Best Glamping near La Grande, OR

Wallowa-Whitman NF

NF 21 

aka Spring Creek Campground 

La Grande, OR

45.2125.6N, 118.1843.3W (Campground)

45.3679N, 118.2972W (signboard)

45.36944, -118.29997 (2nd spot)

14 Day limit

V 4g/2-3b, ATT 4g/1-2b (no booster)

Dirt & grass

Campground:

Not for bigger rigs. 4 spots fairly close together, picnic tables, pit toilets.  Loop in is tight, and while we are only 34' long, we're 13.8 on truck and had to do some creative maneuvering to get ourselves back out. Cell signal here was almost non existent, and fairly dense tree cover if using solar.

There was one spot on the left before getting to the Campground we could have fit into, but again, dense tree cover. Didn't check cell signal here.

There is supposed to be more spots past the campground,  but we haven't taken the bikes out yet to explore. 

Signboard:

Easily found a spot, even on Labor Day weekend (Friday).  This area could handle 4 or 5 rigs. Cell signal better, but still bounced in/out a bit. We stayed here 2nts to get past the holiday weekend.  Picked up a lot of micro trash, spent shells, and broken bottles. This is also the area where a lot of a sxs park for Day Use. VERY dusty area.

2nd Spot:

WOW what a difference.  After we decided to hang out in the area for a bit longer, we knew we had to move off the main road as the dust was making our solar pout. As you come in, just before the signboard there is a road going up a hill to the right. It looks intimidating,  but can be done going slow in 4wd. We found 3 great spots up there without going back very far. 

There are spots further back, as we saw people pulling trailers out, but we haven't explored them yet. We chose the 1st spot on the left for the full solar and gorgeous view of the meadow, tree line, and mountains in the distance. Cell signal comes in stronger on this ridge, but still a little fickle without a booster... note to self, get booster. Picked up medium sized and micro trash here, as well as bullet casings and broken bottles... and a special thanks to whomever left a bag of rotting frozen chicken wings...that was fun, but the view is worth it, and SO MUCH LESS dust.

There is a spot across (right side of road) where we've had over nights pull in late, but they left by 9am and both were very quiet setting up. Other than them, and the people from further back pulling out after the weekend, we've been alone up here.

There is a GORGEOUS spot further up on the right, but I couldn't get any signal.

From all but the campground,  you will hear road noise. I84 is just beyond the trees. I pretend it's waves (don't judge), my husband uses ear plugs. We've both had no issues sleeping.  

If we had only had the 1st 2nts experience I would say we would only be back as a last minute overnight, having discovered this other area, yep we'd be back no problem. 

As with all boondocking,  scouting out is the key.

On our way to Portland from SLC we decided to book a Yurt on AirBnb at Grande Hot Springs Resort. We arrived the evening of 14 April after a long day of driving from Burley. Checking in was a snap. The Yurt was clean and fresh with a private courtyard and soaking tub backing up to a pond looking up a hillside. Being early spring it was cold enough at night to keep the mosquitos at bay. From our Yurt we walked around the hot lake to the Historic Hot Lake Hotel. The glow of the setting sun against the hotel facade is best described as a scene from "The Shining." Creepy in a stepping back in time kind of way. I'm attracted to those old west neo-classical buildings that have survived and being revived. Back to the Yurt, the only downside was having to take a hike to use the toilet.

We stopped by Anthony Lakes on our way back to the Willamette Valley from Baker City. The campsite is on a property that becomes a ski resort in the winter (it's at over ~7000 ft). The campground was immaculately maintained and had lots of recreation options. On weekends in the summer, the ski lift becomes a mountain biking lift, there are hiking trails, and of course lakes. The lakes themselves are pretty small, but big enough for some kayak adventuring and swimming. We got caught in a summer thunderstorm, so we were glad we had a shelter to pop up.

Our site was private with access to the lake trail. Pit toilets, but everything was very clean. There are also walk-up sites around the back of the lake which had more mosquitos, but were very spacious.  It looks like there is one yurt on top of the mountain. The mountain bike path goes by it, and it looks like it has great views.

This was an easy drive from Baker City, a little far from Portland unless you're going to make a multi-day vacation out of it. On the way through the mountains, there's plenty of gold mining history, a historical dredge, and some ghost towns to stop by. 

Lots of chipmunks, so watch what you leave out (even momentarily).

We stopped for a night in a rustic camping cabin at Emigrant Springs in July of 2015. It was a welcome dose of green after a long day of brown along the interstate through Idaho and western Oregon. The cabin was rustic, the shower house was in good repair with nice hot showers. There seemed to be good space and shade around the sites offering some privacy. Great spot! Take the time to stop in Meacham on the West side of I-84 tomstop at The Oregon Trail Cafe - literally the ONLY store in this teeny town. Wonderful hospitality, the local ‘scoop’ and great breakfast.