Dorena Lake in Oregon features multiple established campgrounds offering a range of accommodations. Baker Bay Campgrounds & Marina, situated on the lakeshore, provides 48 sites for tent and RV camping with amenities including drinking water, showers, and toilets. Schwarz Campground, operated by the Army Corps of Engineers, offers tent and RV sites with water hookups and toilet facilities. Several other campgrounds dot the landscape around the lake, including Rujada Campground to the southeast and Cedar Creek Campground to the south, creating multiple access points to this scenic reservoir in western Oregon.
Many campgrounds in the area operate seasonally, typically from May through September, with some closing by late September. "The campground roads can be tight if you have a big rig so be careful," notes one visitor about Schwarz Campground. Primitive sites without hookups are common, prompting many RV campers to run generators for power needs. Baker Bay provides more developed facilities including showers and a boat marina, while areas like Cedar Creek offer a more rustic experience. Alcohol restrictions vary by location, with some parks strictly prohibiting it while others permit responsible consumption. All sites typically provide fire rings and picnic tables, though fire bans may be implemented during dry summer conditions.
Waterfront access represents a significant draw for campers visiting Dorena Lake. Sites with lake views tend to fill quickly during summer months when swimming and boating activities peak. One camper described Baker Bay as having "a ton of space for group camping and some great spots along the river. It's close to several great fishing holes and beautiful covered bridges." Privacy varies considerably between campgrounds, with some visitors noting sites can be quite close together. A review mentioned that "the peace and tranquility offered by this campground were unparalleled," while others reported overcrowding during peak season. Noise levels fluctuate based on campground popularity, with some locations experiencing generator noise throughout the day. Most campgrounds provide shade from oak and pine trees, though inner sites typically offer less privacy than perimeter locations.
$20 - $75 / night
"no hookups in this little campground but you can’t beat the location. nestled on the shores of Dorena Lake east of Cottage Grove in the trees. little boat dock. stocked lake. rental kayaks and swimming"
"We got a lakeside camp site which made it a simple walk down to the lake where we could swim and fish. The camp ground had a pretty big bathroom and separate shower room."
$24 - $150 / night
"One of the standout features of this campground was its ideal location. Situated in a breathtaking natural setting, it provided easy access to various outdoor activities, including cliff jumping."
"Schwarz campground is located just past Cottage grove, right on the Row river. I hadn't realized, until I took a nice little walk, it's located just below Dorena reservoir."
$20 - $26 / night
"This campground is run by the Army Core of Engineers, so if you have the Federal Access Pass enjoy half off your stay :) Several campsites right along the lake."
"Close to Eugene."
$26 - $115 / night
"The site we’ve always stayed at is huge, way far from any other sites, and has a neat little trail between the parking spot and camping spot."
"Avoid the spots right near the entrance as the highway sound is pretty loud. Spots 20-40 are near the river and you can either see/hear at most spots."
$20 - $39 / night
"Easy to find from I-5 and very close to Costco. Quiet location away from the road noise and has nice walking path along the McKenzie River."
"The campsites were nicely situated so you weren’t right on top of each other and the park was great. There is an off leash dog park and access to the river."
$20 - $24 / night
"Sites are surrounded by trees to give privacy and not feel like you are sharing a site with your neighbor. There is a good hiking trail by the park Swordfern trail."
"Laying Creek sounds heavenly all throughout the camp, the trails are great to walk, and you will eventually wander to a swimming hole. Beautiful campground, with a great history going back to 1933."
"I had an easy stopover here on the way to Eastern Oregon. I didn’t want to use my tanks, so I used their restrooms. They were warm, clean, and well-lit."
"We were lucky enough to rent a space at Deerwood for two months while we escaped the heat of Arizona and visiting our kids in Oregon."
"One star off for highway noise. Looks like many longer term campers here - flower pots, table cloths, decorations, mostly 5th wheelers."
$48 - $54 / night
"Perfect location and great amenities. Right next to river. Has showers, restrooms, pool, quite, WiFi, and even $1 self serve ice cream."
"We were able to maneuver our 5th wheel to position it around a large shade tree so we could get our slide and awning out plus have the utilities more centered on our rig."
"Great spot to get away from the usual busy family campgrounds and state parks. Nothing fancy here. Vault toilets. Don't remember if there is even running water."
