Looking for the best Fern Ridge Lake dispersed camping? Dispersed camping is an excellent way to get away from it all and to disconnect. You're sure to find the perfect dispersed campgrounds for your Oregon camping adventure.
This 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.
Camping 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.
Many people enjoy the solitude and primitive experience of camping away from developed campgrounds and other campers. "Dispersed camping" is the term used for camping anywhere in the National Forest OUTSIDE of a developed campground. Dispersed camping usually means no toilet facilities or treated water, no fire grates, and no picnic tables or other amenities are provided.
There are extra responsibilities and skills needed for dispersed camping. By applying Leave No Trace practices, you will ensure a safe, clean and positive experience for your family and the environment.
The sites listed below are some popular, well used dispersed camping areas. For other more out of the way places, please check the Motor Vehicle Use Map for permissible locations.
The Forest also has dispersed OHV Sand Camping sites. Sand camping is allowed in areas at Sand Lake Recreation Area and at the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. Each area has different regulations as to where you can camp.
Scout
My husband and I decided we wanted to camp at the coast this weekend and every other camp site and state park was full, so we stumbled upon this place! It was easy to find following the directions on this site. Like other reviews mentioned, there are cars that drive by since it is a forest road, but we didn’t notice too much of a disturbance from them. It was pretty secluded. We stayed at the intersection campsite, and it was great! There was trash from previous campers, but we cleaned it up before we left!
ScoutThis area was easy to get to with Apple Maps which was great, however there was only one open site - after settling in it became clear that the other sites were more permanent setups….. there were cars coming and going all night, one in the dark going easily 50mph almost hit us. Would not recommend in its current state for people looking for calm camping.
Traveler
Nice pull off dispersed place to camp. Some sketchy people around but availability to get away from people up the road
GuideLooks like there are 2 pull off spots here. One was taken by another camper, and I was grateful to snag the second one. Stayed here for 2 nights. It is off a gravel road, but it's not that busy. Pretty view and relatively secluded. Would stay again. The 2ish mile drive up the gravel road to get here was easy enough.
GPS: 44.512881, -123.984589
Guide
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
ScoutStayed here on a Sunday night in June, there’s two campsites. One at the fork in the road and one slightly further down. I stayed in the first with my camper Subaru. Only had maybe 4 cars pass from 6pm to 10pm. Tiny bit of trash around but as always leave it better than you found it!
GuideI probably wouldn't do this if I had a trailer or an rv, but my toyota Corolla did just fine. The marked coordinates are a little overgrown, but there's a good tent spot a couple hundred feet beforehand. Pretty chilly evening, but it was definitely secluded and peaceful
ScoutWe 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
ScoutAbout 15 minutes off the 101, with the last 3 mi being unpaved gravel road (well groomed). Campsite is isolated and quiet. Some scattered trash in the area.
ScoutAbout 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!!
Traveler
had to stop but I don't think and gi to see if I 5
TravelerGreat 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.
Traveler
It’s a small road through the forest with a few pull off spots along the way. Nothing particularly interesting here, just trees. Can be difficult to find a spot without having to drive pretty far into the forest.
ScoutDecent 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.
TravelerThe way Google took us go thus spot was terrible. Instead of keeping us on the gravel road, it had us drive through an overgrown dirt path. Thank got we didn't get stuck!
If you are going, stay on the clearly marked gravel road! It's long and winding, but it does have a fee pull outs to park in! It was very quiet, peaceful, and no wildlife bothered us!
ScoutNice, cleared spots, not too many other people.
ScoutI drove back in a few miles and camped along the road, in some old growth forest. It was dark, and I mean truly dark in there when you shut off your lights off, and silent as a tomb. Huge uncut trees, bad ass country! My Cane Corso bully dog made it much less spooky at night, not many things would want a piece of him.
ScoutCampsite: 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.
GuideI 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.
GuideWe 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.
TravelerThe 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.
TravelerI 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.
ScoutIt was a nice Abe quiet place to chill for a few days. Will go back.
No hook ups, but you can access the river.
TravelerOur 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.
GuideThe 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Fern Ridge Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Fern Ridge Lake is Hult Pond with a 4-star rating from 14 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Fern Ridge Lake?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 dispersed camping locations near Fern Ridge Lake, with real photos and reviews from campers.
