Looking for the best options for camping with dogs near Frenchglen? Find the best information on pet-friendly camping near Frenchglen, including sites, reviews, and tips for getting the most out of your RVing experience. Whether you're looking for a quiet location in the woods or a happening campground near the attractions, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to go camping with your dog.
Open year around, this campground has full service RV sites and tent sites. Also has fishing and groups sites.
$50 - $110 / night
$5 / night
Come for the water. Stay for the night. Located in the heart of Harney County, Oregon, Crane Hot Springs offers an unforgettable experience you won't find anywhere else! Whether you're here for a romantic getaway or a family trip, we have something to offer any type of traveler. Soak in the Hot Springs, relax in your own private soaking tub, or enjoy a variety of overnight accommodations and offerings. There's something for everyone at Crane Hot Springs! As a small family business, we value the importance of an experience that brings family and friends together. For over 20 years, our mission has been to provide a place where you can truly get away from the world, a place to make warm memories and to have heartfelt moments. Through hard work, dedication, and service, our vision is to continue providing an amazing experience for years to come and to carry on the legacy of Crane Hot Springs. Come and join us in the heart of Harney County, make some warm memories, and have an unforgettable experience!
Overview: Located below the east face of Steens Mountain, Mann Lake attracts anglers as much for its remote, rugged splendor as for its abundant Lahontan cutthroat trout. These trout are supremely adapted to survive alkaline desert waters and without them fisheries like Mann Lake could not exist. The lake was named for an early rancher and has satisfied fishers for over forty years. Anglers converge as early as March and into October. Shallow throughout its 200 acres, the lake features extensive weed beds and great shorelines for wading. Know Before You Go: Aside from two vault restrooms, Mann Lake offers no amenities. Bring your own shade, shelter and water and tie everything down. Swift winds are common, and weather conditions are often unpredictable. Two, eight-inch minimum length trout per day limit; artificial flies and lures only. Point of Interest: Aside from fishing, visitors enjoy camping, hiking, viewing wildlife such as pronghorn antelope, quail and chukar, and rock hounding for thunder eggs and agates in the area. Mann Lake Brochure
Camp Sites 40 for 2 people $15 per extra people 8 Camp Sites Available Soaking & Private Road Access to Desert are both including in camping rates. Dogs are welcome on leash in the campgrounds. They are not allowed at the soaking pools. Soaking - $10 per person per visit Children under 12 and ALL US Military (former and active) w/ID - Soak Free Private Road Access to the Desert - $10 per vehicle per day You can call the office for further information or to make a reservation. Please let us know if you have any further questions. (541) 589-2282 or (541) 589-2123 If you prefer you can now make your reservations online.
$5 - $30 / night
Be sure to adhere to any local rules and regulations around overnight parking
Guide
Free camping with sunshade and a fire ring. Pit toilets that are stocked and clean. Night sky as dark as the mummies thomb and quiet. Sunstones are everywhere but mostly small with the occasional large one. Be advised there is about 30 miles of dirt road to reach the site. Well maintained but some washboard.
Legend
Free BLM camping. Camped here on Oct 1, 2024. About 10 campsites scattered about the area. Some with metal firerings, others with rock firerings. One vault toilet; clean & supplied with tp, but full of flies. Sites are level and have a dirt surface; can get muddy & slippery when wet. Access from Fields-Folly Farm Rd not too bad. Very quiet. Coyotes crying at night. Sites appear to be level; large. One site had a picnic table. No cell service. Set well off of Fields-Folly Farm Rd; no road noise. Lake is full of waterfowl. Good overnight stop. Would stay here again. Bird photographers would enjoy this location.
Legend
Normally don't stay in RV parks while traveling in our camper van, but we needed to do laundry, take showers, replenish our water supply, and recharge our power storage units after days of dispersed & primitive camping. We really liked this RV park. Tina, who checked us in, was fantastic - very friendly and welcoming. She even gave our dog treats! She put us in site #39 which was not next to big rigs. We used the water & electric at the site. Reasonably priced. The park was very clean. The laundry room and restroom/shower rooms were also clean. The meals at the cafe were good, along with good service. We weren't enthusiastic about staying at an RV park, but we were glad we did. Fit our needs for an overnight stay.
