Best Tent Camping near Island City, OR

Tent campsites near Island City, Oregon include several primitive options in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Wallowa-Whitman NF 21 offers dispersed tent camping with drive-in access approximately 5 miles from Island City. Hurricane Creek Campground provides established tent sites along a fast-moving creek with more developed facilities, though it requires a longer drive toward Joseph. Most sites in this region are situated within pine forests that provide natural shade and cooling during summer months.

Tent camping terrain varies significantly across these areas, with some sites situated on compacted dirt and others on forest duff. Primitive tent setups at Wallowa-Whitman NF 21 feature basic rock fire rings and minimal amenities. According to feedback on The Dyrt, "Easy and vacant find for a last minute change to our route. Primitive dispersed campsites with rock fire rings right off the highway." Many sites lack drinking water, requiring campers to pack in their own supply. Vault toilets are available at established campgrounds like Hurricane Creek but absent at dispersed sites. High-clearance vehicles are recommended for accessing more remote tent areas, particularly after rainfall when forest roads may become rutted.

Areas farther from highways provide tent campers with greater solitude and fewer noise disturbances. Hurricane Creek Campground offers private tent sites with natural sound buffering. One camper noted that "This is a small campground with limited amenities, but a nice amount of privacy for each site." Tent sites are typically spaced to provide adequate room between neighboring campers, though availability can be limited during peak summer weekends. The surrounding mountains provide excellent day hiking opportunities from these tent bases. Wildlife sightings including deer and elk are common near many of these primitive tent areas, particularly at dawn and dusk. Campers should properly store food and scented items to avoid attracting bears and smaller wildlife to tent sites.

Best Tent Sites Near Island City, Oregon (43)

    1. Wallowa-Whitman NF 21 - Dispersed

    10 Reviews
    La Grande, OR
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 962-8500

    "Primitive dispersed campsites with rock fire rings right off the highway. Down side is it's a little too noisy for my taste."

    "Light sleepers would have a hard time here due to highway noise but overall good rest stop. My dog wouldn’t stop trying to eat all the horse poop around the camp site."

    3. The High Road Cabin (two) TENT Spots

    1 Review
    Meacham, OR
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 240-9252

    $29 / night

    "This space provides a locked gate to give you privacy and peace of mind! Minimal light pollution will provide you gorgeous starry skies. Check them out and come back here to leave them some love!"

    4. Moss Springs Campground

    1 Review
    Cove, OR
    18 miles
    Website

    "Moss Springs is a quiet campground on the edge of the Eagle Cap about 9 miles up the a forest service road from Cove, OR (which is about 14 miles past La Grande)."

    5. Thief Valley Reservoir Campground

    2 Reviews
    North Powder, OR
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 963-1001

    6. Hurricane Creek Campground

    9 Reviews
    Joseph, OR
    37 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 426-5546

    "We scheduled three nights here but after two nights of amazing lightning storms, we skipped the third night. Still, this is a beautiful place, very private, secluded, and shady."

    "We car camped in this small campground along Hurricane Creek after getting rained out on a backpacking trip up to Eagle Cap. There are 13 sites, 3 of which are handicap accessible."

    7. Grande Ronde Lake

    1 Review
    Haines, OR
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 523-4476

    "Has good access to Anthony Lakes area, but is much quieter than main campground. Lake is small, with small rainbow trout stocked annually. Fun to paddle and watch the osprey and bald eagles fishing."

    8. Boundary

    1 Review
    Lostine, OR
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 426-4978

    9. Williamson Campground

    2 Reviews
    Enterprise, OR
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 426-5546

    "Space for 1 tent easily…maybe a 2nd in some. Good trees for hammock."

    "Nice little river near the campsites for gathering water or cooling off."

    10. Walla Walla Forest Camp

    2 Reviews
    Joseph, OR
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 523-6391

    "There are several campsites along the Lostine corridor, we decided just to drive until we found a spot we liked. We landed at Walla Walla Forest Camp and claimed site 4."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Island City, OR

394 Reviews of 43 Island City Campgrounds


  • Paige P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 20, 2025

    Wolf Creek Reservoir

    Sweet Spot

    A handful of great places to camp for the night- very clean and well taken care of so please leave no trace. Just a spot and a table, no water, restrooms ect.