"PRO’S remote, heavy forest nearby, beautiful landscape -every site on the North side of the campground has a trail down to the river. Site 7 has concrete steps to the river."
GuideGreat little campground, $22 when you add in the required reservation fee. Nice little trail. Through camp and trails down to the river. Level sites, pit toilets. Noise from the 2 lane highway but pretty quiet over night
ScoutI love shotgun creek, lots of fun out there beware of the wildlife and other people. There is shooting spots, 4 wheeling trails, etc its a great spot for just about amything
TravelerGreat and quiet spot for an over night dry camp. You can hear the sound of the river in the close distance.
ScoutVery clean and peaceful. Sunny spot and shady spots. We have solar so having sunny spots was very helpful.
TravelerBeen to this campground a couple times now and enjoy it. Avoid the spots right near the entrance as the highway sound is pretty loud. Spots 20-40 are near the river and you can either see/hear at most spots. Lots of water fill up stations and there was firewood for sale at $9/bundle. Bathrooms were clean, though if you are staying at a spot like ours (26) you have a bit of a walk to the closet one. It was extremely quiet when we stayed, but it does get busy during the summer from past experiences. There is also a boat launch area with a large rocky beach people lay out on when it's sunny. Overall a great campground!
TravelerVery peaceful with plenty of room between campsites, actually cannot see the next campsite over! Vault toilets are clean. Camp Host is EXCELLENT. Do not follow Apple Maps to this campground…watch for the signs on the road instead. Apple Maps has you going way past and turning the wrong way.
TravelerThis place was perfect for our little getaway we had. The glamping tents have everything you need, super comfortable bed, wood burning stove, utensils, plates, bedding, charger, lights, fans, hammock, party cooler, and a deck that walks out onto the water. It’s honestly amazing.
The hosts were fantastic and very welcoming. They made sure we were well taken care of. There’s also a communal pavilion with a grill, microwave, coffee, games, and a giant fire place.
If you have time, I would recommend a nice kayak around the lake and of course the Rock Slides which are natures water park.
I was confused on the other review here that said no dogs in the tent, as I didn’t have that experience. They just prefer they don’t sleep on the furniture if they are dirty, which sounded reasonable to us. The facility and water ways was also immaculate.
This place was a dream come true, and we will definitely be back here for years to come. Great job!
RangerDefinitely off the beaten path. Expect about an extra 25–30 minutes off I-5 to get here, but that remoteness is part of the appeal.
We used this as an overnight stop during a trip from California to Seattle and ended up really enjoying it. The road near the top seems best suited for 4x4 vehicles. It becomes very gravelly with loose rocks, potholes, and some sharper cliffside sections. In dry conditions, though, most vehicles could probably make it up slowly and carefully. After rain or snow, I could see it becoming muddy and much more difficult. Vans would likely still be okay, and tree overhang was not an issue for us.
At the end of the road there’s a very obvious turnaround area with enough flat space for multiple vehicles to camp comfortably. The view is decent, though partially blocked by trees. There are private land signs posted along parts of the drive, so just be mindful where you stop. The spot itself feels tucked away, quiet, and secluded, with additional hidden areas between the trees if you want more privacy.
Midday solar exposure was actually great here, and Starlink worked almost perfectly for us. The only thing really lacking was water access, so come prepared.
My favorite part was the silence. There was almost no wind when we stayed, and it was so quiet my ears were ringing. That’s exactly what I look for in an overnight spot. Slept fantastic here.
RangerSites are fine. The larger park is definitely in need of maintenance- vegetation is overgrown, some facilities are run down, etc. But the facilities within the campsite are fine. Pro tip: if you’re outside facing the bath house, the shower on the right has hot water but the left doesn’t. Biggest complaint is that the dump station is out of order. They provided info on another location we can dump but still inconvenient.
Dorena Lake campgrounds maintain operational schedules tied to the region's weather patterns, with most facilities closing by late September and reopening in May. Located in the western Cascade foothills at approximately 800 feet elevation, the lake experiences warm, dry summers with daytime temperatures often reaching the mid-80s. Fall camping features cooler conditions with nighttime temperatures sometimes dropping to the 40s, making a heater necessary for RVs and proper sleeping bags essential for tent campers.