Traveler
A short rough road takes you a few hundred yards of the main gravel road to the top of a ridge. Nice views , but also seclusion due to junipers. Not trailer or RV friendly.
Scout
We had RV spot #20 in the newer section and away from the lodging area. I think we would choose one closer to the pond next time so that we can get in more often! The pond is beautifully landscaped and clean, and everything is very clean. There are quite a few "rules", and the texts seemed a bit rude....but all of that resulted in a quiet, pleasant stay. A few up charges to watch for: $20 per extra guest $2 towel rental $10 per person early arrival charge. Great place. We'll stay again next year!
GuideCrane hot springs is beautiful and has a lovely soaking “pond. The campground isn’t fancy, but the spots are close to the water and campers have 24 hour access to the pond.
LegendGeneral: To say there are not many choices to camp around here would be an understatement! Fortunately, our stay turned out to be decent. We were greeted cheerfully by Tina (she and her husband Scott own the park). This place mainly attracts birders in the spring, hunters in the fall, and people passing through (this was us). There is a mix of back-in and pull-through sites. The back-in sites are along the east and north sides of the property with the pull-throughs in the center. There is a coin-operated laundry, store/gift shop, and restaurant. We didn’t eat in the restaurant but did indulge in Tina’s delicious homemade fruit turnovers!
Site Quality: All sites are level on gravel. Each site has a nice patio with a plastic picnic table, fire ring, and bbq platform. There are some trees scattered throughout but when we were there, they had not quite bloomed yet. Our site (34) was at the end of the row which gave us privacy on one side. Backs up to a fence and you will hear some road noise from the road behind it, but it is minimal.
Bathhouse: Three all-in-one units with a code to enter. Entering was a little tricky until we got the hang of it but once in, the units were clean. Showers take quarters.
Activities: Not much for us as we were passing through but a nice haven for birders (the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is close by) and convenient for hunters. Note that on GPS it looks like Mudd Lake is fairly close by, but the lake has been dry for at least 10 years according to Tina! Again, this was a pleasant stay for us as we were traveling through.
ScoutWonderful hot springs! Included in camping fee. We are dry camping but the do have full hookups. Beautiful night sky.
Scout
The camp ground was great. It has the basic needs for most camper trailers. There are a few sites there with shore power but I didn’t see any water hook ups. There is water there if you need to fill up jugs, tanks or water bottles. There is a single flushing toilet that is available for overnighters as well as small store with food and drinks for sale. The staff was very nice and helpful. Be aware of the wind! Our first night in our teardrop was pretty rocky. Almost lost our awning because the gusts were at or above 60mph. We talked to the staff and they said to orient the trailer front towards the mountains. It seriously helped a lot. If you tent camp, I would recommend some sort of windscreen or just use your vehicle to block it somehow. Overall the scenery is majestic and is worth the drive out there. 10/10
Legend
We camped 3 nights with a group, with our hot air balloons. But a great time! Flew balloons and a drone, road ATV's, watched a plane fly in and flip over on landing (a bunch tipped it back over and off he flew) and, OH, the stars!
Hot in the summer, beware of the mud after a rainstorm, but otherwise an amazing experience!
Legend
We stayed here on our way to camping on the Alvord. Very convenient spot from which to explore Steens Mountain , French Glen and the Malheur Wildlife refuge.
Campground was well maintained. Friends had trouble with the washboard road knocking their medicine cabinet off the wall, but we took the road more slowly and had not trouble. The very next morning the road had been graded, so going back to French Glen was no issue. Sites were fine. Sanitary dump was uphill so we used their communal dump on the way out. All was well. We did check out a little late and there was an extra fee, but we were fine with that!
