Tent camping near Elkton, Oregon centers on the coastal temperate rainforest environment where annual precipitation averages 65-70 inches, creating lush, mossy landscapes throughout the region. Most campsites sit at elevations between 400-1,200 feet with forest cover dominated by Douglas fir, western hemlock, and red cedar. Summer temperatures typically range from 50-85°F with morning fog common along river corridors during June and July.
What to do
Waterfall hikes: 2-mile trail from Alsea Falls to Green Peak Falls offers moderate terrain with substantial elevation gain. "This trail also takes you through Mcbee park campground which is a smaller privately owned primitive campground," notes camper Tj B.
Mountain biking: Custom trail network available at Alsea Falls Recreation Site with multiple difficulty levels. "Tall trees, dense greenscapes, long, well-marked switchback trails and a wide, long wall of whitewater that is Alsea Falls," reports Bjorn S.
Fishing access: Smith River near Tyee Campground provides good bank fishing for steelhead and trout during spring and fall runs. "Tyee campground is a nice get away close to home, there's fishing and bike riding. Very beautiful area," writes Caroline L.S.
Forest exploration: Marlow Creek Road in Elliott State Forest contains multiple routes leading to secluded spots. "There are several forks in the road that you can follow to more campsites, but I opted to camp right off the main road. I was the only car out there," reports Caroline E.
What campers like
Riverside camping: Nesika County Park offers direct water access for swimming and wading during summer months. "Great spot for tent or pull trailer right on the creek! Camp host is accommodating and helpful," shares Kirsten L.
Seclusion: Elliott State Forest provides true wilderness camping away from developed areas. "We walked through the creek for a little bit. Not to many good pull off options. It was super damp and rainy while we were there so we're unable to start a fire," notes Lauren B.
Morning views: Hilltop clearings in Elliott State Forest offer panoramic vistas. "Followed Marlow Creek road about 7 or 8 miles straight back until we reached the top of a hill. Cleared out from what looks to be trees that burned from a fire. Makes for amazing views," says Allie D.
Water sounds: Creek-side sites provide natural white noise for sleeping. "The road follows a babbling creek which was amazing to sleep next to," reports a camper.
What you should know
Road conditions: Forest service roads require careful navigation and appropriate vehicles. "Our day stay was due to the road being too steep for my 1993 truck camper. It got too hot and blew the transmission, made a nice long trail in the steep road," cautions Daisee Mae S.
Seasonal activity: Summer weekends at Oregon Dunes and popular campgrounds fill quickly. "Recently it has become super crowded on any summer days. I was lucky to snag a site at 1 pm on a July weekday," warns Meredith L. about Alsea Falls.
Cellular coverage: Spotty reception throughout most forest areas with limited exceptions. "There was surprisingly multiple spots that I had cell service (AT&T) so I was able to navigate myself around through a satellite map," notes Catey N. about Elliott State Forest.
Fire restrictions: Seasonal bans common during summer months. "It was muddy at the site, and unfortunately, those before us left a lot of trash. Did my best to clean up when was left behind. There was a fire pit but we did not use it due to fire restrictions," reports Janine L.
Tips for camping with families
Campground size: Choose smaller campgrounds with fewer sites for easier supervision. "This is a cozy little BLM managed campground with 16 total sites. Two are group sites, and only some sites can be reserved via recreation.gov," describes Tj B. about Alsea Falls.
Hiking difficulty: Trail ratings vary significantly across the region. "The hiking trails can be challenging in parts so beware if you have small kiddos," advises Kelli B.
Vehicle traffic: Be aware of logging activity in Elliott State Forest. "This is a logging forest, so we had huge logging trucks roll by in the morning - because of this, it may not be the best spot for kids or off leashed dogs," warns one reviewer.
Host assistance: Camp hosts at Nesika County Park provide on-site support. "Camp host is super friendly and nice. Best rate on firewood. By the barrel," shares Regina B.
Tips from RVers
Site size limitations: Small campgrounds often cannot accommodate larger rigs. "Sites are few and are pretty small so if you have a larger rig you might want to pass on this one," notes Kelli B. about Alsea Falls.
Trailer access: Sharp turns limit accessibility at some campgrounds. "The turn into this road from Highway is a sharp one and immediately uphill. Probably not for anyone towing large trailers but if your skilled you can try it out," advises Ash C. about Dry Lake Horse Camp.
Alternative camping: Pullouts along forest roads work for smaller RVs. "When all other nearby campgrounds were full, we came here. Great spot in between Florence and yachats. Unfortunately it was full so we just dry camped for free down the road in a pull out," shares Ash C.
Primitive accommodations: No hookups at most tent camping sites near Elkton. "This is a primitive and first come first serve. Camp host was great.. his name is Dan.. he would visit to see if you needed anything," reports Dan C. about Nesika County Park.
