Top Free Dispersed Camping near Dorena Lake
Looking for dispersed camping near Dorena Lake? Dispersed camping is the perfect way to get off the grid. You're sure to find the perfect dispersed campsite for your Oregon excursion.
Best Dispersed Sites Near Dorena Lake, OR (13)
1.
Hult Pond
Blachly, Oregon14 Reviews47 Photos317 SavesThis site, sometimes referred to as Horton Lake, Hult Marsh, Hult Reservoir, or Mill Pond, was developed in the early 1900s for logging operations. The reservoir and surrounding wetland is about 40 acres and supports a rich diversity of wildlife, fish, and plant species. This recreation site is popular for activities such as fishing, camping, hiking, horseback riding, and scenic driving.
- Pets
- Fires
- ADA Access
- Tents
- Dispersed
- Picnic Table
3.
Blue River Reservoir Roadside Camping
Blue River, Oregon8 Reviews28 Photos486 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- ADA Access
- Dispersed
- Alcohol
6.
BLM Kentucky Falls Road
Walton, Oregon1 Review2 Photos9 SavesCamping is allowed in designated campgrounds, state parks, national forests, and on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land. Some private landowners also offer camping opportunities through platforms like Hipcamp. It is important to follow local regulations and respect private property when camping in Oregon.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- RVs
- Tents
- Group
8.
Near Fawn Creek Campground (BLM)
Scottsburg, Oregon1 Review1 Photo20 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- ADA Access
- RVs
- Tents
- Equestrian
Showing results 1-10 of 13 campgrounds
Recent Dispersed Reviews In Dorena Lake
28 Reviews of 13 Dorena Lake Campgrounds
Blue River Reservoir Roadside Camping
CLOSED FOR FIRE ACTIVITY
I didn't want to destroy the rating, but currently closed as of August 14th
BLM Kentucky Falls Road
Logging road
Nice pull off dispersed place to camp. Some sketchy people around but availability to get away from people up the road
Hult Pond
Nice (except solar/starlink)
Pretty busy spot - even early on a weekday. I found a pretty pulloff area, but quickly realized it's no good if you rely on cell service, solar and/or starlink due to the tree coverage. Ended up staying for one night. I would recommend if you're looking for somewhere to come and disconnect from the world. Just not over holidays or weekends.
GPS: 44.248357, -123.495729
Hult Pond
Beautiful but no cell service for miles
We have a 38 foot rv. We got stuck in a ditch. Rv almost tipped over trying to u turn… if you go down the main lower path you will find a area big enough to u turn! Dont do it until then! Other wise a wonderful time. So many many many bugs though at the area we stayed ar
Hult Pond
Good spot!
About an 1 hour from Corvallis but worth it if you can go at a good time! No service but great from a seclusion! So remember all games and firewood you need!!
Near Fawn Creek Campground (BLM)
very nice and secluded
had to stop but I don't think and gi to see if I 5
Hult Pond
Secluded Pond Great for a Quick stay
Great spot for a quick stay. There are only a few flat spots for RVs but quite a few decent spots for tent camping next to the pond. The west side of the pond has at least 2 spots that are a good distance away from the others. At the moment, no fires or barbecues allowed but propane stoves and lanterns are fine. Look for Bandits blue squeaky disk! We lost it and never found it.
Hult Pond
Nice Place
Decent spots with Fire Pits off the lake. Bathrooms not too far of a drive/walk if needed. Lots of people earlier in the day. All the good ones were taken, later around 6pm a perfect one opened up and we jumped on it.
Lemolo Forebay
No available sites
Looked like a great place to camp. Arrived at about 3:30pm and unfortunately all sites were occupied by then. After reading the prior couple reviews, I hoped this would have availability on a Thursday afternoon. Bummer. I noticed one group was playing music, so evening might not have been as quiet as I'd prefer.
Blue River Reservoir Roadside Camping
Scenic drive along the McKenzie river when coming from Hwy 5
Mosquitos are a bit much at dusk so ensure to bring spray. Dispersed camping outside improved areas are the best bet on weekends as this site seems to be very popular. Once outside improved areas, seclusion is easy to obtain. Water access is limited once off the paved road due to steep rocky drops.
Overall, this site is beautiful! The water is crystal clear and is ideal for swimming, fishing, kayaking as well as boating.
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
Hult Pond
Fantastic spot!
Nice, cleared spots, not too many other people.
Lemolo Forebay
Beautiful Sites
There are only about 6 little sites here and a boat ramp for the little lake. There is one long-drop toilet (no TP) and many sites had picnic tables. I'm not sure if all did, but ours did. We also had a fire pit.
We were there 2 nights and only had one other group show up the whole time.
There is a dangerous low-head dam at the beginning of the lake near the campground, so please keep track of your kids/pets!
I would certainly stay here again - it's about 12 minutes from the Umpqua Hot Springs!