We'd stay again.
Scout
Chalk one up for private enterprise: The Alvord Ranch (which also owns the Alvord Hot Springs) is charging $60/night to camp at Pike Creek with no amenities other than open-air vault toilets (be sure to bring your own toilet paper!) I like the idea of paying for a campsite on private land to show the owners that there is intrinsic value in land in its natural state and that you can make money off your land without exploiting it. However, this land owner is trying to have it both ways, because the cows are not fenced out of the campground land (there was cow manure in our campsite.) Also, if you are going to charge for camping, you need to do some work on the land to make it into a campground and maintain it, such as: make it clear where the campsites are (there are no signs or markers), block off unnecessary side roads causing devegetation and erosion, make it clear where day-use hikers should park (they parked in our campsite), fix the road (2WD low clearance vehicles would have difficulty), provide level areas for tents (I saw only 2 places), provide picnic tables (there are none), and pick up litter (there was used toilet paper in our campsite.) The camping fee includes access to the hotspring, but when we drove there, both pools were totally full of people so we didn’t go in. We would rather have the option of paying less just for the campsite, or else let us reserve a time to use the hotspring and set a reasonable limit on the number of people in the pools at one time. The camping fee also includes access to the Indian Creek Canyon trail, but hiking the Pike Creek trail takes all day so we didn’t have time for another hike. The camping fee also includes the use of their private road to the playa, but you can drive onto it for free at Frog Springs just down the road, which is where we camped the night before. The gate to the campground is supposed to be locked, but both times we drove up, the lock was open. There are 2 locks on the chain and they only give you the combination to one of them, so whoever is using the other lock could accidentally lock you in or out. The Pike Creek trail is great and we enjoyed listening to the creek gurgling, the crickets singing, and the coyotes howling.
ScoutChoose tent wisely. A late night sandstorm came through and ripped our rainfly and tent was covered in sand. Had to sleep in car. I should have brought the smaller backpack tent. Beautiful place though. One night was enough.
ScoutExcellent 'dry camping' .. not crowded .. exceptionally good natural hot mineral water in a large pond that varies in depth to about 5 feet .. clothing required .. family friendly .. tipis, cabins, and suites also available for lodging .. clean .. no food nearby so bring food .. shared camp available for preparing meals .. hot mineral water pond open at night for those staying overnight .. day use welcome from 7am to 10pm ..
TravelerI’ve camped here twice in the last couple years. The hot spring is incredible. 24/7 access to the spring and no extra fee (comes with your camping fee) they’ve got all sorts of lodging accommodations. First time I was car camping, second time I brought a camper. Both times it’s been lovely and I always recommend it to friends
TravelerGenerator quit working so we couldn’t boondock. Way too hot outside. Checked in on a day they were closed so the only signs of life we saw were the people who live here full time. Most sites are 30 amp. The ones with 50 amp were not marked at all and there was no information in the welcome email indicating what site we needed to look for so after driving five hours with four children and a dog, we had to go site by site to look for the proper hook ups in 100° weather. Was not very thrilled about that. Good stop over spot in a pinch. Served us well for what we needed it for
GuideTo truly feel the awe of this place it is best done driving out onto the lake bed and sleeping in the wild. You need to bring everything you’ll need. And very important: tag or mark your spot with gps if planning time leave playa to come back. The desert plays tricks on your eyes. The stunning steens mountain range and quiet are unmatched. Hot springs and good hikes and milkshakes nearby. Treat yourself
TravelerThis place is unbelievable! The pictures and descriptions can not fully explain the feeling of the Alvord Desert Playa. You should know you have to drive very far on dirt roads to get there. They are a little rough but not terrible. You will want to go slow. I recommend entering through the Alvord Hot Springs. They do charge but their entrance is much better than the Frog Spring entrance, which is very rough and not well maintained. The staff at the Alvord Hot Springs is also very knowledgeable on the area. You cannot have fires on the playa and there is no water so plan accordingly. Also the closest gas station is in Fields and the gas is very expensive. If you are thinking about going here just go. We had a camper van so we were not concerned about the elements. Do your research before you go and it will be an experience you will never forget. I can't wait to go back!
