Dorena Lake and the surrounding areas near Lowell, Oregon offer diverse camping options across forested terrain at elevations between 700-1,200 feet. The climate features warm, dry summers with temperatures typically ranging from 75-90°F and cool, wet winters. Fall Creek and Layng Creek provide water recreation access at multiple campgrounds, with several sites offering amenity variations from primitive tent camping to full-hookup options.
What to Do
Swimming opportunities: Baker Bay Campgrounds provides access to Dorena Lake with designated swimming areas. "The view was wonderful. We got a lakeside camp site which made it a simple walk down to the lake where we could swim and fish," reports Taylor S.
Waterfall hiking: Several cascading waterfalls are accessible via trails near Rujada Campground. "If you want bigger hiking payoffs, just up the road approx. 6 miles, you can find 'Pinard', 'Moon', and 'Spirit falls'. Each are around 2 easy hiking miles and worth hitting, you can easily do all three in one day," explains one camper.
Riverside relaxation: The Middle Fork Willamette River offers fishing spots near campgrounds. "Great paved large riverfront views spaces, good fishing in the river, clean and well maintained facility," notes Robert H. about the riverside settings.
Trail exploration: Swordfern Trail provides a 2-mile loop through forest terrain. "The 'Swordfern trail' starts at the day use area where you can find a large ball field, horseshoe pits and a tiny playground. The trail continues into the forest following the creek," reports a visitor.
What Campers Like
Convenient water access: Sites at Baker Bay Campgrounds & Marina provide lakeside locations. "No hookups in this little campground but you can't beat the location. Nestled on the shores of Dorena Lake east of Cottage Grove in the trees. Little boat dock, stocked lake, rental kayaks and swimming hole," writes Shari P.
Private accommodations: Some sites offer more seclusion than others. At Rujada, "The sites are quite unique to each other, some offering privacy, some larger and open, and a couple just off the 'Swordfern trail' next to the creek," notes a reviewer.
Proximity to recreation: Clark Creek Organization Campground provides direct access to swimming holes. "Big field for tents, frisbee, drum circles, etc. There is a great swimming hole right across the street and a good jumping platform just up the road at the next pullout," explains Joel D.
Year-round options: Several campgrounds operate seasonally while others remain open through winter. "We've recently had the pleasure of staying at a five-star campground (twice now and headed back this weekend) that exceeded all expectations," mentions Amy R. about seasonal return visits.
What You Should Know
Limited facilities: Some sites have basic amenities only. "This is a primitive campground. So bring your generator if you need it!" warns one camper about Rujada Campground.
Site selection matters: Campground layouts vary significantly. "Site 11 is nice and isolated and well insulated by vegetation. Site 12 is very exposed to the loop. Make sure you check the campground map before you pick a spot!" advises Mint at Rujada.
Reservation systems: Casey's Riverside RV resort requires advance planning. "Like many CGs we've stayed in this year, this one was pretty full everyday. Unless you want to stay for a day or two or move sites every other day, you need to reserve early," suggests MickandKarla W.
Seasonal restrictions: Some water recreation options change with seasons. "Watch for signs of Algae or Swimmers Itch as it has been present the past few years at Dorena Lake," cautions Kelli B.
Tips for Camping with Families
Group accommodations: The Willamettans offers specialized family camping. "They have a hot tub, heated pool, lodge, rv hook ups, tent spaces, and rental cabins," mentions Charlotte T. about the family-friendly options.
Water activities: Several parks feature children's water attractions. "There are several huge inflatable water structures in the bay which kids can play on for a fee," reports Jill T. about Baker Bay.
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds include play areas. "There is a large play structure, horseshoes, and a sand volleyball pit," notes one reviewer about recreation options.
Yurt camping options: For families seeking alternative accommodations, yurt camping near Lowell, Oregon provides comfort without the need for extensive gear. "We wish we could have been a little further away from the other campers but overall we were happy with our experience," shares a family about their stay.
Tips from RVers
Hookup variations: Premier RV Resort provides full service options. "The roads are paved, majority of sites are pull through, photos on Dyrt are accurate. We had a 30 amp site and all of the utilities were well maintained and arranged well. Water pressure was good," reports Jerold H.
Site positioning: Thoughtful site selection enhances the experience. "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," explains MickandKarla W.
Cellular connectivity: Internet access varies by location. "We had just 1 bar of Verizon and it was unusable but we had 3 bars of ATT which worked well," notes an RVer about connectivity challenges.
Leveling considerations: Some parks provide more level sites than others. "Every site is big-rig friendly and almost perfectly level. Minimum work getting setup," reports Steven H. about site conditions.
