Gilchrist is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Gilchrist camping trip.
$22 - $110 / night
"Unfortunately it was during the horrible fires of the west coast and Oregon was not spared. The smoke was thick although not as bad as previous camping locations the day before. "
"A very short walk through the woods will bring you to the banks of the Deschutes for fishing, floating, kayaking, etc. We found a small sandy beach that was PERFECT for a happy hour!"
$25 - $52 / night
"A tent from a neighboring site was fairly close to our space so we built a quick fire, pitched our tents on semi-level areas, and turned in early."
"There was a lot of debris, sticks, and stumps that you had to walk through in order to get to our fire pit and picnic table. The restaurant and store were great!!"
$27 - $31 / night
"Booked via Recreation.gov and had a lakeside tent spot. Spots 37-38 if reserved together would be perfect for a larger group, plenty of room for multiple tents. "
"Not all sites are lakeside, but all have access to the beautiful view. Getting here is a little off the beaten path, so if you feel lost, you’re going the right way."
$16 - $27 / night
"If I had to choose my favorite time of year to camp at Diamond Lake I guess it would have to be Winter."
"Our site was next to one of the many bathrooms around the campgrounds but wasn’t smelly or annoying, quite opposite actually when venturing out in the middle of the night!"
"The had a tree service on site taking out the dead trees and obtrusive branches while we were there. Very well kept."
"I’m a long time Thousand Trails member and can recall when TT campgrounds were much better maintained."
"We booked site 30, which is up a hill away from the water with a few other sites (27, 28, 29)."
"This beautiful lake is nestled between the mountains near hwy 58. We visited in Auguat, 2018 and the water was quite warm and it has a rock bottom."
"Bathrooms are beautifuly updated an clean!! We rode in late and was not a problem welcomed us like family! Tent site was rustic and had a spigot near by! Plenty of sites for a group. Pet friendly."
"Hwy 97 is nearby but other than the road noise from that it is a quiet location. Bathrooms and laundry rooms are very clean. Has an off-leash area for dogs."
$64 - $66 / night
"This is one of 3 campgrounds on the lake and by far the busiest. Sites are larger than normal so you aren't sitting onto of each other."
$24 - $80 / night
"Only a 10 minute drive from Bend, Tumalo offers a sophisticated camping experience."
"Unfortunately the neighbors weren’t great about following the quiet hours. The bathrooms and showers were really nice. We had a great time playing in the Deschutes river!"
$21 - $23 / night
LegendGeneral: Located just across the street from the North Umpqua River, there is a mix of:•
* petite RV sites (RVs up to 20’ with FHU 20-30 amp- 3)
* deluxe RV sites (RVs up to 29’ with FHU 30-50 amp- 5)
* Super RV sites (RVs up to 60’ with FHU 50 amp- 7)
* glamping tents (7)
* cabins with heat and A/C(4)
* a cottage
* a tiny home
* camper
* retro bunkhouse
* retro RV
Site Quality: We were in a deluxe RV site that had a level gravel camper pad, electric hookup, fire ring, and picnic table. Unlike most RV parks, there was a decent amount of foliage between most sites to provide a measure of privacy.
Bath/Shower House: Two toilets, two sinks, and two showers. Clean but limited privacy for the toilets with just a curtain. Bench and hooks are outside of showers with no other separation so there is a lack of privacy there as well (did not use the shower so I cannot comment on how well it worked, although they looked nice).
Activities/Amenities:
* Guided and Self-guided hiking tours
* Guided and self-guided mountain bike tours
* a full-day waterfall tour ($75 pp, with 24-hour advance notice)
* whitewater rafting tours
* Stream and river fishing holes
* Fly fishing and hunting
* Kayak rentals on Toketee Lake (We had hoped to do this, but the weather had other plans)
* Wi-Fi is available for $2.99 per 24-hour period per device but it was flaky at best
* There is a store with ice, firewood, food, beer, and wine, apparel, propane, diesel, and gasoline, rafts, and sleds.
We arrived later than planned (just before dark) and it was cold and rainy the next day so we were not able to take advantage of the many nearby recreation activities but the staff recommended a nearby waterfall hike that we could do in inclement weather. We would definitely consider returning during better weather.
