Dispersed camping options near Gaston, Oregon span across public lands surrounded by dense Douglas fir forests at elevations between 200-800 feet. The area experiences mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers with average July temperatures around 82°F. Most campgrounds within the 40-minute radius stay open year-round, though primitive sites may lack running water during winter months.
What to do
Hiking near campsites: Gales Creek Campground offers multiple trails directly from camp. "Awesome hiking for miles and miles right from the campground," notes one visitor who explored during winter when "forest was a real mess with bridges and trail in need of lots of repair work." The campground provides a central base for exploring Tillamook State Forest.
Fishing opportunities: Trout and steelhead fishing draws many visitors to Trask River County Park. "Great swimming holes!" reports a camper who appreciates "listening to the river flowing all the time." The campground features riverside sites with good water access points for anglers.
Disc golf courses: Several parks in the area offer disc golf as a primary activity. A visitor to Milo McIver State Park notes the "twin 18 hole disc golf courses, or single 27 hole layout when tournaments aren't in progress." The park hosts the annual Beaver State Fling, a PDGA sanctioned National Tour event attracting international players.
What campers like
Yurt amenities: Yurt camping near Gaston, Oregon provides comfortable furnishings and electricity. At Cape Lookout State Park Campground, "cabins are safe and stormproof for great storm watching in winter/spring months. Steps from tidal pools means great beach combing in dry weather!" The park's oceanfront location makes it popular year-round.
Wildlife viewing: Several campgrounds feature resident wildlife. One camper at Trask River County Park mentioned, "If you're lucky enough you will wake up to elk grazing in the grassy areas." Early morning and dusk provide the best wildlife viewing opportunities.
River access: Oxbow Regional Park offers "great access to the river to keep cool in summer. Nice sandy beaches." The park's 1,200 acres include multiple river access points, making it popular during warmer months when temperatures regularly reach the 80s.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most campsites fill quickly during summer months. One camper at L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial State Park noted, "sites 10-23 are reservable, leaving sites 1-9 'first come, first served'." Reservations typically open 6 months in advance and should be made early for summer weekends.
Cell service limitations: Many campgrounds have limited or no connectivity. A recent visitor to Oxbow Regional Park reported, "Barely got 1 bar of 4g at the welcome center. There's a guest wifi in the parking lot there too but it's 2 miles further to the camp ground and texts hardly go through."
Seasonal closures: While some campgrounds operate year-round, others have limited seasons. Gales Creek Campground operates only "May 20 to September 26," according to park information. During winter months, alternative yurt camping options near Gaston provide more reliable accommodations.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Silver Falls State Park Campground offers "a large field area for dogs to roam around" and "a huge playground for the kids." One visitor recommends trying to reserve "spots 9 or 12 (next to the playground and sunny spots) or 72 (next to the creek in the shade)."
Swimming areas: Many campgrounds feature kid-friendly water access. A camper at Cape Lookout mentioned, "It was such a short walk to the beach and you could hear the waves when you're going to sleep!" They advise checking tide schedules since "during high tide the beach disappears."
Group facilities: Some campgrounds offer meeting spaces for larger family gatherings. One visitor to Cape Lookout noted, "We also rented the meeting hall in C loop, and we were really impressed with the space! It had tables, chairs, a gas stove, kitchen sink, small fridge, microwave, outlets, and lots of counter space!"
Tips from RVers
Site selection: RV campers should research site dimensions carefully. At Paradise Point State Park, one visitor warned, "We arrived and it was IMPOSSIBLE to get our rig in that site due to the trees. We couldn't even continue out the secondary loop because it was so narrow and had trees on the inside of turns."
Hookup availability: Many campgrounds offer partial hookups rather than full. At Milo McIver State Park, the facilities include "two boat launches" and "numerous group sites for those wishing to camp with friends," but RVers should note there are no hookups available.
Winter camping options: For year-round RV camping with amenities, consider yurt camping near Gaston at Champoeg State Heritage Area Campground. One visitor shared, "Each site is paved to accommodate RV's and campers with electricity and water. The bath house was clean, the water was hot, and they had almost enough towel hooks."