  • C
    May. 21, 2022

    Southwest Shore Campground

    Lovely Spring Camping

    There are picnic tables, fire rings, vault toilets. No water. Lots of birds singing and wonderful views. The lake is dry, but the scenery is amazing. Very clean and the sites are spacious and well separated. I’d come back.

  • Cindy U.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 8, 2018

    Lane Creek

    Small but great for hunting

    Lane Creek campground is in the Umatilla Forest off Hwy 244 (Between HWY 395 & I-84). Between milepost 10 & 12. It has 7 camp sites with vaulted toilet. No water or garabage, but have picnic table and fire ring, with level gravel site for trailers (can pitch a tent). One out of the 7 sites can hold a large RV of 35ft. Town of Ukiah is west about 8 miles and has a dump station for RV at a park in middle of town off HWY 244. Great Elk hunting area lots of forest road to drive around.

  • Jim B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 10, 2021

    Hurricane Creek Campground

    A lovely place

    We scheduled three nights here but after two nights of amazing lightning storms, we skipped the third night. Still, this is a beautiful place, very private, secluded, and shady. The fast-moving creek creates a soothing white noise that we found calming. The campsites are spaced quite far apart, some only large enough for a tent. No hookups, but there is a clean vault toilet. We planned to hit the nearby hiking trail, but when we got to the trailhead, the parking lot was completely packed. When we go there again, we will stay and relax at the campground.

  • John 'n Sara D.
    Aug. 2, 2018

    Jubilee Lake Campground (Or) — Umatilla National Forest

    Peace & Quiet!

    The campground is somewhat primitive. There are flushing toilets on the lower loop, vault toilets on the upper loop. no showers, but you can refresh in the lake. The nights get chilly, so be prepared with warm socks and a beenie, especially if you’re tent camping.

    There are no power boats allowed on the lake, so it is raft, kayak paddle board friendly.

    The path around the lake is an easy walk, just don’t expect to sit on a bench and enjoy the view of the lake, the trees have grown up.

  • allison W.
    Jul. 24, 2022

    Umapine

    Middle of Nowhere!

    I like remote campgrounds but man, this one felt especially far away from everything. If coming here, I would say you should allocate at least two days if not more to take advantage of everything nearby.

    Campground is in a ponderosa forest right in between two creeks, Squaw and Umapine, so anglers were happy and it’s easy to get a nice cool respite if the weather is oppressive.

    Picnic tables, fire pits, and vault toilets, but no hookups.

    This campground seems to be an increasingly significant favorite for ATVers (there are a bazillion trails around, you can see them on the maps downloadable for Pro Dyrt members) but it does not open until May, so leave your snowmobile at home.

    There are eight sites of varying sizes, but only one is a pull through.

  • Paul A.
    Apr. 18, 2016

    Umatilla National Forest Winom Creek Campground

    Primitive campground with a nice stream

    Nice flat campground developed for OHV and equestrian activities. 22 mi SE of Ukiah on FR 52. No drkg wtr, just vaulted toilets. Winding narrow road to the site. This was our first night over on our 3 month camping trip to the EAST coast after leaving Portland. This June 7th night we were the only campers at this site. We had driven the Blue Mountain byway from I-84 exit 147. Beautiful day of touring the countryside in Eastern Oregon. The campsite had fire rings and Picnic tables.

  • S
    Jun. 24, 2018

    Driftwood

    Nice and quiet!

    This is where we start our camping season...on Mother's Day weekend! This is a small campground. Has a vault toilet but no potable water so bring your own. Each site does have a fire ring. Site 1 can hold about 2 RV's or 4 tents and possible 10 people. Site 2 is good for 1 RV or tent, Site 3 is closest to the river, tight fit for a RV but a small pull behind fits nice - could fit 2 tents. Site 4 and 5 is small. Site 6 can fit 4 to 5 tents or 1 RV/trailer. Taking a "Sunday drive" up and around is amazing! Great area if you have OHV's!