Saddle Camp
Solitude
It's best if you have four wheel drive or all wheel drive. Wouldn't recommend going in the winter months or rainy season. It is a very fun drive though taxing and it is slow going. But was out there it is complete quiet and solitude. And make sure you stock up on anything you need cuz there's nothing there
Blue River Reservoir Roadside Camping
A little sketchy
We went looking for the other campgrounds on this road that we’re closed so we were disappointed. We didn’t leave our van due to rain but we had a nice little pullover. No fires allowed due to recent fires on the area
Hult Pond
Beautiful Campsites along Pond
Campsite: was lovely
Location: about 20 feet from the road where we parked, right along the pond.
Things people may want to be aware of: there were a few logging trucks and such using the road by the campsite, the bathrooms were not super close to the site, and campfires are not permitted.
Hult Pond
Great quite area
I love heading out that way. I have seen reviews of the place talking about tweaker the place but I have not had any encounters with anyone like that. And I love that it is dispersed camping all around there. I travel a little bit up the creek past the pond. Beautiful area a good fishing.
Hult Pond
Not bad
We got there a little after noon and the hood spots were taken that are on the lake. However I drove further up and camped at H5. It was a lot more private, and we had the creek to ourselves.
Hult Pond
Great private lakefront sites
The sites are sling the right side of the of the road, the road that leads along the left (west side) of the lake. There are several sites, we stayed in H2, which is painted on the road. It's a short 30 feet walk to the site from the parking spot. We had a lakefront site which was private and spacious. There was easy access to the lake, which us full of jumping fish. We had a great time, people were friendly and it was relatively quiet. We are glad to have made the trip to "Horton Lake". Definitely recommended.
Blue River Reservoir Roadside Camping
Peaceful camping
Sites were secluded and quiet. I found a site nearby the creek so that I could hear the stream all night. It was so peaceful! There are a couple forks in the road but I kept right through the first two until I made it to a gravel road with pull-outs. Nice areas for tent or car camping. Only one other group out there
Hult Pond
Great spot with lots of dispersed camping
I read some of the reviews when deciding to go there or not. I am so glad that I decided to go ahead and go instead of listening to the reviews. I had no issues with Tweakers wasn't harassed by anybody or anything like that. All the people we ran into very nice very courteous and we ended up camping just up the creek a little bit and it just the first sight. The area is beautiful lots of privacy and the fishing was pretty decent caught three largemouth bass.
Blue River Reservoir Roadside Camping
Favorite Spot
The only downside to this spot is that it's hard to get there before someone else. It's very popular, & for a reason. It's right by the water, fire pit, has a vault toilet down the road, & its great swimming. Weekends are a bit busier, but during the week not terribly so. Bugs are typical, but that doesn't bother us so much. Make sure to bring spray and you'll be fine. Closest Market we found me was in Vida, about 18 miles away off of 126 going West. Brought kids to this spot & they had a blast catching salamanders & scorpions (small non-lethal kind) Also, if you're going to camp here, make sure to pack up and take your trash out. People before us left dirty diapers in the fire pit. There's a dumpster next to the vault toilet. Please use it. Overall, wonderful place!
Blue River Reservoir Roadside Camping
Magic River, Magic Forest
The coordinates take you to right by the reservoir with one or two spots but if you keep going down the road into the National Forest/Recreation area, (not in towards the reservoir— that road is rough,) there are plenty of spots off the road to camp at. We found a spot to put our tent (right off the road) but still a safe distance away from it and was able to watch and hear this clear blue river while we fell asleep.
Hult Pond
Quiet
It was a nice Abe quiet place to chill for a few days. Will go back.
No hook ups, but you can access the river.
Hult Pond
The wrong sort of nostalgia
Our weekend at Hult Pond was unforgettable. I know because I have tried.
Disbursed camp sights sprawl along this man made log pond and nightmarish horror movie set along a footpath seamingly designed to dump its evening travelers into the muck that is Hult Pond. Jagged old logs poke out of the stagnant water as a reminder that someone used to get paid to spend the day here.
If this doesn’t sound like the most picturesque of settings I would direct you to the strange log loading equipment rusting just on the forbidden side of a gated barbed wire fence. Upon closer inspection you see what must be tetanus’s way of luring barefoot boys and girls into a summer of drooling lockjaw.
The access road is a still functioning rock quarry road that hosts a never ending parade of old rattling dump trucks and loaders. Nothing says ,”getting away from the hustle and bustle” quite like a convoy barrelling down a narrow road spilling basketball sized boulders before returning bouncing back up empty and clearly attempting to meet a quota.
The whole thing gave me an uneasy sense of nostalgia. Reminding me of the days we would gather by the dozens with red solo cups full of Hams. We would drink ourselves into a vomiting delirium in a parking lot off some old logging road. We would wake up with profanities drawn on our faces as punishment for succumbing to alcohol poisoning sooner than at least one of our classmates.
In fact I believe that’s exactly what the 58 kids in the campsite right next to ours we’re doing each night of our trip.