ScoutWe loved the Glamping tents, new and beautifully appointed, the facilities were well kept and sparkling clean. The bathrooms were clean and newly updated. We will be back.
TravelerTumalo State Park gets only 3 stars from me because it was hot and crowded. Since its only 4 miles North of popular Bend, Oregon, its a convenient stop... but what I consider "pit stop camping," on my way to quieter destinations. They have good campground amenities for this: flush toilets, running water, showers. Its a pretty location, near many fun outdoor activities near and in Bend, but the sites were too crowded together for my taste. Note that, as in most of Oregon in high summer, open flames and camp fires are prohibited. It is a Red Flag zone, meaning there is a high danger of wildfires. In fact, as of last week (late July, 2018) you could see the smoke from several fires in the surrounding forests.
TravelerShowers, bathrooms, and running water are available. A tent site is $21/night with 1 car allowed. Additional cars are $7/night. There aren't any tent sites secluded from yurts and RVs, so you will be hearing generators run, though people did shut them off at 10. IMO, it's expensive for a tent site in a spot where you're surrounded by glampers.
TravelerWe booked site 30, which is up a hill away from the water with a few other sites (27, 28, 29). The site was rated for 32 feet and we were able to comfortably fit our 31 foot trailer and long bed truck. We did have to pull in way too close to the fire pit to make this work but there is a burn ban so we would not have been using it anyway. It would have been nice to know that we were up a hill since we have a toddler, but it wasn’t a huge deal.
The trailer took up the vast majority of the level space available at the site, but otherwise it would be a nice space for a tent and chairs around the fire.
Be aware that the wind picks up around noon and goes super strong until after you go to bed. It’s great for not getting any mosquito bites but it is not a mild breeze!
The lodge staff weren’t overly helpful but not hostile either. I’m sure they are understaffed and annoyed by tourists just like everyone else. They had live music Saturday night and we would have loved to go if our little one wasn’t asleep.
The area has so many hikes and bike trails so close by that you could spend weeks there and not get bored.
GuideIf I had to choose my favorite time of year to camp at Diamond Lake I guess it would have to be Winter.
For many years my family rented a cabin a year in advance and we stayed there from December 23- January 2 with a very large group of our friends.
It was totally luxurious!
You can also rent a hotel room there.
Going down the inner tube slide was a blast, also hanging out in the lodge getting warmed by the fire.
They also have a huge market on site - almost like a mini Department store. You can buy warm clothing and other supplies there.
Fishing is kind of a big deal at Diamond also- which we did as a family.
I remember riding a snow mobile to this Pizza Chalet and getting hot pizza in the middle of nowhere!!
Such a cool place. Definitely going there this winter to play in the snow ❄️ ⛄️
I better reserve now !!!!
ScoutOnly a 10 minute drive from Bend, Tumalo offers a sophisticated camping experience. Heated individual showers, clean bathrooms, and quick access to firewood are a big step up from the usual camping basics. With the Deschutes River running through the park, there are also plenty of outdoor activities available. I had a great time, but make sure to bring warm clothes though--it can get pretty cold!
TravelerWe enjoyed our stay so much! The website is a tiny bit misleading regarding campfires. There are no fire pits at each site however, we still REALLY enjoyed our stay. The staff was nothing short of wonderful and the amenities were top notch. WiFi worked awkwardly well. Some sites are right on the river. The two rivers converge right at site 52… so lovely. We will be visiting again… very soon.
ScoutThere are two Devil’s lake campground. This one in particular is along the subalpine Devil’s Lake of central Oregon (NOT the beach) - sorry, no yurts, cabins, or marketplaces here.
It’s pretty amazing, though, as long as you plan for it! There are no drive-up sites, they’re all walk-ins. This is the access point for local trails like the PCT and South Sister summit trail.
Just a day at the lake is great though! I’ve spent a lot of time scrambling around this area and camping at Devil’s lake. Definitely worth it for a slightly more “rustic” adventure!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Gilchrist, OR is LaPine State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 34 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 22 glamping camping locations near Gilchrist, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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