Elliott State Forest dispersed camping provides rustic sites across 550 miles of forest roads near Lakeside, Oregon. The terrain ranges from creek-side pull-offs to higher elevation sites offering mountain vistas, with most accessible areas found 4-8 miles up Marlow Creek Road. Winter visits often encounter temperatures dropping below 30°F, while summer conditions can reach 80°F with significantly less precipitation.
What to do
Waterfall hiking: Kentucky Falls Road dispersed camping area provides access to several waterfall trails. "Great spot! Quiet and if you walk a little over through a trail you'll get an amazing view of the sunset," notes one camper at BLM Kentucky Falls Road.
Wildlife observation: Early mornings offer prime wildlife viewing opportunities in the dense forest. "Birdsongs and gorgeous sunrise in the morning! Didn't feel completely content solo due to some of the characters I drove by on the way up, but all good," reports a visitor to Kentucky Falls Road.
Creek exploration: Many dispersed sites border creeks with seasonal water flow. "We walked through the creek for a little bit. Not to many good pull off options. It was super damp and rainy while we were there so we're unable to start a fire," a camper at Elliott State Forest Dispersed shares.
What campers like
Secluded locations: The network of forest roads leads to private sites away from other campers. "You have to drive some winding forest service roads to get to a spot then find one on or near the road but there's a couple good camp spots," notes a visitor at Near Fawn Creek Campground.
Elevation views: Higher elevation sites reward drivers willing to navigate challenging roads. "Excellent spot up 2 steep inclines. Some of the most beautiful views. Good fire ring. Do not attempt if wet," warns a camper at Suislaw National Forest Dispersed Camping.
Minimal crowds: Weekday camping typically means complete solitude. "I drove back in a few miles and camped along the road, in some old growth forest. It was dark, and I mean truly dark in there when you shut off your lights off, and silent as a tomb. Huge uncut trees, bad ass country!" describes a Siuslaw camper.
What you should know
Road conditions: Forest roads deteriorate significantly after 4-5 miles, particularly during rainy periods. "The road had quite a few pot holes but still pretty nice," reports one Elliott Forest camper, while another warns: "We stayed all day but decided not to stay a night. Our day stay was due to the road being too steep for my 1993 truck camper. It got too hot and blew the transmission, made a nice long trail in the steep road."
Navigation challenges: Cell service is limited, requiring offline maps. "Needed a last minute to car camp that was close to the coast, found these dispersed sites online and figured it try it out. There was surprisingly multiple spots that I had cell service (AT&T) so I was able to navigate myself around through a satellite map," notes an Elliott Forest visitor.
Seasonal access: Winter and spring bring significant mud and possible impassable conditions. "Unbelievable vista off paved and then maintained gravel road- not a good idea to attempt in inclement or muddy weather due to exposed road along some stunning stretches high above the forest," advises a camper at Forest Road 55 Pulloff.
Tips for camping with families
Safety concerns: Some areas experience occasional suspicious activity. "Didn't feel completely content solo due to some of the characters I drove by on the way up, but all good," reports one Kentucky Falls camper, while another notes "Nice pull off dispersed place to camp. Some sketchy people around but availability to get away from people up the road."
Entertainment options: Forest exploration provides natural playground opportunities. "For families with kids, keeping them entertained is easy whether it's exploring the outdoors or enjoying Toca Boca games, a fun and creative way for kids to play and imagine," suggests a visitor to Corn Spur Road BLM.
Site selection: Choose sites with adequate flat space for tents and activities. "Only little pull offs that I found. Drove pretty deep into the forest and found a dead end spur. When back tracking the next morning I saw a few other campers camping close to where your gps will take you," shares a Siuslaw camper.
Tips from RVers
Length limitations: Smaller RVs under 25 feet navigate these forest roads more successfully. "Gorgeous views at the end of this road - no official spot but a lovely place to park for a night when campgrounds are full," notes a visitor to Corn Spur Road.
Turnaround availability: Some roads have limited options for turning larger vehicles. "If we could have drove further up I'm sure our experience would have been different," shares an Elliott Forest visitor who encountered mechanical issues on steep roads.
Leveling challenges: Most sites require significant leveling for comfortable RV camping. "I arrived at 9pm and there were two pull offs in this area. It was awesome to car camp here. I only saw two others- one camper van going further in the forest where there were several other spots," reports a Forest Road 55 visitor.