TravelerThis camp ground and hot springs is the perfect entrance to the Alvord desert. There are sites with and without electricity as well as bunkers if you don't want to camp. We were in a van and opted for a site with electricity. The staff was very helpful and knowledgeable about the area. Even if you don't stay here I would recommend using this paid entrance to the Alvord desert. They also have a small shop with food and camping supplies if needed. There is a rustic hot springs spot, which is very lovely. We used it twice during our one night stay. The second night we camped on the playa. I would highly recommend visiting the Alvord desert and at least stopping by this spot if you want to enter the playa.
Traveler
Pull off a few miles up Crowley rd with beautiful views. Saw no cars all evening on this remote gravel road.
GuideProbably the coolest place in Oregon to chill with a shortage of people, quietude, endless stars and a hot spring! You can camp virtually anywhere on the playa. The most popular area is near Frog Springs, where there is a pit toilet. Alvord Hot Springs is about two miles north of Frog Springs. It's pay-to-soak, but it's worth it. To the west the Steens loom, welcoming the setting sun. What I have found alluring about Alvord is the night, its stars, its quiet, its relentless darkness. I've never seen stars so clear. Fall is the best time to visit, but anytime is good if you ask me. Be prepared with lots of water, pack your garbage out and do your best to leave little trace so others after you might share a similar experience.
GuideI looked online and thought about making a reservation in advance, but wasn't sure about where I would end up by the end of this day in my trip. I stopped at noon and asked if they had any 30 Amp sites, but no, dry camping only. As this is in an area of BLM land, it should not have been difficult to boondock in the area. This place has water available, showers, clean bathrooms and of course the hot springs.
The check-in time is 3PM and if you arrive early, you have to leave and come back at 3 or pay an extra $10 per person (on top of $35 for dry camping) for early check-in. This rule might not be enforced by all staff members. You also have the option of paying a day use fee of $10 for 4 hours or $5 if you are 62 or older. Once again, being old pays off and I paid the day use fee to stay around. The hot springs pond is well developed and temperatures are regulated well.
The WiFi had problems and I was told that I may need to remove the settings for the site a few times to make it work. When it was working it is mostly just close to the office, but there are picnic tables near the hot springs and it is a pleasant place to work.
I would stay here again, but book in advance to get an electrical connection. It is also worth stopping for a few hours in the day to use the hot springs on a day use fee.
ScoutBeautiful view of Playa!
TravelerWe were there in mid October so probably the slow season. Very quiet place. The Jackalope bar and grill has excellent food. One of the best breakfasts we had on our trip. Staff were great and very friendly. Even if it is a bit off the beaten track well worth the detour. We'll definitely drop in when ever we go by Burns.
TravelerVery nice. Especially for us needing an easy overnight while in transit. The dry camping area is open, grassy, and uncrowded. No electricity of course, but water, showers, and bathrooms are available. The $35 includes unlimited use of the hot springs. The RV zone is gravel. There are also a dozen motel rooms, small cabanas bordering the springs, and teepees if that’s your thing. The staff is very friendly, the place is well kept, and the facilities are cleaned hourly. There is also a small community kitchen with stove, refrigerator, etc. Our second time stopping here on the way to/from Steens Mtn, 45 minutes away.
GuideGreat location for doing the Steens Mtn Loop and checking out Frenchglen. Best option with a Travel trailer. Couple miles on good, but dusty gravel road. Immaculate bathrooms.
GuideMust see the Steens Loop - a geological wonder. We’ll worth the 4 hours of washboard roads!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Frenchglen, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Frenchglen, OR is Steens Mountain Wilderness Resort with a 3.8-star rating from 5 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Frenchglen, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 dog-friendly camping locations near Frenchglen, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