Hiking nearby trails: Several trails provide scenic views and exercise options near Baker Bay Campgrounds & Marina. One camper noted, "We could leave our kayaks on the shore and just hop right in and paddle if we wanted," while another mentioned the trail access directly from their campsite, though "this time the bridge was down, so we could not venture."
Waterfall exploration: Multiple accessible waterfalls surround the camping areas near Rujada Campground. A visitor shared that "Just up the road approx. 6 miles, you can find 'Pinard', 'Moon', and 'Spirit falls'. Each are around 2 easy hiking miles and worth hitting, you can easily do all three in one day."
River swimming: The creek and river systems around Dorena Lake provide natural swimming opportunities. A camper at Cedar Creek Campground reported, "Adjacent Brice Creek is refreshingly cold for a swim on a hot day," while another mentioned, "The river is about 25 ft from the campground."
Riverside camping spots: Many campers prioritize sites with direct water access. At Casey's Riverside RV Resort, "The river runs right next to the campground with part of the sites right along it," and another visitor mentioned, "The high 30s through mid 40s will give you the best river view plus you can really hear the rushing of the river."
Tent-friendly terrain: Several campgrounds feature well-maintained tent sites with level ground. At Black Canyon Campground, "The site was nice but located about 200 ft from riverfront first come first serve sites," and "Most have well cleared spots for tents amid towering Douglas fir trees."
Privacy between sites: Campsite separation varies significantly across Dorena Lake camping areas. One camper at Cedar Creek noted, "The camp spots are large and far enough apart that you don't feel like you are intruding on your neighbors," while another mentioned, "Every site on the North side of the campground has a trail down to the river."
Train and road noise: Some campgrounds experience transportation noise. At Black Canyon Campground, "The train tracks are literally across the river. Maybe 200 ft away. The train runs all day and sadly all night," while another visitor noted their "neighbors told us they had moved to the river site because at the other end of the campground road noise was louder than the all night train noise."
Limited shower facilities: Many Dorena Lake campgrounds have basic amenities only. At Pine Meadows Campground, a camper noted, "This is a primitive campground. So bring your generator if you need it!" while another mentioned, "Restrooms with showers were pretty clean."
Water quality concerns: Seasonal water conditions affect swimming safety. One visitor reported, "Our camping spot had a direct path to the water but unfortunately, due to algae levels, we couldn't go in," and another advised, "Before getting in the water, look for signs for swimmers itch or blue/green algae."
Swimming access points: Family-friendly water entry locations exist at several campgrounds. A camper at COE Dorena Reservoir Schwarz Campground reported, "This campground has a ton of space for group camping and some great spots along the river. It's close to several great fishing holes and beautiful covered bridges."
Playground availability: Some campgrounds offer play structures for children. A visitor noted, "The playground is nice and right next to the beach," while another mentioned, "There was a nice playground which did surprise us that my kiddos liked."
Early morning noise: Be prepared for early wake-up calls. One camper shared, "Farm across the street has 05:30 am rooster," and others mentioned generator noise starting early: "All promptly started at 6am."
Generator policies: Power availability varies across campgrounds. At Schwarz Campground, "Because there is no power in the sites people were running generators for hours, even the tent campers," and a different camper noted, "They banged loudly on the person next to us doors at 10:05 about their generator being on."
Site length considerations: RV parking space varies significantly. One RVer reported, "Spaces are fairly short, especially on Standard sites. We barely fit our 39' Class A and a 2 door Jeep Wrangler. If our vehicle had been any longer, we would have had to park in overflow parking."
Pad requirements: Some campgrounds have specific equipment needs. A camper mentioned, "ALL spots require jack pads. Having not stayed in too many parks with asphalt, this was a surprise for us. They did not mention at checkin, but we got a polite email the next morning."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Dorena Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, Dorena Lake offers a wide range of camping options, with 223 campgrounds and RV parks near Dorena Lake and 21 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Dorena Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Dorena Lake is Baker Bay Campgrounds & Marina - a Lane County Park with a 3.8-star rating from 10 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Dorena Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 21 free dispersed camping spots near Dorena Lake.
What parks are near Dorena Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 18 parks near Dorena Lake that allow camping, notably Fall Creek Lake and Fern Ridge Lake.
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