Best Dispersed Camping near Gold Hill, OR

Recent Dispersed Reviews near Gold Hill, OR

39 Reviews of 22 Gold Hill Campgrounds

• 

  Laura M.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 11, 2021

  Hyatt Reservoir BLM Dispersed

  Loud and Poopy

  Not far from Ashland and right past the Hyatt Lake Resort are some dispersed spots on BLM land near the lake. The lake level is very low so at this time you could drive quite close to it but it gets really muddy so watch out because it looks grassy and deceivingly dry. 

  There is road noise but quiets down at night. 

  Also there is a large flock of geese that honk all day and night and there is goose poop everywhere! 

  The site we stayed at had a stone fire pit and not very level but we made it work. It is a good spot for a night or 2 and we would stay here again if passing through. There are no amenities so bring water and pack in and out all trash. The resort nearby has a restaurant and small store. No service from ATT and TMobile but Verizon had 1-2 bars of LTE roaming.

• 

  Laura M.

  Legend

  

  May. 18, 2022

  Thousand Springs Sno-Park

  Very Handy

  These sno parks that are available for boondocking throughout Oregon are so handy!  Sno park is maintained by the Rogue Snowmobilers.  Free boon docking during off season (May to October). Otherwise you need a permit (November to April).

  There is a huge lot that would fit many RVs, easy turnaround and plenty of room to spread out.  It is right on 62 so you'll hear cars go by but traffic was really light in May, and quiets down significantly overnight.  

  In mid May there was a ton of snow at Crater Lake but only minimal snow on the ground here, and the weather was cool but not freezing, and was above freezing temps overnight.

  There are restrooms and a really nice warming room, with firewood and wall plugs (that I didn't test).  I didn't see any garbage bins (though I didn't look inside the bathrooms).

  Zero cell service anywhere in this entire area.  Crater Lake visitor center had good wifi for free though.

• 

  Bobby J.

  Ranger

  

  Jul. 18, 2024

  Canyon Gulch by Eight Dollar Moutain

  Not really dispersed camping

  There was a few pullouts on the road and I wouldn’t exactly call it dispersed camping. I parked in what I think was a road for fishing access. Only positive was the river was right there

• 

  Cass G.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 26, 2024

  Burma Pond BLM

  Off the grid just enough

  We needed a place to set up for a quick sleep on our way down to Yosemite from Washington. I navigated using Google Maps due to other reviews saying Apple made it confusing. This led us right to the pond/camp sites. The road is a little rough with potholes but it’s not terrible if you just drive slow over the holes. There is a few split offs/2-way roads along this dirt road, the last one being a tree with a smiley face and an arrow leading you where to go. Didn’t get lost at all and it was already dark when we got there. No one was there, it was peaceful, clean and quiet. There is a pit toilet/bathroom with toilet paper. No trash cans so you’ll have to pack out your trash. I recommend this spot for anyone willing to drive 10-15 minutes off the freeway for some dispersed camping.

• 

  Laura M.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 4, 2021

  Rocky Riffle

  Hot, Dusty and Nice (and Free!)

  This BLM area is a quick turn off the main road.  Take a right or left to start the loop and you’ll find various spots for dispersed camping. The road is mostly ok with some areas of high rocks but we made it in our 26ft Class C with only one ding on the steps. Larger vehicles might have problems along the lower half of the loop, but the upper half was doable.  There are some spots close to the river and others up above it more with nice views as well as shade.

  There are a few “long term residents" here.  One was right on the water with a big mirror and a homemade sign warning of “thieves among us." The sheriff and ranger came by the next day and left citation on his camp. Nothing scary nor anything that made us feel unsafe at all. 

  This is a dry camp with no amenities. Tent/car campers welcome but must have port-a-potties. You must pack out your waste and trash. We found several trash piles which we cleaned up. There are NO fires allowed at this time. Also be aware that there is a lot of poison oak around. 

  Also there were unleashed dogs, one in particular that wandered into our camp site every morning. A lot of rafters and kayakers, especially on weekends, but they stay mostly on the water but can become quite loud at times. River access in this area is available in a only few spots that you have to walk to. There is no real shoreline to hang out in unless someone is not camped right in those areas. 

  Zero cell reception from ATT, verizon and TMobile in this whole area.

