Camping in Halfway, Oregon offers primitive to developed campsite options at 2,600-4,500 feet elevation in the shadow of the Wallowa Mountains. Summer temperatures typically range from 50-90°F, with cool nights even in July and August. The area serves as a gateway to the Eagle Cap Wilderness with access to multiple national forests.
What to do
Hiking from campgrounds: Hurricane Creek Campground provides direct access to Hurricane Creek Trail in the Eagle Cap Wilderness. "This is a small campground with limited amenities, but a nice amount of privacy for each site. The creek lives up to it's name and is very loud," notes Sara R. from Hurricane Creek Campground.
Creek exploration: Multiple campgrounds offer creek access for wading and cooling off. At Catherine Creek State Park Campground, one camper mentioned, "We saw people using it as a one-night stopover on longer trips and a few campers stayed a few nights like we did. Besides the short hikes and a bit of splashing around in the creek in the day use area there isn't a lot to do in the area besides relaxing."
Wildlife viewing: The area supports diverse wildlife populations. A Catherine Creek visitor noted, "We had plenty of critters - plenty of butterflies, a few more spiders than I usually notice... We also saw plenty of birds, snacking away on bugs in the trees or grass, as well as a few hummingbirds."
What campers like
Natural water features: Campers consistently mention the creeks and rivers. At Hurricane Creek Campground, one camper described their stay: "Could hear nothing but the rushing river. Be bear aware here. Didn't see any bears, but they were around the week before I came. River is fast. Keep an eye on your dogs!"
Privacy between sites: Blackhorse Campground offers well-spaced camping areas. "Nice and well maintained campground by the Imnaha River. Plenty of sites with a decent distance between them," writes Andrew L. Another visitor confirms: "The sites were well-maintained and relatively private."
Star viewing: The remote location allows for excellent night sky viewing. "The water was of at sites, but the sites and bathrooms were good," mentions a Farewell Bend State Recreation Area camper, where many enjoy the clear night skies away from city light pollution.
What you should know
Road conditions: Some campgrounds require navigating unpaved roads. A Buck Park Cabin visitor warned, "In the summer, the long rough road into it is not for everyone. Scenery is good and very quiet. If you want remote with the bare basics, this is the place."
Weather variability: The area can experience significant temperature swings. "We scheduled three nights here but after two nights of amazing lightning storms, we skipped the third night," reported Jim B. from Hurricane Creek Campground.
Water quality concerns: Water quality varies between locations. While Fish Lake Campground offers pristine spring water, other locations may have more silty water. At Brownlee Campground, a camper noted, "Ok place. Wasn't overcrowded when there in October. No amenities but you can have a fire there. Was pretty peaceful."
Tips for camping with families
Noise considerations: Choose campsites based on your noise tolerance. One Farewell Bend State Recreation Area Campground visitor shared, "The park is large and the sites are well spaced. You can walk down the long grass to the river and down steps to the water. Or just sit around camp and squirrel watch!"
Water safety: Fast-moving creeks require close supervision. "Hurricane Creek Campsite is super nice. Sits right along Hurricane Creek and has a lot of well maintained spots. My one caution would be that if you have dogs keep them on a leash because if they were to get in the creek that would be all she wrote," advised Andrew L.
Yurt camping options: For families seeking yurt camping near Halfway, Oregon, Grande Hot Springs RV Resort offers comfortable alternatives to tent camping. A visitor described their yurt experience: "The Yurt was clean and fresh with a private courtyard and soaking tub backing up to a pond looking up a hillside."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Many RV parks offer pull-through sites of varying sizes. At Mountain View RV Park, a visitor noted, "We had pull through site126 with FHUs, which was a little narrow but doable getting our 39' Vilano 5th wheel into place. Great water pressure (about 100 psi) so we needed our regulator."
Water pressure awareness: Check water pressure before connecting. "As the water pressure here is around 100 psi, you need to use a reducer," advised an RVer at Mountain View.
Seasonal considerations: Weather impacts site conditions significantly. "The grounds were wet and mushy with snow, and the sites are gravel," reported one RVer who ultimately decided to find alternative accommodations during spring thaw.