  • Emily C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 19, 2021

    Spring Creek Campground

    Good free FS campground

    Came here for an overnight stop while traveling through the area. Solid spot - 4 large sites with level spots, fire ring, picnic tables, vault toilet. Arrived around 5pm on a Saturday in October and 3 spots were available - the others filled up after me. Quiet and beautiful while being close to the highway. Perfect and pleasant for my overnight stop


Guide to Island City

Tent camping near Island City, Oregon extends into the Blue Mountains with elevations ranging from 2,700 to 5,000 feet across various camping areas. The region experiences warm summer days that typically cool to the 40s and 50s at night, even in July and August. Most dispersed camping sites in this area feature uneven, sloped terrain that requires careful tent placement and sturdy stakes.

What to do

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Several campsites around Island City provide excellent wildlife spotting. At Wallowa-Whitman NF 21, one camper reported "I saw Lots of elk and turkeys(?) and a rattlesnake" while camping in the dispersed sites.

River access activities: Camping spots along rivers offer natural water features for recreation. At Walla Walla Forest Camp, "There are places to dip your feet, but the water at this location is too fast and cold to swim in," according to a visitor who enjoyed the riverside location despite the swimming limitations.

Fishing options: Several locations provide fishing opportunities within a 30-minute drive of Island City. At Grande Ronde Lake, the "lake is small, with small rainbow trout stocked annually. Fun to paddle and watch the osprey and bald eagles fishing," notes one camper.

What campers like

Natural sound barriers: The rushing water near many sites creates natural white noise that masks other sounds. At Hurricane Creek Campground, campers appreciate that "The fast-moving creek creates a soothing white noise that we found calming."

Wildlife encounters: Many campers report seeing wildlife right in their campgrounds. "Saw two bucks together early in the morning grazing," reported one Hurricane Creek visitor who enjoyed observing local wildlife.

Site privacy: Tent camping locations around Island City typically feature good separation between sites. At Williamson Campground, one camper noted "The river is a great backdrop and sound. Space for 1 tent easily…maybe a 2nd in some. Good trees for hammock."

What you should know

Weather considerations: Summer thunderstorms can occur suddenly in this region. One Hurricane Creek camper reported "We scheduled three nights here but after two nights of amazing lightning storms, we skipped the third night."

Road conditions: Many access roads require appropriate vehicles. Near Boundary Campground, the road is described as "long bumpy road and no cell service," which affects accessibility and communication.

Insect preparedness: Mosquitoes and ticks can be prevalent in certain areas. At Walla Walla Forest Camp, a visitor advised "Just bring bug spray and check for ticks!" while noting some sites had more mosquito activity than others.

Noise factors: Highway noise affects some sites more than others. At Wallowa-Whitman NF 21, one reviewer noted "Light sleepers would have a hard time here due to highway noise but overall good rest stop."

Tips for camping with families

Safety considerations: Fast-moving creeks require close supervision of children and pets. At Hurricane Creek Campground, one camper warned "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."

Site selection strategies: Choose sites based on your family's specific needs. At Walla Walla Forest Camp, a camper explained "Our spot was tucked back a little way, which we liked. But was furthest from the water and swampy, which we didn't like."

Wildlife education opportunities: The region offers chances to teach children about local wildlife. One camper at Grande Ronde Lake mentioned it was "Fun to paddle and watch the osprey and bald eagles fishing," creating natural learning experiences.

Trash management: Some sites have issues with previous campers leaving litter. At Wallowa-Whitman NF 21, a visitor reported "area had a ton of broken glass, nails and shotgun shells and a decent amount of litter," requiring extra caution with children.

Tips from RVers

Size limitations: Most camping areas near Island City accommodate only smaller RVs. Thief Valley Reservoir Campground offers spots for RVs but campers should note it's "windy here, great for windsurfers" according to a local who provided directions.

Leveling requirements: Bring leveling blocks for uneven terrain. One camper at Hurricane Creek Campground used "leveling blocks" for the second night, noting "But so worth it. Could hear nothing but the rushing river."

Weather preparedness: RV campers should secure awnings and loose items due to unpredictable winds. A Thief Valley Reservoir camper mentioned you "will get blown off the water by noon most days," indicating the strength of typical winds in the area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Island City, OR?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Island City, OR is Wallowa-Whitman NF 21 - Dispersed with a 3.9-star rating from 10 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Island City, OR?

TheDyrt.com has all 43 tent camping locations near Island City, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.