• 

  Daisee Mae S.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 28, 2022

  Thousand Springs Sno-Park

  Great Hiking Area

  1,000 Springs Sno-park

  We hiked to this spot from Union Creek Trail about a week before staying here.

  Right off of Crater Lake Highway. There looks to be about 3 or possibly 4 spots to camp. Easily pull-in spots for larger campers and tent camping.

  There is a large shelter house with a door on one end and wind flaps on the other. Two trash cans inside, two very large round wooden tables and an iron stove for heat. There is also a solar panel for lights and such.

  We only stayed two nights as apposed of the 14 you can stay. Very spacious spots but not far enough away from each other. The second night we were kept awake by the people staying in the shelter, having a party and disco lights and loud music.

  Two pit commodes are in the center of the camp. That meant a lot of traffic throughout the day and into the night by people stopping to use it, so the TP didn’t last long. Definitely bring your own just in case.

  The road up to the spots from the parking area are dirt and wood chips. The stir up a lot of dust when people drive through, even if they aren’t going at a fast speed.

  There are a few trails that go for miles and are very lovely to walk, or even take an OHV on.

  We opted to stay the night here because we are traveling across country to DISPERSED camping areas. Would have stayed in the dispersed camping by Crater Lake but it was a $30 fee/ day to enter the park. So that’s not actually free.

  If we head back up to Crater Lake in the future we may stay here again. It’s a very lovely spot, but do note that after Nov. 15th there is a fee in this Snow Park.

  Might be a nice place to stay for a night, if you don’t like your privacy being invaded i’d suggest going down the road to Union Creek Trail :D

• 

  Patricia N.

  Ranger

  

  Sep. 26, 2024

  Prospect OHV Dispersed Camping

  Perfect place for OHV riding

  We absolutely loved camping here. During our off season stay it was fun and with all the ATV trails it was our favorite place to camp.

  Our neighbor campers decided they could ride the trails without helmets and found out the hard way that is is a no no. They were brought back to the camp without their bikes and in the back of a National Forest Service Enforcement vehicle. After being spoken to about the importance of following the rules of the trails, they were left at camp and had to find their own way back to their motorcycles.

  Fortunately we did not have the same experience. It can get very dusty so just be prepared for that. The trails are absolutely great and access to the Rogue River is just icing on the cake.

  It was so nice to have areas provided for unloading bikes and ATV's so folks could safely load and unload their toys.

• M

  Matthew S.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 16, 2024

  USFS Rogue River Dispersed

  Off the beaten path

  We had to go in a ways before finding a suitable spot, but it was very secluded. We camped near the road but nobody came through the whole night we stayed. An owl swooped right through our camp site and scared the crap out of us. Easy route in and out.

• T

  Treavor U.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 6, 2021

  USFS Rogue River Dispersed

  Bump bump bump like that B2K song

  Title refers to the potholes. Lots of potholes! But the sites—aside from one, which was practically a crater—were awesome from what I could tell. Like Laura suggested, these are the free versions of River Bridge campground. Cross the river and go to the right. The campsite I chose is on a portion of the road beyond what Google Maps has, so it's really off-grid. 😜You could fit two vehicles. I needed something that could put me close enough to Crater Lake NP (the official campgrounds were booked). I don't think it felt like an hour; I was distracted by the beautiful forest. I slept in my car and I think it was the best sleep I've had on this trip. Cool at night, the only sound I heard were the occasional and distant 4th of July fireworks.

• r

  robert M.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 17, 2024

  Burma Pond BLM

  Nice spot off the beaten path

  This is a lovely spot. Just a few campsites around a pond. Just overnighted here. Saw some folks camping and fishing. A bit of a challenge to find. Take speaker road to the end of pavement and then follow the dyrt map carefully. The correct location is pinned.

• 

  Sara R.

  Ranger

  

  Nov. 13, 2020

  Great Meadow Sno-Park

  Not bad for a free site

  We ended up here because we couldn’t get a spot at any of the campgrounds nearby. Sounds like that’s a pretty common problem in the area, so I would recommend it in a pinch. PROS: free, plenty of space, overlooks a pretty meadow, nice trail CONS: next to the road, felt a little exposed, extremely buggy at dusk

  Know before you go: this is not a campground. In the summer, back country ski / snow sport parking lots are open for free overnight parking. There are vault toilets bout they were closed due to COVID.

