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The Willamette National Forest surrounding Lowell, Oregon provides multiple campground options along the Fall Creek Reservoir and nearby waterways. Cascara Campground offers tent and RV sites with swimming access, while Fisherman's Point serves larger groups with more extensive facilities. Dolly Varden Campground provides a more remote experience with nearby hiking trails and waterfalls. The mix of public forest service campgrounds and private RV parks like Dexter Shores accommodates various camping styles, from basic tent sites to full-hookup options for recreational vehicles.
Many campgrounds in the area operate seasonally, typically from May through September, with limited winter access. A recent review noted, "Beautiful about 30 min away from groceries and stores. Came in late to this campground. No reservation needed." Road conditions vary by site, with some campgrounds accessible via paved roads while others require travel on gravel forest service roads. Visitors should prepare for limited cell service throughout the region. Several campgrounds, including Cascara, feature swimming areas and docks when reservoir water levels are sufficient, though reviews indicate water levels can fluctuate seasonally, impacting recreation opportunities.
Waterfront camping ranks highly among visitors to the Lowell area, with several reviewers specifically mentioning swimming holes and water access. One camper shared, "Nice campground and great swimming, but there is no drinking water and very little parking." Fall Creek sites remain particularly popular for cooling off during summer months, though campgrounds can fill quickly on weekends. Tent campers have noted that while sites may lack privacy, the natural setting compensates with scenic views. The area's relative proximity to Eugene (approximately 20-30 miles) makes it convenient for weekend trips while still providing a forest retreat atmosphere. Train and highway noise affects some campgrounds near transportation corridors, so location selection matters for those seeking quiet surroundings.
"The site we’ve always stayed at is huge, way far from any other sites, and has a neat little trail between the parking spot and camping spot."
"Avoid the spots right near the entrance as the highway sound is pretty loud. Spots 20-40 are near the river and you can either see/hear at most spots."
from $26 - $115 / night
Check Availability"Easy to find from I-5 and very close to Costco. Quiet location away from the road noise and has nice walking path along the McKenzie River."
"Tent sites shady and away from RV sites, with access to a path to walk down to (fast flowing) river (far enough walk not to be too concerning for children if they don’t stray out of sight)."
from $20 - $39 / night
Check Availability"Nice that Cascara is close to so much to explore. Found a place to dip into the water, to shoot, and exploring the forest roads was a fun afternoon in general."
"About 30 min away from groceries and stores. Came in late to this campround. No reservation needed. Lucky they had a couple of tent sites open. We ended up staying an extra day."
"We got a lakeside camp site which made it a simple walk down to the lake where we could swim and fish. The camp ground had a pretty big bathroom and separate shower room."
"We chose this location for a few reasons. We could see the lake from our site.
- We could leave our kayaks on the shore and just hop right in and paddle if we wanted.
- Our dog loves to swim, so having"
from $20 - $75 / night
Check Availability"I had an easy stopover here on the way to Eastern Oregon. I didn’t want to use my tanks, so I used their restrooms. They were warm, clean, and well-lit."
"We were lucky enough to rent a space at Deerwood for two months while we escaped the heat of Arizona and visiting our kids in Oregon."
"One star off for highway noise. Looks like many longer term campers here - flower pots, table cloths, decorations, mostly 5th wheelers."
"One of the standout features of this campground was its ideal location. Situated in a breathtaking natural setting, it provided easy access to various outdoor activities, including cliff jumping."
"Schwarz campground is located just past Cottage grove, right on the Row river. I hadn't realized, until I took a nice little walk, it's located just below Dorena reservoir."
from $24 - $150 / night
Check Availability"Perfect location and great amenities. Right next to river. Has showers, restrooms, pool, quite, WiFi, and even $1 self serve ice cream."
"We were able to maneuver our 5th wheel to position it around a large shade tree so we could get our slide and awning out plus have the utilities more centered on our rig."
from $48 - $54 / night
Check Availability"The proximity to the river can't be beat! However, it can be a bit crowded in the summer, and there is not a lot of privacy between sites."
