the North Entrance of Crater Lake and about 20 minutes away from town with truck stop with showers and wifi."

Best Dispersed Sites Near Crescent, Oregon (47)

    1. Dispersed Camping NF - 100

    2 Reviews
    La Pine, OR
    13 miles

    "But right after turn off 31, there’s a nice area for an RV."

    "Plenty of alright pull offs along the road, drove for a bit and found a quarry you could drive to the top of. Wild fire fighters came up to track the fires."

    2. Dispersed wikiup camping

    4 Reviews
    La Pine, OR
    19 miles
    Website

    "Easy slop to flat river side camp. The upper camp was empty and I cleaned gun shells, burned aerosol cans and lots of melted and broken glass from the area."

    "It's all so close to the reservoir and not too far from town."

    3. Mount Thielsen Wilderness

    22 Reviews
    Diamond Lake, OR
    32 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."

    4. NF-70 Dispersed Camping Near Crater Lake NP

    13 Reviews
    Diamond Lake, OR
    30 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."

    8. NF 2612 Dispersed Camping

    3 Reviews
    Diamond Lake, OR
    25 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."

    9. Six Mile Sno-Park

    1 Review
    La Pine, OR
    22 miles

    "I quiet spot to dry camp/boondock with hiking/snow mobile trail right from the parking lot. I checked this spot out for future boondocking this autumn."

    10. Salt Creek Hideout

    1 Review
    Oakridge, OR
    22 miles

    "Campsite with 3 wooden benches plus a campfire, also a creek with a short walking distance from the camp."

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Crescent, OR

175 Reviews of 47 Crescent Campgrounds


  • Aaron M.
    Jul. 7, 2021

    Deschutes Forest NFD 4600-120 Dispersed Camping

    Fine dispersed camping close to town

    Just a forest service road. The area close to the road is closed to camping entirely. I showed up at 1am and missed that part since I'm so used to seeing no campFIRES and was hassled by a local for making their scenic walk less pretty. But if you look at the map posted you just need to be further in from the road - you'll see new signs for 14-day limits. Lots of mountain bikers riding past since there are a ton of trails out here. They also seem to be grumpy about seeing a vehicle parked out here, but oh well. 

    I don't know who is marking this area for services and water and toilets and RV hookups.... it's just a dirt road. However I do get 2-3 bars LTE on AT&T and Verizon even further in where you can camp.

  • Trevor G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 9, 2023

    Oregon Badlands Dispersed

    Quiet spot with epic view

    Nabbed a nice quiet spot about a mile up the dirt road. The fire ring looked like a bottledrop convention, but I quickly "Molly Maided" the site and was back to camping in no time. (Leave no trace, peeps!) Snow started to fall early in the evening and through the night. Woke up to single digits, but overall it was a perfect overnight getaway just outside of town.

  • 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.

  • Erin P.
    Aug. 7, 2017

    Moraine Lake Dispersed Camping

    Great South Sister base camp

    Hiked up on Friday night and got the last spot. No amenities, and a 2 mile straight uphill hike to get here. Theres a map of the campsites, but they are hard to find. None are near te lake so fill upwater in bulk! Stunning sunsets and sunrises. Made for a nice striking point to the summit. Gets busy. Have bug spray handy!

  • 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.


Guide to Crescent

Dispersed camping near Crescent, Oregon offers National Forest sites at elevations between 4,300-5,800 feet across Deschutes National Forest land. Temperatures can vary significantly with summer days reaching 90°F while nights drop into the 40s. Winter access becomes limited as many forest roads close with snowfall, typically from November through April when sno-parks become the primary camping options.

What to do

Explore Lemolo Falls: Access this waterfall via forest roads near NF 2612 Dispersed Camping, where campers have reported good hiking opportunities. "In the area we visited Lemolo Falls and Warm Spring Falls. We weren't disappointed," notes one camper who appreciated the multiple waterfall options nearby.

Mountain biking opportunities: The forest roads around Crescent provide excellent routes for cyclists. One visitor at Dispersed Camping NF-100 mentioned, "somebody had built a little bike track around the perimeter of the campsite, great for kids."

Stargazing sessions: The limited light pollution creates excellent night sky viewing. A camper at Mount Thielsen Wilderness noted, "The stars and trees were stunning and the site was super accessible. When the temperature rose, there were some mosquitoes, but not many."

Creek exploration: Several dispersed sites offer access to small streams. At Dispersed Wikiup Camping, a visitor shared, "I went back and stayed in my tent by the stream. Parked 20 ft from tent on road. Easy slope to flat river side camp."

What campers like

Privacy and solitude: Many dispersed areas provide separation from other campers. At Mount Thielsen Wilderness, a visitor commented, "This spot had the best view and most privacy our whole vacation."