• 

  Aidan D.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 2, 2024

  Thousand Springs Sno-Park

  Great spot

  This is a good campsite to stay to look at Crater Lake. It is about 15 minutes to the south entrance of the park and then another 15 minutes to the Rim Village. Huge thanks to the Rogue Snowmobilers who make this site so great. There was a rec area we ate dinner in and played cards. The only issue with the site is the mosquitos. Make sure to have bug spray and make a fire

• 

  Laura M.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 11, 2021

  USFS Rogue River Dispersed

  Beautiful But Be Aware

  Take the River Bridge turn off from Highway 62 and follow the road which turns to gravel, potholed and some washboarded road. Stay on the main road until you pass the actual campground and go over the bridge. 

  We did drive through the River Bridge campground which was $15/night but opted for the free version across the river. There are multiple spots to camp for free just past the River Bridge Campground across the one lane bridge. You can take a right or left after the bridge to find a spot. We took a right and found multiple sites to pull into right off the main forest service road. Accessibility is dependent on your rig but we found several spots easily accessed by our 26ft class c.  The road itself is gravel with pot holes but otherwise doable in most rigs. There appears to be some long term somewhat sketchy residents here so be aware. We stayed twice in 2 different spots but did not feel unsafe at all. The sites are fairly level with mix of sun and shade and stone fire pits and a short walk to the river. Its a nice place to let the dogs run free but there can be quite a lot of cars driving up and down the 62 road and and an occasional dirt bike. Very quiet at night and lots of roads to hike on or if you’re into fishing the Rogue River is very close.

   No amenities, pack in and pack out, no bathrooms; and for the love of god please bury your TP waste! 

  There is zero cell reception from ATT, T-Mobile or Verizon in this entire area.

• 

  Hannah S.

  Traveler

  

  Mar. 21, 2022

  Burma Pond BLM

  Nice spot to spend the night

  Found this spot on our way down to California. Not a bad spot to camp, it’s very quite and we were the only ones there.

  Getting there is pretty easy, we made it a lot more difficult by going down a bunch of roads. Stick to the main road, the road to the campsite is on the right and has a tree that’s spray painted with a stick figure. It’s very steep like the other review said but isn’t too bad for a truck.

  There aren’t a lot of spots here. We parked right by the lake, there was another spot in the middle of the loop, and a few others.

  It looks like there’s a trail that goes around the lake. We found some ticks on the dogs immediately so we didn’t end up exploring it. Overall a nice spot, it’s right off the highway so you don’t have to worry about driving deep in the mountains.

• 

  Laura M.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 5, 2022

  Argo Bar

  Good and Free

  I'll add another review since we did go back there this summer and stay there for a night. But I'd check on the effects of the Rum Fire if you're planning to go to this area. Not sure what the river area looks like now. :(

  We couldn't really find a flat place to park, and so ended up parking just along the bathroom, which was rhe flattest spot here. It was a nice and peaceful stay, quiet, watching boaters and rafting companies coming and going all day. Nobody else was there at night.

  The area is beautiful but there's not much to do unless you have a boat or a car. No nearby hikes within walking distance.

  Still zero cell service. 14 day stay limit. Garbage bins and recycling and bathrooms on site. Free!

• 

  SwitchbackKids

  Legend

  

  Jul. 27, 2017

  Prospect OHV Dispersed Camping

  Fantastic alternative to Crater Lake camping

  When we visited Crater Lake in April, we knew we'd have to find alternative camping because the park campgrounds would be covered in several feet of snow.

  We were able to find many options for camping on the way to Crater Lake, before entering the park boundaries. Check the regulations and guidelines before you head out, because there are specific areas where you can pull off and find a place to camp. For us, there were plenty of small unpaved roads where we could find a quiet, flat place for our tent.

  Crater Lake is one of the areas in the U.S. that receives the most snowfall each year, so their roads are often unplowed until well into the summer season. In the winter and spring, the park offers free snowshoe tours which offer an overview of the park and great views of the lake.

  Even though much of the park is inaccessible during April, we'd still recommend going if you have the chance. The winter views are incredible, too!

