Tent camping near Idleyld Park offers rustic accommodations along the North Umpqua River corridor at elevations ranging from 1,200 to 3,500 feet. The camping season typically runs May through October, with July and August experiencing daytime temperatures averaging 75-85°F and nighttime lows of 45-55°F. Most campgrounds remain unserviced with no potable water sources and limited cell reception throughout the area.
What to do
Waterfall exploration: Multiple hiking trails connect from campgrounds to scenic cascades. At Lake in the Woods Campground, campers can access hiking paths to waterfalls, with one visitor noting, "On the back side and at the entrance of the campground there are trails you can hike to waterfalls. They are gorgeous and worth the drive."
Swimming and river play: The North Umpqua provides natural swimming holes throughout summer months. A visitor to Steamboat Falls Campground shared, "There is a day use area with an amazing view, and 2 different trails that takes you to the water (great swimming and rocks to jump off of)."
Fishing opportunities: Trout fishing is popular from May through September. According to one camper at Lake in the Woods, "Nice fishing right from the campsites. And the short hike to Hemlock Falls is beautiful and worth it."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many campgrounds offer good separation between campsites. At Lake in the Woods Campground, one camper mentioned, "The marked camping spaces are huge with a lot of space between you and the next closest site. Amazing views across the water."
River views: Most campgrounds feature sites with water visibility. A camper at Island Campground commented, "A standard forest service campground, it is small with only 7 sites on a lollipop loop, sandwiched between the highway and the river. All of the sites are on the river side with easy water access to the N Umpqua River."
Natural noise buffer: The sound of flowing water helps mask road noise. One reviewer noted, "The river definitely drowns out the road which is right above the campground."
What you should know
Poison oak awareness: Several campgrounds contain poison oak, particularly near water access points. A visitor to Steamboat Falls Campground warned, "Lots of poison oak so be careful! River access! Great views of steamboat falls - no fishing river is protected."
Water access considerations: Some sites have challenging approaches to the water. At Island Campground, a reviewer noted, "The paths down to the water have some poison oak growing by them so be careful. We did not have cell service so download offline maps before you get here."
Road conditions: Many campgrounds require travel on unpaved forest roads. One camper described, "Got in Saturday and got the second to last spot facing the water at around 4pm. Had to travel 18 miles on gravel one lane roads to get there."
Tips for camping with families
Best sites for larger groups: Some campgrounds offer oversized sites for family camping. At White Creek Campground, a camper detailed, "Site 1 is real big with a couple tent spots, and a good hammock spot. Site 2 has a couple Tent spots. Site 3 has a couple tent spots. Site 4 has 1 tent spot."
Swimming areas with varied depths: Look for spots with child-friendly water access. One visitor to Steamboat Falls noted, "There is a jumping rock and a few small swimming pools for the kids, great swimming for everyone."
Group reservation options: For larger family gatherings, designated group sites are available. At Steamboat Ball Field Group Site, a reviewer observed, "If you did have a big group that was baseball inclined, this would be the best spot to play some games and hang out with each other (the site could probably accommodate up to 50 people comfortably although the official site says 100)."
Tips from RVers
Size limitations: Most campgrounds cannot accommodate larger RVs. At Island Campground, one RVer cautioned, "Because of the size and the way the road loops on itself this is NOT a campground for rigs over 22'."
Site leveling challenges: Many sites require substantial leveling for camper trailers. A reviewer noted, "Sites are large with lots of trees, but not all sites are level."
Limited services: No electrical hookups or dump stations exist in the immediate area. Plan to dry camp and bring all necessary supplies as one visitor advised, "No running water though, so bring your own."