"Some sites had access to the river but its a bit of a drop (7-30ft)."
from $40 / night
Check Availability"Trails to walk and see the waterfalls. Very easy to moderate trails that have been pretty kept up by forestry workers and the community."
from $18 / night
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Scoutnice scenery, beautiful lake just wished they took a little better care of the campground. Showers don’t work, pit toilet smelled to hi heaven, and some of the porta-potties are full and have flies.
ScoutIt is a great tv spot, spaced out from your neighbors. Unfortunately it is next to a river trail full of homeless people. Now I don’t judge but there is a lot of screaming yelling and fighting with this crowd. Not a safe feeling
LegendWe stopped here because it was convenient after a 500+ mile day. It is a very clean RV Park but I think we were the only overnighters here. I called about an hour before our after hours arrival. The woman I spoke with on the phone, Mel, was super friendly. The clubhouse area is clean, and had laundry, a pool table, and clean bathrooms/showers. Nothing fancy but clean and hot water for the showers. It is right next to the 5 so there will be road noise. Nice field with horses behind our site.
GuideWe ended up here as a last-minute stay due to the wild fires. They were very accommodating.
Reasonable price, a lot of long-term residents, quiet and everyone keeps to themselves, restrooms and showers are clean. Propane refill, dump station, large fenced in dog run.
Coin laundry - no change machine tho..
TravelerWell maintained grounds and restrooms. Beautiful area with a lot of tree coverage for shade all day. Lake was very low during our stay did not get to experience much beyond the view. Fire season so there weren’t campfires permitted either. IMO fires should be allowed even in dry season in this modality of camping certainly this structured. Mandatory 5 gallon on hand anyway. But in any case the site manager was exceptionally nice and considerate they did a wonderful job keeping the amenities clean
ScoutIt is a good spot. Not very big and river access is somewhat of a climb.
ScoutWonderful. It’s right on the river and there are a number of large birds— egret, blue gray Heron, geese, ducks in the water. And an osprey fishing from the trees.
TravelerThis is a very remote and quiet location. We stayed with a 25ft trailer with no issues, I would not recommend anything much bigger. Lots of locations for tens as well. No cell service and the tree coverage prevents use of solar other than a few spots.
GuideRight on the North Umpqua river. Special fishing rules apply if you are so inclined. The sites are a bit short and the maneuver room is tight. I was here in a 34' trailer and only a few sites were not only deep enough, but were situated where there was a spot to back up through. Make sure you check the site plan.
The Lowell area provides camping options within the Willamette National Forest at elevations ranging from 700-1,200 feet. Summer temperatures typically reach 75-90°F with overnight lows around 50-60°F. Fall Creek and its reservoir form the recreational centerpiece, with water levels that fluctuate significantly between early summer and fall.
Hiking to waterfalls: Several trails near Dolly Varden Campground offer access to falls within easy walking distance. "So relaxing and many swimming holes. Trails to walk and see the waterfalls. Very easy to moderate trails that have been pretty kept up by forestry workers and the community," notes Angelina S.
River activities: Fishing, swimming and floating are popular at Black Canyon Campground, which sits along the middle fork of the Willamette River. "The river is the real attraction here. When we were here in June it was low enough to wade and swim, and there were families hanging out in chairs along the gravel bars and floating in the river," reports Todd M.
Boat access: For those interested in lake recreation, Baker Bay Campgrounds & Marina offers boat rentals and launch facilities. "The concession stand is currently under construction however there is plenty of green space for picnics. There is a large play structure, horseshoes, and a sand volleyball pit," explains Jill T.
Riverside campsites: Spots along the water are consistently rated highest. At Black Canyon Campground, "Every site is gorgeous, lots of forest in between so you have privacy. All of the best spots along the river with a view are first come first serve," explains Kiri D.
Shaded settings: Dense tree cover provides relief during hot summer days. Schwarz Campground features "outer [sites with] a little more privacy and tons of shade from the oak and pine trees. There are many sites with riverfront views and a couple have private access," according to Tj B.