The girls learned all sorts of colorful language and I believed, based on the way my ten year old son was drooling that the tetanus had succeeded. I was not relieved to discover on our final morning, him wreaking of cheap beer and cigarettes and moaning how horrible he felt while proffering his undying love to a high school girl named Tiffany.
Not recommended.
Hult Pond
Mediocre at best
The views around the pond are very nice. Campsites are okay; some better than others. There's one bathroom facility but it's towards the entrance and the beginning of sites at the pond so be prepared with a shovel and TP. There are so many logging roads at this camp ground/mountain with dispersed camping available anywhere with flat ground you just might not be close to the pond. I went on a Friday and there were alot of people but the sites were spread out nicely you didn't really get bothered by anyone. My site was the last one by the water before it turns marshy though you could pass my site and drive for miles on logging roads. Fishing from shore is not advised; at least from my camp site. There's a large tree that runs out into the water which looks like a great place to fish but as you walk to the end of the log you'll see fishing lines all over. I lost 3 lures at that log and I think many others had too. Even watched one guy from camp try and fish there but he too got some snagged though he went in after them. A paddle boat or kayak is best; no motorized boats allowed. There's not a whole lot to do at this place. No trails that I could find so my dog and I walked on logging roads for a couple miles. This trip was spur of the moment and just wanted to get away for a night. I don't think I would come back. But some of the pictures and views were highlights of the trip.. there is a convenient store right before the entrance of the grounds though I never went but I'm sure you could get some essentials if forgotten.
Blue River Reservoir Roadside Camping
Nice spot
Camped at the second site just after the paved road ends. Plenty of space. Great view of the reservoir and a nice big fire pit made of rocks was waiting. Plenty of dead branches and twigs on the ground nearby made fire starting easy. Had a few cars pass by through the evening but otherwise, this site was nice and quiet. About 100 yards towards the paved road theres a nice little waterfall coming down the hillside with lots of frogs and salamanders hangin out in the runoff water. Overall, really enjoyed this camping spot.
Guide to Dorena Lake
Camping near Dorena Lake, Oregon, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
What to do:
- Fishing: Dorena Lake is great for fishing. Campers at Baker Bay Campgrounds & Marina say, "The view was wonderful. We got a lakeside camp site which made it a simple walk down to the lake where we could swim and fish."
- Hiking: Explore nearby trails for hiking. One visitor at Umpqua's Last Resort & Oregon Mountain Guides mentioned, "We arrived later than planned... but the staff recommended a nearby waterfall hike that we could do in inclement weather."
- Swimming: Enjoy the refreshing waters of the lake. A camper at Baker Bay Campgrounds & Marina noted, "Great location and beautiful view. Great for families."
What campers like:
- Scenic views: Campers love the beautiful surroundings. One reviewer at Casey's Riverside RV Resort said, "The river is just feet away. Dog friendly."
- Clean facilities: Many appreciate the cleanliness of the campgrounds. A visitor at Richardson Park & Campground shared, "Showers and bathroom were very clean and water was hot."
- Friendly staff: Campers often mention helpful staff. A reviewer at Hi-Way Haven RV Park said, "Staff was extremely friendly, professional and attentive."
What you should know:
- Reservation fees: Some campgrounds charge reservation fees. A camper at Armitage Park & Campground expressed frustration, saying, "We balked at the $10 online reservation fee."
- Limited amenities: Not all campgrounds have full amenities. A visitor at Black Canyon Campground noted, "No showers, but the pit toilets were the cleanest ones I have ever been in."
- Noise levels: Some campgrounds are near busy roads. A camper at Deerwood RV Park mentioned, "One star off for highway noise."
Tips for camping with families:
- Choose family-friendly campgrounds: Look for places with activities for kids. A reviewer at Whistlers Bend County Park said, "This is a great find! The day use area is nice."
- Plan for activities: Make sure to have a list of things to do. A camper at Umpqua's Last Resort & Oregon Mountain Guides mentioned, "Lots to do in the area."
- Pack snacks and drinks: Keep everyone happy with snacks. A visitor at Casey's Riverside RV Resort noted, "The amenities were top notch."
Tips from RVers:
- Check site sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A camper at Whistlers Bend County Park said, "The lower loop has no hookups and it is definitely made for smaller rigs."
- Look for full hookups: If you need them, check for availability. A reviewer at Armitage Park & Campground mentioned, "Site 30 was especially lovely. It is a full hook-up site surrounded by shrubs and trees."
- Be aware of noise: Some sites can be noisy. A visitor at Deerwood RV Park said, "The sites along the highway are loudest as you might expect."
Camping near Dorena Lake, Oregon, has something for everyone, from families to RVers. Just be sure to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Dorena Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Dorena Lake is Hult Pond with a 4-star rating from 14 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Dorena Lake?
TheDyrt.com has all 13 dispersed camping locations near Dorena Lake, with real photos and reviews from campers.