  You can read much more about our two days in the park on our blog: Switchback Kids (Crater Lake)

• C

  Carl L.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 9, 2022

  Burma Pond BLM

  Excellent for a pit stop!

  Google maps will take you right to this one. The drive in is pretty short, making this a convenient place to stop if you’re driving through.

  Three spots, two of which are very close together. We were there in August. It was hot and the pond was scummy, but not buggy. 

  Pretty woods and good stars up here. We didn’t explore.

• 

  Casey B.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 19, 2024

  Burma Pond BLM

  Awesome spot not too far off I5

  The road getting up to it wasn't too bad. Some bigger potholes that we're easy enough to avoid. The pond at the top was beautiful with tons of bats flying around at night. Super cool!

• 

  Emma G.

  Scout

  

  Nov. 27, 2022

  Burma Pond BLM

  Good stopping point off I-5

  Subaru Impreza got up the road just fine! Location is about 20 minutes off i5. Hard to find with Apple Maps but we switched over to google maps and it was a lot easier!

• 

  Laura M.

  Legend

  

  May. 19, 2021

  Burma Pond BLM

  Remote and Quiet

  This was quite a way in on a fairly smooth but steep dirt road. Along the road were random deep pot holes so be aware they sneak up on you when the road is shadowed. The last .3 miles was steep and though we made it in 26ft rig I would not attempt it again. I could see major problem if rain was expected. 

  The pond was peaceful and so beautiful with a couple of level options to set up. The area as a whole is very small though, so if someone else is already there when you arrive it’s going to feel very cozy and/or awkward. 

  There was a handicap accessible bathroom with pit toilets that someone shot up the lock (boooo) so at the moment is open despite the "closed for covid" sign. There was a pile of garbage near the garbage cans. Bullet casings littered the ground as well.

   The fish were jumping and the water clear. Overall nice, just wish people would respect public lands more and not trash these areas so much. The road is narrow with very few turn arounds. The way down I was in 1-2 gear riding the break on some of the hills. Good place to let the dogs run and swim. If we had a smaller rig we would come here again. Very weak / unusable Verizon service, no service with TMobile or ATT.

• 

  Nicholas G.

  Guide

  

  Dec. 7, 2024

  Burma Pond BLM

  I was the only one there

  I camped one night right off the water. Quiet and clean. I slept great. Had 1 bar of att. Google maps took me right to it

• j

  jason

  Scout

  

  Sep. 24, 2021

  Rocky Riffle

  Didn’t stay

  Saw lots of trash and toilet paper. Decent spot otherwise.

• L

  Linda J.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 21, 2024

  Rocky Riffle

  Area closed

  It looked like a decent place to camp with river access. I was disappointed the camp was closed due to fire. I saw a couple campers but I didn't stay.

• K

  Kali R.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 1, 2024

  Beautiful Dispersed View off Fire Rd

  View off a fire road

  10 miles up a fire road with some spots along road. All are tiny pullout spots just enough for a van to park, would not recommend for an rv or trailer. Very gorgeous though! And paved road the whole way!

• 

  Connor M.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 29, 2024

  Beautiful Dispersed View off Fire Rd

  Scenic pull-off that allows camping

  This spot is a gravel pull off that is about 25ftx15ft. You can fit a small pull behind, truck, and/or van. The 6.5 mile road (FS-25) is paved so the accessibility of the site is a plus. The only downside is the logging operation that you can hear during the week further up the mountain.

• 

  Laura M.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 4, 2021

  Argo Bar

  Wide Open, Right On the River, and Free

  We checked this spot out and ended up moving on to keep looking, but would come back here if ever in the area.  

  This is a recreation site / boat ramp, and it's wide open for camping as well.  When you pull in, you first see a large area that looks like a parking lot.  It wasn't until we left the spot and looked back on it from the higher road that we saw that the camp area extended a bit past the bathrooms into more camp friendly spots, with some shade and greenery.

  No cell service in this whole area.

  There is a pit toilet, and trash and recycling bins.  No fires at this time!

• 

  Shelby S.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 15, 2024

  Canyon Gulch by Eight Dollar Moutain

  Target practice

  I liked the area, but it seemed to be heavily trafficked. Lots of cars and vans drove by. I was also woken up in the middle of the night to someone practicing with their shotgun in the distance for a good half hour