Group accommodations: Fisherman's Point Campground specializes in larger gatherings with spacious facilities. "This is a very big size camp it is reserve camp for group camping," notes Jessie S., while another camper mentions, "Fisherman's Point is a family favorite, and I'll always remember the great times we've had there."
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds fill quickly during summer weekends. For Cascara Campground, Tiv P. shares: "Beautiful. About 30 min away from groceries and stores. Came in late to this campground. No reservation needed. Lucky they had a couple of tent sites open. We ended up staying an extra day. About $21 for a night with a car. Extra vehicle extra $7."
Noise considerations: Train tracks and highways border several campgrounds. At Black Canyon, "The train tracks are literally across the river. Maybe 200 ft away. The train runs all day and sadly all night. If you fall asleep easily to the sound of a train horn and train cars along a track then you'll love it here," warns Ryan C.
Water level fluctuations: Reservoirs may have significantly reduced water levels late in the season. Rose B. notes about Cascara Campground: "This used to be one of my favorite spots, and it's still a great little campground, but you used to be able to jump off the dock right into the reservoir, and now the level is kept so low that much of the recreation is no longer accessible."
Swimming spots: Several campgrounds feature designated swimming areas with amenities for children. At Cascara Campground, "The camp sites were decent size and they have life jackets for little ones," shares Jessie S., while Michael notes it has "a dock/swimming area [that] can be kind of noisy and crowded."
Kid-friendly activities: Look for campgrounds with playground facilities. Baker Bay offers "a large play structure, horseshoes, and a sand volleyball pit. Great site for families with kids," according to reviewers.
Spacing between sites: Privacy varies significantly between campgrounds. Justin S. observed at Cascara: "Sites are decently taken care of, pretty basic setup. Not much privacy at all between spots, though there were a couple larger ones on the edge of the loop that were tucked in away from others."
Pull-through availability: Casey's Riverside RV resort offers some of the best RV accommodations in the area. MickandKarla W. shares: "The pull through was plenty long. We were able to maneuver our 5th wheel to position it around a large shade tree so we could get our slide and awning out plus have the utilities more centered on our rig."
Road conditions: Access varies significantly between campgrounds. One camper notes that "The campground roads can be tight if you have a big rig so be careful," while another mentions, "Road is narrow and winding, larger rigs have issues with staying on path."
Hookup options: Full hookups are limited in the area. Dexter Shores RV Park gets positive reviews for its facilities: "Clean. Long pull throughs. Quiet. Pride in ownership for sure," according to Butch S.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the campgrounds near Lowell, Oregon?
Lowell, Oregon offers several nearby camping options. Armitage Park & Campground is located near I-5 with nicely spaced sites featuring trees for privacy and shade, plus walking paths along the McKenzie River. For those seeking a more secluded experience, Black Canyon Campground in the Willamette National Forest offers spacious tent sites with river access. Other options include Dolly Varden Campground directly near Lowell and Fisherman's Point Group Campground in the Fall Creek State Recreation Area. The region provides access to various outdoor recreation opportunities within the Willamette National Forest.
Are there any free camping sites near Lowell?
Yes, there are affordable and free camping options near Lowell. Lund Park Forest Camp is a budget-friendly option located on Brice Creek Road past Dorena Lake, costing only $8 per night with walk-up availability. While it offers minimal amenities (just pit toilets), it's ideal for those seeking solitude. For true free camping, Quartzville Recreation Corridor offers dispersed camping opportunities along the roadside. The area features beautiful mountain landscapes and a large lake, though facilities are limited and the road can be narrow and winding.
Can you camp at Lake Lowell and what amenities are available?
There appears to be some confusion regarding Lake Lowell in Oregon. The reviews don't reference a Lake Lowell campground directly near Lowell, Oregon. However, nearby lake camping options include North Waldo Lake, which offers peaceful tent sites directly on the water with lake access and hiking trails. Another option is Edgewater RV Resort and Marina at Foster Lake near Sweet Home, featuring clean facilities and well-maintained RV spots. For specifics about camping at water bodies near Lowell, checking with the Willamette National Forest Service is recommended as regulations may change seasonally.
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