Level parking spots: Finding flat ground for camping is relatively easy throughout the area. At NF-70 Dispersed Camping, one reviewer 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 in select areas: Coverage varies significantly by location. At NF-70, a camper reported, "Nice site, no bugs in August. Close by to all the crater lake hikes. Even got 3 bar TMobile 5g at the site a mile or so up the road on the left."

Established fire rings: Many sites feature existing fire rings, though fire restrictions apply seasonally. A camper at Rock Creek Dispersed Camping noted, "A couple of them have rock fire rings, although I believe there were restrictions for the summer months."

What you should know

Mosquito presence: Insects can be prevalent, especially near water. At Salt Creek Hideout, a visitor warned to "beware of heavy mosquitos in the summer, once we made a fire they went away."

Road conditions vary: Access roads range from good gravel to challenging paths. One NF-70 camper advised, "NF-70 is gravel and in pretty good shape, i.e., no potholes, but is heavily washboarded. This wasn't an issue for the Cherokee, but with a stiffer suspension, I had to limit the RV speed to less than 7 mph."

Winter access limited: Many sites become inaccessible during winter months. A visitor attempting to use NF-70 in December reported simply: "Road to site not plowed in winter (Dec 30). Not available."

Environmental concerns: Previous campers may leave trash. At Dispersed Wikiup Camping, one visitor noted, "The upper camp was empty and I cleaned gun shells, burned aerosol cans and lots of melted and broken glass from the area."

Tips for camping with families

Look for sites with natural play features: Children enjoy spots with built-in activities. At Dispersed Wikiup Camping, a parent observed, "Big enough space for multiple families, very easy to find. Small trail down to a creek, somebody had built a little bike track around the perimeter of the campsite, great for kids."

Prepare for cold nights: Even summer camping requires warm clothing. At Six Mile Sno-Park, which offers free camping outside winter months, a visitor noted it's "a quiet spot to dry camp/boondock with hiking/snow mobile trail right from the parking lot."

Pack insect repellent: Mosquitoes can impact children's comfort. At NF 2612 Dispersed Camping, a visitor warned, "The area does have mosquitoes to contend with."

Scout multiple options: Having backup sites helps with family needs. At NF-70, a camper advised, "This specific spot and others nearby were occupied. Kept driving and in less than a mile found a spot all to ourselves. Huge site, perfectly level, in the woods."

Tips from RVers

Length considerations: Some roads accommodate larger rigs better than others. At NF 2612 Dispersed Camping, a visitor found "perfect for self-contained campers and trailers. Beautiful location near several Lakes and large fields with plenty of level camping."

Satellite connectivity: Tree coverage affects technology access. A visitor at Dispersed Wikiup Camping noted, "Tall trees so no good vantage point for starlink or solar."

Limited turnarounds: Forest roads may not have adequate space for larger vehicles to change direction. At Salt Creek Backwoods, an RVer shared, "We actually pulled in this part of the forest wanting to park at the 'hideaway' spot but someone was already posted up there. Kind of no turn around options and driving forward was all our only choice at that point."

Dust conditions: Fine dirt can affect RV systems. A camper at Dispersed Wikiup Camping warned, "Super fine dust, everything will be dirty."

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best season for dispersed camping at Crescent Lake?

The prime season for dispersed camping at Crescent Lake is late spring through early fall (May-September). Summer offers the most reliable weather, with warm days and cool nights ideal for camping. Thousand Springs Sno-Park becomes a popular overflow option during peak summer months when established campgrounds fill up. Many dispersed areas may be inaccessible during winter and early spring due to snow, as evidenced by the Oregon Badlands Dispersed area which can experience single-digit temperatures and snowfall as early as fall. Always check road conditions before heading out, especially in shoulder seasons when weather can be unpredictable.

Where are the dispersed camping areas around Crescent Lake in Oregon?

Dispersed camping options around Crescent Lake can be found in the Deschutes National Forest. Deschutes Forest NFD 4600-120 Dispersed Camping is accessible via forest service roads, though areas closest to the road may have camping restrictions (check posted maps for details). Many dispersed sites are available by pulling off from main roads onto dirt single-lane roads throughout the forest. Another option is Mount Thielsen Wilderness, which offers multiple dispersed camping spots with relatively easy access from Highway 138. Be prepared to venture a bit further from main roads to find the best spots, and always check current forest regulations as they may change seasonally.

What amenities and facilities are available at Crescent Lake dispersed camping sites?

Dispersed camping around Crescent Lake is primitive with minimal to no amenities. Most sites like Auger Creek Dispersed offer dry camping with no facilities - no running water, electricity, trash service, or toilets. Some locations may have basic fire rings, but that's typically all you'll find. For more amenities, consider Lemolo Forebay which offers fire rings and picnic tables at each site, plus vault toilets stocked with toilet paper and trash cans. Always pack in all necessary supplies including water, and be prepared to pack out all waste. Cell service is generally unavailable in these areas, so plan accordingly for true off-grid camping.